Roy Gleason

Roy William Gleason (born April 9, 1943) is an American former professional baseball player who appeared in eight games in Major League Baseball for the Los Angeles Dodgers late in the 1963 season. An outfielder by trade, he was a switch hitter who threw left-handed. He was listed as 6 feet 5 inches (1.96 m) tall and 220 pounds (100 kg).

Gleason was born in Melrose Park, Illinois, but grew up in Garden Grove, California, in Orange County. He signed with the Dodgers in June 1961. In 1963, after spending the minor-league campaign with Class A Salem of the Northwest League, he was recalled by the Dodgers in September when rosters expanded to 40 players. In his eight games, Gleason was used primarily as a pinch runner although had one official at bat on September 28, 1963. In the eighth inning of a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Dodger Stadium, pinch hitting for pitcher Phil Ortega where Gleason, batting right-handed, hit a double down the left-field line against left-hander Dennis Bennett. He eventually scored a run. The Dodgers later went on to win the 1963 World Series, earning him a World Series ring. That ring was eventually lost during his time in Vietnam.

In 1967, he was drafted into the United States Army and later served in the Vietnam War with the 9th Infantry Division (Old Reliables) and earned the Purple Heart while wounded by enemy forces on a patrol. He achieved the rank of sergeant and was also entitled to wear the Combat Infantryman Badge.

After his return from Vietnam, he again played in the Dodgers' farm system in 1969 and 1970, though his war injuries had impaired his baseball skills, so he never made it back to the major leagues.

He became a car salesman, married twice, and had two sons.

Roy Gleason remains the only US combat veteran and former Major League Baseball player to receive "Special Congressional Recognition" for being awarded a Purple Heart, a World Series Ring, and holding a "perfect" lifetime Major League batting average. He also remains the only professional baseball player who after first playing in the Major Leagues was later drafted into the US Army and sent to the front lines in the Vietnam War.

TV and movie career

Gleason appeared in the TV series Branded, alongside Chuck Connors, and as "Gotham 100" race car driver Grimaldi Smith (hijacked by Cliff Robertson, Joan Staley, John Mitchum and Timothy Scott) in the Batman episode "Come Back, Shame" [S2, E25, series episode 59] (also featuring Eric Shea).

Gleason was considered for the lead role in the film Doubles Brigade.