Learn All About Leo Wells the Baseball Player: A Youngster's Dream Postponed by World War II

While America's favorite pastime continued during he second world war, many players' hopes and futures were put on hold in order to serve their country. These devoted men walked away from an activity that meant everything to them in order to help in this desperate and dark time period. Several professional ball players such as Ted Williams and Bob Feller left the sport to enlist with the military forces and lost vital career playing time. A few eventually came back to the sport to become part of Baseball's Hall of Fame. After Pearl Harbor was bombed, the existence of baseball itself became in question. Numerous fans and baseball representatives wanted to postpone the sport for the war. President Roosevelt disagreed and sent instructions proclaiming that the game must continue as a way to keep the American spirit alive. The troops provided heavy support for the sport and wanted to keep the game going within these trying times. Over forty-five hundred professional baseball players quit playing to serve our country. Among these were thirty five players who would eventually be inducted to the Hall of Fame. Two professional players by the names of Harry O'Neill and Elmer Gedeon gave up their own lives for our country and therefore are honored today for their sacrifices. Their dreams were placed on the back burner for those who made this tremendously difficult decision. Several came back from the war and were able to pick up where they left off in the game.

Leo Wells was among the many who rejoined their ball teams after serving in the war. The history of Leo Wells the baseball player is less extensive due to his years in the war, but an accomplishment to be proud of nonetheless. Leo Wells was born on July 18th 1917. He was 5'9" and weighed about 170 pounds. He was born in Kansas City, Kansas. Leo Wells' baseball career began in 1942. He played both shortstop and third base for the Chicago White Sox. On April 16th, 1942, Leo Wells made his first Major League Baseball debut. During the first season, he played thirty-five games and got one home run and four RBI's. He had a batting average of 194. Following the first season, his love for the game was interrupted by the impending threat from the war. He left his team to enlist in the military and served for the following 3 years. Leo Wells returned to have a second season for the White Sox in 1946. For that season, he played forty games. His stats included one home run, eleven runs, and a 189 batting average. He left the game following this second season to pursue other dreams.

A brief history of Leo Wells the baseball player was a common story for a lot of players who served in World War II. They are all heroes for making the hard decision to quit playing and help our country in a time of crisis. Current day athletes pass up opportunities like the Olympics because it will take away from their own personal gains. Leo Wells and all the other players that made the sacrifice should be praised for their loyalty, heroism, are truly the ultimate role models for today.

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