Cecil Travis Dead at 93

[DoubleX]

Just came across the news at ESPN.com. (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2705459) He's someone we don't talk much about, though I think I recall a short-lived thread about him from a while back. For me, he's the kind of guy that usually gets lost in my SS rankings. It seems like the war really hurt his career, as left at age 27 after having his best season, and came back at 31 at nowhere close to being the same player and was out of the game by 33. According to the ESPN.com article, he was in infantry in France, so that probably took a huge physical toll on him (likely mental as well). I don't want to say he would have been a Hall of Famer if not for the war, but he was starting to look the part before the war.

Anyway, given his passing, I thought his career is at least worth an acknowledgement.

Anyone care to share where they rank him at SS? Like I said, I have a difficult time, but top 30 feels right to me. I think even adjusting for war credit probably doesn't make up for anywhere close to what his career likely lost due to the war.

[mwiggins]

That is said news. He was certainly headed for a HoF career before the war. Who knows if his great year in 1941 would have been just a blip, or the start of a strong peak.

[yanks0714]

You're right about Travis. He was a fine player pre-WWII. But when he came back hre had lost it. I think I read that he suffered frost bite on his toes at the Battle of the Bulge. If not mistaken that affected thereafter impacting his baseball career.

He's the kind of guy I'd like to see more discussions on. A star but not a HOF'er although he may have been on his way to the HOF before the war interfered.

[KCGHOST]

He had a fine age 26 season and a monster age 27 season. The war may well have derailed a HoF career.

[538280]

That is sad news. If I remember correctly Travis got frostbite in the war, right? Do you know if that was the reason for his poor play afterward? Probably was, because while some players came back a bit rusty, almost none totally lost it like Travis did.

[Brian McKenna]

A lot of players totally lost it after being in service for many months. Most simply never made the majors or never returned or were cut in the spring.

[Fuzzy Bear]

A lot of players totally lost it after being in service for many months. Most simply never made the majors or never returned or were cut in the spring.

None of the real superstars lost it in the war, other than Greenberg, and he went in the Army in 1941.

Travis and Johnny Pesky both would have been HOFers if it were not for the war.

I would argue Travis for the HOF right now. He played in a tough, tough hitters park, yet had great batting stats for a SS. The war, and the frostbite, were things he could not control; it's not like a back injury one receives swinging the bat too hard.