In December of 1942, a man with a descriptive nickname from Buffalo, New York began his military career at Camp Chaffee, Arkansas. 'Hooks' was probably one of thousands to march through the stone archway leading to a parade field. The arch, constructed in 1943, still stands today:
Hooks earned his moniker from a hard-hit line drive off his nose in a baseball game. He was a promising professional and loved the game, but understood the grave importance of defeating the Nazis. After a short period of training at Camp Chaffee, Hooks departed for Europe in December, 1944. He served with distinction during the war, an active participant in many pitched battles. Hooks earned a Purple Heart, helped defend the last remaining bridge that spanned the Rhine River, fought in the Battle of the Bulge, and even earned a battlefield commission. He separated from the Army in 1946 and re-started his civilian career.
Prior to the war, Hooks was earning $80/month playing baseball for the Boston Braves. Instead of blaming the war for taking years away from his baseball career, he gave credit to the Army for turning his career around. Knowing the true meaning of stress and hardship, Hooks never again faced a batter with fear. His confidence and signature high leg kick took him from winning his first major league game at age 25 to pitching a no-hitter at age 40. From the beginning of major league baseball in 1869 to today, there has never been a left-handed pitcher to win more games. A few months before his death in 2003, he attended the dedication of his bronze statue on the plaza at Turner Field.
Hooks won a World Series championship with the Milwaukee Braves in 1957. He consistently led the major leagues with the lowest earned run average and highest number of strike-outs. He pitched two no-hitters, and was named to the All Star team 14 times. With 363 victories, Hooks is the highest-winning left-handed pitcher in the history of Major League Baseball. Warren 'Hooks' Spahn was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1973.
