Bob Schmukal
| Date and Place of Birth: | 1923 Buffalo, NY |
| Date and Place of Death: | October 3, 1944 France |
| Baseball Experience: | Minor League |
| Position: | Outfield |
| Rank: | Corporal |
| Military Unit: | 4142nd Quartermaster Service Company, US Army |
| Area Served: | European Theater of Operations |
Robert C. "Bob" Schmukal, son of George and Florence Schmukal, gained quite a reputation in Buffalo, New York, playing American Legion baseball with his dad's team, Schmukal Coal and Ice. The team were New York state champions in 1939 and 1940. He was also prominent in baseball, football and basketball at East High School and in May 1940, the ball team were subjected to a no-hitter by South Park High School left-hander Warren Spahn.
Boston Braves scout
Jack Onslow signed the 18-year-old outfielder in September 1941, and he joined the
Evansville Bees of the Class B Three-I League for the 1942 season. The rookie left fielder got off to a sensational start, batting .350 (28
for 80) after 24 games. However, his hitting cooled down as the season
progressed and by late June he was hitting .276, dropping to .247 by
mid-July. He finished the season playing 89 games and batting .230.
The 1942 season was to be Schmukal's only taste of professional
baseball. He entered military service with the Army on January 20, 1943,
and served in Europe with the 4142nd Quartermaster Service Company. The
company landed at Normandy on D-Day, June 6, 1944, unloading essential
rations, ammunition, and all other equipment and supplies, while under
constant shellfire and small arms fire. It then saw continuous operation
in the assault through Normandy, the breakout at Saint-Lo, and the rapid
pursuit across France. Corporal Schmukal was killed in France on October
3, 1944, when his jeep hit a landmine. He was buried at the Normandy
American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer, France.
|
Team |
League |
Class |
G |
AB |
R |
H |
2B |
3B |
HR |
RBI |
AVG |
|
| 1942 | Evansville | Three-I | B | 89 | 261 | 32 | 60 | 13 | 4 | 3 | - | .230 |
Bob Schmukal (back row, far left) with the East High School baseball team in 1939
Bob Schmukal in high school in 1942
Bob Schmukal (far left) playing basketball at East High School in January 1941
Source
Buffalo Courier-Express, May 14, 1940
Buffalo Courier-Express, January 8, 1941
Albany
Knickerbocker News, September 17, 1941
Buffalo Courier-Express, November 28, 1946
Thanks to Astrid van Erp for help with photos for this biography.
Date Added February 19, 2012 Updated July 31, 2017
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