The Washington Nationals have honored fallen service members who served the nation and played baseball ahead of Major League Baseball’s Opening Day.
The Nats provided Arlington National Cemetery with official MLB baseballs, which were placed on six historic graves, including at the sites of two individuals who played the sport professionally in Washington, D.C.
Luzerne “Lu” Blue, a Major Leaguer and D.C. native, whose baseball career was interrupted in 1918 when he was drafted to serve in World War I.
Abner Doubleday, an early adopter of baseball and often mistakenly credited with inventing the sport. Doubleday served as a major general of U.S. volunteers in the Army of the Potomac.
William Eckert, baseball’s fourth Commissioner between 1965-68, and a lieutenant general in the U.S. Air Force. At the time of his commission, Eckert was the youngest three-star officer in the United States Armed Forces.
Elmer Gedeon, a player for the Washington Senators who was drafted in 1941 and later died in service in 1944. Gedeon was one of two known Major Leaguers to have fallen during World War II.
Spottswood “Spot” Poles, a Negro Leagues outfielder known for his speed and batting average, who served in the 369th Infantry Regiment — the Harlem Hellfighters — in World War I and earned five battle stars and a Purple Heart for his heroism.
Ernest Judson “Jud” Wilson, a Negro Leagues third baseman who competed with the Homestead Grays in D.C., between 1931-32 and 1940-45, and served in World War I. Wilson is a member of the Ring of Honor at Nationals Park and was posthumously inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006.
The tradition is now in its third year.
The Nationals opened the season with a 10-4 victory over the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.
Reach Julia LeDoux at Julia@connectingvets.com.
