Enos “Country” Slaughter was born and raised in Roxboro, North Carolina in April of 1916. He went on to lead successful careers in both professional baseball and the military.

 

Over the course of a Major League career spanning over 20 years, Slaughter played for the St. Louis Cardinals, the New York Yankees, the Kansas City Athletics, and the Milwaukee Braves. His thirteen-year career in St. Louis proved to be by far the most successful stretch in his career as all ten of his All-Star Game appearances came during this period. He also led the St. Louis Cardinals to four World Series Championships.
 

Slaughter ultimately finished his career with a .300 batting average, 2,383 hits, 169 home runs, and 1,304 runs batted in. The Cardinals retired his number, 9, in 1996 and inducted him into their hall of fame in 1996. He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1985.

 

Slaughter missed three seasons from 1943-1945 in order to serve in the United States Army during World War II. When asked to speak to the troops after a game in the 1942 World Series, Slaughter said, “We played a great game today and we won. And we are going to finish this thing tomorrow. Then I’m going to report for duty in the Army Air Corps and join you.” As soon as the 1942 World Series concluded, Slaughter was assigned to the San Antonio Cadet Center. He wanted to be a pilot but was deemed unfit to fly because he was colorblind. Instead of becoming a bombardier, hebecame a physical education instructor for roughly 200 troops. He also played great deal of baseball during his time in the military, even famously playing in a game that raised $800 million in war bond pledges. He was discharged from the military on March 1, 1946 and subsequently returned to the St. Louis Cardinals.

 

Enos Slaughter lived life to the fullest and put in his maximum effort to everything he did, whether that was on the baseball diamond or in serving the United States. Enos Slaughter truly was a hero and a patriot.