Billy Southworth (baseball, born 1917)
Encyclopedia
William Brooks Southworth (June 20, 1917 — February 15, 1945), known also as Billy Southworth, Jr., was an American
professional baseball
player (1936–1940) who became a decorated bomber
pilot
in the United States Army Air Forces
during World War II
. Rising to the rank of major
, Southworth was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
and Air Medal
after completing 25 bombing missions in the European Theater of Operations in 1942 and 1943. He lost his life at age 27 while leading flight training for the Boeing B-29 Superfortress
, when his aircraft crashed into Flushing Bay, off the Borough of Queens in New York, in early 1945.
The son of Baseball Hall of Fame manager
Billy Southworth
, he was born in 1917 in Portland, Oregon
, where the elder Southworth was playing as an outfielder
for the Portland Beavers
of the Pacific Coast League
. Southworth Jr. grew up in Columbus, Ohio
. He graduated from East High School
and attended The Ohio State University. An outfielder like his father, Southworth signed with the St. Louis Cardinals
, for whom Billy Sr. was then a minor league
manager, in 1936. He played five seasons in the Cardinal and Philadelphia Athletics
organizations, reaching the top minor league level for 15 games with the 1940 Toronto Maple Leafs of the International League
.
After the end of that season, on December 12, Southworth enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps
and, according to the website Baseball in Wartime, he was the first U.S. professional baseball player to enlist in the armed forces, almost a year before the Bombing of Pearl Harbor.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional baseball
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
player (1936–1940) who became a decorated bomber
Bomber
A bomber is a military aircraft designed to attack ground and sea targets, by dropping bombs on them, or – in recent years – by launching cruise missiles at them.-Classifications of bombers:...
pilot
Aviator
An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
in the United States Army Air Forces
United States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Rising to the rank of major
Major (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, major is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel...
, Southworth was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a medal awarded to any officer or enlisted member of the United States armed forces who distinguishes himself or herself in support of operations by "heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight, subsequent to November 11, 1918." The...
and Air Medal
Air Medal
The Air Medal is a military decoration of the United States. The award was created in 1942, and is awarded for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight.-Criteria:...
after completing 25 bombing missions in the European Theater of Operations in 1942 and 1943. He lost his life at age 27 while leading flight training for the Boeing B-29 Superfortress
B-29 Superfortress
The B-29 Superfortress is a four-engine propeller-driven heavy bomber designed by Boeing that was flown primarily by the United States Air Forces in late-World War II and through the Korean War. The B-29 was one of the largest aircraft to see service during World War II...
, when his aircraft crashed into Flushing Bay, off the Borough of Queens in New York, in early 1945.
The son of Baseball Hall of Fame manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
Billy Southworth
Billy Southworth
William Harrison Southworth was an American right fielder, center fielder and manager in Major League Baseball. Playing in and and from to , he batted left-handed and threw right-handed. Southworth managed in and from through...
, he was born in 1917 in Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, where the elder Southworth was playing as an outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
for the Portland Beavers
Portland Beavers
The Tucson Padres are a minor league baseball team, representing Tucson, Arizona, in the Pacific Coast League . They are the Triple-A affiliate for the San Diego Padres. The team was formerly known as the Portland Beavers and played its last home game at PGE Park on September 6, 2010...
of the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
. Southworth Jr. grew up in Columbus, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
. He graduated from East High School
East High School (Columbus, Ohio)
East High School is a public high school located on the near east side of Columbus, Ohio at 1500 E. Broad Street. It is a part of Columbus City Schools. It was originally constructed in 1922....
and attended The Ohio State University. An outfielder like his father, Southworth signed with the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
, for whom Billy Sr. was then a minor league
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
manager, in 1936. He played five seasons in the Cardinal and Philadelphia Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
organizations, reaching the top minor league level for 15 games with the 1940 Toronto Maple Leafs of the International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
.
After the end of that season, on December 12, Southworth enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps
United States Army Air Corps
The United States Army Air Corps was a forerunner of the United States Air Force. Renamed from the Air Service on 2 July 1926, it was part of the United States Army and the predecessor of the United States Army Air Forces , established in 1941...
and, according to the website Baseball in Wartime, he was the first U.S. professional baseball player to enlist in the armed forces, almost a year before the Bombing of Pearl Harbor.