Lou Brissie: Injured WWII Hero Became an AL All-St...

Lou Brissie was a promising college pitcher when he entered the US Army in 1942. In December 1944, his unit, the 88th Infantry, was in fighting in Italy. He suffered a dreadful injury to his left leg shattering several bones. Two years later--following 23 surgeries--Brissie began his big league career. In the 1948 season he won 14 games for the Philadelphia Athletics and in 1949 he won 16 and made the All-Star team. He gave his reminiscences in 2008 to an oral history project for veterans. For more, read Ira Berkow’s book on Brissie, "The Corporal Was a Pitcher."