Ty Cobb, U.S. Army
After setting single-season record for stolen bases with 96 way back in 1915, Tyrus Raymond Cobb enlisted in the Chemical Corps branch of the United States Army in October of 1918 and was sent to the Allied Expeditionary Forces headquarters in Chaumont, France.
After being given the rank of captain during his service, he served approximately 67 days overseas before receiving an honorable discharge and returning to the United States.
Willie Mays, U.S. Army
Future Hall of Fame outfielder Willie Mays was drafted in 1952 to help the United States during the Korean War (1950–53). He would subsequently miss most of the 1952 season and all of the 1953 season.
Mays spent much of his time in the Army playing baseball at Fort Eustis, Virginia. It was at Fort Eustis that Mays learned the basket catch from a fellow Fort Eustis outfielder, Al Fortunato. Mays missed about 266 games due to military service.
Bill Bradley, Air Force
Before he would become a two-time NBA Champion with the New York Knicks, Bill Bradley served six months in the Air Force Reserve. After that short military stint, he would go on to play 10 seasons with the Knicks, building on his highly decorated collegiate basketball career while at Princeton University.
In his post-playing days, Bradley has made his way into politics. He served three terms as a Democratic U.S. Senator from New Jersey. He ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic Party’s nomination for president in the 2000 election.
Jack Dempsey, U.S. Coast Guard
Jack Dempsey first started boxing professionally in 1914. Throughout the 1920’s and 1930’s he was extremely popular and is probably one of the most popular boxing champions of all times. During World War II Dempsey joined New York State National Guard and was given a commission as a first lieutenant.
He resigned that commission to accept a commission as a lieutenant in the Coast Guard Reserve. In 1945, he was on the attack transport USS Arthur Middleton for the invasion of Okinawa, during World War II.
Rocky Marciano, Army
Rocco Francis “Rocky” Marchegiano was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1943, and assigned to the 150th Combat Engineers. He was stationed in Wales where he was involved in operations on the English Channel. The 150th was awarded service stars for Normandy, North France, Rheinland, Ardennes-Asace and Central Europe.
It was in the Army that Marciano first boxed, starting with unofficial bouts, and working up to junior amateur by the time of his discharge in 1947. After failing a tryout for catcher with the Chicago Cubs, baseball team, Marciano returned to boxing.