Ted Williams returns to the Red Sox after serving a tour of duty as a Marine airman in the Korean War.
On January 2, 1952, the Marines recalled Ted Williams to active duty in the Korean War. He had previously served in WWII. He attended Spring Training with the Red Sox until he was to report for duty on May 2nd.
Ted played his last game on April 30th which was dubbed “Ted Williams Day” in Boston.
“This is a day I’ll remember as long as I live, and I want to thank you fans in particular from the bottom of my heart,” Williams said. He bid farewell in typical Williams fashion, slugging a two-run homer in his last at-bat against the Tigers’ Dizzy Trout — his lone long ball of the ’52 season. He appropriately hit .400 in his six-game cameo….
…After a series of ear infections and the conclusion of the war, the Marines decided to send Williams home in July 1953. MLB invited him to be an honorary All-Star at the 1953 game in Cincinnati, where he threw out the ceremonial first pitch…
…Three weeks after Williams’ appearance at the All-Star Game, he was back with the Red Sox and playing like, well, Ted Williams: In the 37 games he played in 1953, he clubbed 13 homers and hit a blistering .407.(1)
Source: (1) mlb.com; Wikipedia Portal:Aviation