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Joseph Pinder - An AFL Hero
Joseph Pinder was not just another minor league pitcher; he was a national hero....
Joseph Pinder began his professional career in 1935 pitching for the Butler Indians of the Pennsylvania State Association. He spent two seasons in Butler, winning 3 games and losing 2. He didn't play professional ball in 1937, but signed with the Sanford Lookouts of the Florida State League in 1938 and became the anchor of their rotation. In 3 seasons at Sanford, Pinder won 26 and lost 25. Early in his third season there, he was sent to the Fort Meyers Bombers. He went 4-12 with the Bombers, but has an impressive 2.91 ERA. He showed enough promise that he was picked up by the Macon Peaches at season's end. In 1941 Pinder split time between Ft. Pierce and the Greenville Lions of the Alabama-Florida League. At Ft. Pierce, Joe won 11 games while losing 9 with an impressive 3.06 ERA. He fared well at Greenville too, appearing in 13 games, pitching in 10 of them. Pinder won 6 and lost 2, with a 2.48 ERA, one of the best pitching performances in the league. For the year, Pinder has won 17 games while losing 11, and he stood an excellent chance of climbing the baseball ladder in 1942. Unfortunately, World War II interrupted his ascent. Pinder enlisted in the United States Army shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Like so many others of his generation, he went off to war to serve his country, becoming a respected combat medic. Like many brave young men, Joe Pinder did not return home: He was killed in action on D-Day: June 6th, 1944. What makes Joe Pinder, and fellow ballplayer Jack Lummus, different from all the other brave men who gave their lives for our country was that Pinder and Lummus were the only two baseball players at any professional level to be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. In 1945, Pinder was posthumously honored for his sacrifice.
Here is the citation for this largely forgotten baseball hero:
CITATION
FOR AWARD OF THE
CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR
TO TECHNICIAN FIFTH GRADE
JOSEPH J. PINDER, JR.
UNITED STATES ARMY
16th INFANTRY
1st INFANTRY DIVISION
Near COLLEVILLE-SUR-MER, FRANCE
6 JUNE 1944
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty on 6 June 1944, near Coleville-sur-Mer, France. On D-Day, Technician 5th Grade Pinder landed on the coast 100 yards off shore under devastating enemy machinegun and artillery fire which caused severe casualties among the boatload. Carrying a vitally important radio, he struggled towards shore in waist-deep water. Only a few yards from his craft he was hit by enemy fire and was gravely wounded. Technician 5th Grade Pinder never stopped. He made shore and delivered the radio. Refusing to take cover afforded, or to accept medical attention for his wounds, Technician 5th Grade Pinder, though terribly weakened by loss of blood and in fierce pain, on three occasions went into the fire-swept surf to salvage communications equipment. He recovered many vital parts and equipment, including another workable radio. On the third trip he was again hit, suffering machinegun bullet wounds in the legs. Still this valiant soldier would not stop for rest or medical attention. Remaining exposed to heavy enemy fire, growing steadily weaker, he aided in establishing the vital radio communication on the beach. While so engaged this dauntless soldier was hit for the third time and killed. The indomitable courage and personal bravery of Technician 5th Grade Pinder was a magnificent inspiration to the men with whom he served.
Gary Bedingfield's Baseball During Wartime identified Jack Lummus as the second player to win the award. For a long time, Pinder was thought to be to only ballplayer to receive the honor.
Lummus played for Witchita Falls in 1941.
For more on Gary's website, go to the links section and click on the Baseball During Wartime link.
Thanks to Charles East, Gary Bedingfield, and the research of SABR member Dick Thompson
