Pete Gray passed away today for those who knew of him (read in)

[SlamminMOFO]

Pete was the one armed baseball player that played with the St. Louis Browns during WWII. The was a movie written about him also. I live in the same city as Pete. thats how I found out... I remember many years ago, Pete kindly gave me a autographed 8x10 of him in uniform. very cool.

[luvmetender]

Sounds like he was a great guy... sorry to hear of his death.

[SlamminMOFO]

Yes. Pete would walk about 2 miles a day to the local Burger King for his morning coffee......

Do a google search on him... much info

[NaomiMarie]

Thanks for sharing this story with us! What a truly amazing man/athlete! Quite an inspiration that's for sure! I KNOW you must treasure that autographed pic
Naomi


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted on Mon, Jul. 01, 2002

One-armed major-leaguer Pete Gray dies at 87

NANTICOKE, Pa. - Pete Gray, who became a big-league ballplayer despite losing his right arm in a childhood accident, died Sunday. He was 87.

Gray, born Peter Wyshner, perhaps was best known for his season with the former St. Louis Browns in 1945, when he appeared in 77 games. At the time, disabled athletes often were regarded as sideshow oddities.

"If they insulted me, I didn't pay attention," Gray told The Citizens' Voice of Wilkes-Barre, Pa., in 1995. "I mostly kept to myself. That's why I got the reputation of being tough to get along with. But I've mellowed."

Gray was right-handed until he lost his right arm when he slipped while riding on the running board of a truck and the arm got caught in one of the wheels. He learned to use his left hand and continued to play baseball.

A cobbler made a custom glove for him, with most of the padding removed so he could hold it loosely on his fingertips. That allowed him to discard the glove quickly to field a softly hit ball with his bare hand or slide his hand fully into the fingers to catch a fly ball or field a line drive.

The glove now is in the Baseball Hall of Fame at Cooperstown, N.Y.

In his season with the Browns, he had 51 hits, including six doubles and two triples, and a .218 batting average. He had 13 RBIs and struck out just 11 times.

Gray was an accomplished bunter, doing so by planting the knob of the bat against his side before sliding his hand about a third of the way up the shaft.

[3tbear]

That's an amazing feat achieving fame in the big leagues, being so talented and able to live his dream. I'm sure he will be remembered fondly.