Written on July 13, 2009 at 8:33 am by

2009 MLB All-Star Game – Former Airman, MLB Pitcher Tommy John

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Sunday was our first day collecting “troop shout-outs.” The Pentagon Channel crew, which includes Camille Cherry, Steve Greisiger and myself, headed over to Busch Stadium bright and early Sunday morning. We got some quick shout-outs from Ozzy Smith, Ginuwine and the Cardinal Girls. We were looking foward to the All-Star Celebrity Softball game which always provides great access to familiar faces. Then the skies opened up. Thunder. Lightning. Buckets upon buckets of rain. It appeared our shot of collecting more shout-outs was washing away. The game was sure to be canceled.

Some quick thinking by Camille saved the day. She said, “The celebrities have to be somewhere, let’s find them.”

Ashanti

Ashanti

We went to their batting practice which was about 10 minutes away from the stadium. Since they didn’t have to leave to play the game, we had more time with them than originally scheduled.  Billy Bob Thornton, Ashanti, Andy Richter and Chingy, among others, gave some great shout-outs to the troops.

I had a chance to speak with Tommy John. Yes, the same Tommy John from Tommy John surgery and long-time Major League pitcher. The man is funny.

Billy Bob Thornton

Billy Bob Thornton

“When they operated,” he said, “I told them to put in a Koufax fastball. They did – but it was Mrs. Koufax’s.”

He also happens to be the winningest picher in Major League Baseball history who isn’t in the Hall of Fame. During our conversation, he told me he was in the Air Guard many years ago. He was a “702.” In English, that means he was a clerk/typist/adminstrative-type Airman.

These types of moments always strike me funny. Here’s Tommy John. A man who should be in the Hall of Fame, according to many. His name will probably remain tied to a surgical procedure for decades to come. And the only thing he wants to talk to me about is his time in an Air Force uniform as an “Admin troop.”

Funny.

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  • Anthony J. Buono

    I went to basic traing and tech shool with Tommy John, at Lackland AFB, TX and Amarila, TX. He was my squad leader at both locations. He gave me the nickname of “Louie the Buffer”.

    I regret that when he played for the Dodgers, I never went to see him at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia.

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    The only African-American ace of World War II, and a former Tuskegee Airman, went on to have a career in the Air Force, as well as success in the business world.

    Lee A. Archer joined the Army in 1941 with high hopes of becoming a pilot, but was initially denied because of his race. When the Army’s policy changed about a year later, Archer was accepted to the training program for black aviators at the Tuskegee Army Airfield in Alabama.

    Archer is best known for a day in late 1944 when he was involved in a series of dogfights over German-occupied Hungary. Flying a P-51 Mustang fighter, Archer shot down three German fighters. He would go on to add two more German fighters to his credit to become the first and only African-American ace of the war.

    As a civilian, Archer enjoyed even greater success, serving as vice president for urban affairs with General Foods, as CEO of North Street Capital Corp. and chairman of Hudson Commercial Corp. He also served on the board of directors of Beatrice International Foods and the Institute for American Business.

    Read the rest of his story here.



  • Navy Lt. Aaron Lanzel is on a mission, his goal to join the U.S. Olympic track team this summer in London. Lt. Lanzel is working out daily at U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. He trains daily in a couple of events, the 1500 and 3000 meter run. This is his second try at being a US Olympian, an active duty U.S. Naval officer, he’s hoping this time, that he can make the team and run for his country.


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    navyhistory:

    On 7 February 1800, USS Essex became the first U.S. Navy vessel to cross the Equator. This 1799 image of Essex was painted by E. Tuffnell, R.N. (Retired). NHHC Photograph Collection, NH 72804-KN.