Warren Spahn, Former MLB Pitcher, Shares His Remagen Bridge Experiences

Major League Baseball pitcher Warren Spahn shares his wartime experiences at the Ludendorff Bridge
in this clip from "The Big Picture" documentary episode titled, "The Bridge at Remagen". I have also included a short segment at the end with former Representative Ken Hechler (D-WV September 20, 1914-), author of the book, "The Bridge at Remagen: The Amazing Story of March 7, 1945", summarizing the suspected causes for the collapse of the bridge. Interestingly, Rep. Hechler is currently the oldest living person to have served in the United States Congress at age 101.

From Wikipedia: Warren Edward Spahn (April 23, 1921 – November 24, 2003) was a Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher who played his entire 21-year baseball career in the National League. He won 20 games or more in 13 seasons, including a 23–7 record when he was age 42. Spahn was the 1957 Cy Young Award winner, and was the runner-up three times, all during the period when one award was given, covering both leagues. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1973, with 83% of the total vote.

Spahn won 363 games, more than any other left-handed pitcher in history, and more than any other pitcher who played his entire career in the post-1920 live-ball era. He is acknowledged as one of the best pitchers in Major League Baseball history. The Warren Spahn Award, given to the major leagues' best left-handed pitcher, is named after him.

His major league career began in 1942 with the Braves and he spent all but one year with that franchise, first in Boston and then in Milwaukee. He finished his career in 1965 with the New York Mets and the San Francisco Giants.

Along with many other major leaguers, Spahn chose to enlist in the United States Army, after finishing the 1942 season in the minors. He served with distinction, and was awarded a Purple Heart. He saw action in the Battle of the Bulge and at the Ludendorff Bridge as a combat engineer, and was awarded a battlefield commission.

Spahn returned to the major leagues in 1946 at the age of 25, having missed three full seasons.

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Public domain footage produced by the US Army Pictorial Center.

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