Baseball in Wartime

Baseball's Greatest Sacrifice


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Those Who Died That Others Might Be Free

Purple Heart

 

Duke McKee

 

Date and Place of Birth: July 7, 1910 Ellenwood, Georgia
Date and Place of Death: March 1945 Belgium
Baseball Experience: Minor League
Position: Outfield
Rank: Lieutenant
Military Unit: US Army
Area Served: European Theater of Operations

 

John "Duke" McKee

John W "Duke" McKee was born on July 7, 1910 in Ellenwood, Georgia. He was a star athlete at Georgia Tech University, playing football and baseball for four years.

 

McKee signed with the Atlanta Crackers in the Southern Association upon graduation in 1932 and was assigned to their Sally League affiliate at Columbus. He was recalled by the Crackers in 1933 and remained as their rightfielder until 1934.

 

The following year he was traded to the Tulsa Oilers of the Texas League but refused to play and voluntarily retired instead. McKee returned to Atlanta where he married Mary Holcomb and worked as a salesman for Firestone Auto Supplies and Services.

 

Lieutenant McKee served with the Army in Europe. He was seriously wounded in action on March 6, 1945 and died a few days later.

 

 

 

 

Thanks to the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library for help with this biography.

 

Added September 12, 2006

 

Copyright © 2007 Gary Bedingfield (Baseball in Wartime). All Rights Reserved.

 


 

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