Bert Shepard, 87: Played major league ball with just one leg
June 20th, 2008
From the Los Angeles Times, New York Times:
Bert Shepard, who pitched for the 1945 Washington Senators, has died in California at the age of 87. Shepard was a fighter pilot who lost part of his right leg when he was shot down over Germany in 1944. After returning to the U.S., he resumed an earlier baseball career and was signed to the Senators, pitching in just one major league game. His impressive performance, striking out a Boston Red Sox batter with the bases loaded, gave hope to thousands of wounded veterans.
Through his life, Shepard was an advocate for opportunities for people with disabilities. “A handicapped person’s biggest problem is a prospective employer who’s made up his mind that you can’t do something,” he said.
(LA Times photo)
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on Friday, June 20th, 2008 at 11:27 am and is filed under NOT2BEMISSED, employment/jobs, limb loss, obits, personal stories, public attitudes, success stories.
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