The fans speak out. (Letters To The Editor).(Letter to the Editor)

A reader recently asked about (former Washington Senator shortstop/third baseman) Cecil Travis (March Baseball Digest). I spoke with Travis in late December and, indeed, he is alive and well. He lives on the family farm in Riverdale, Georgia.

During World War II, while serving in the U.S. Army in the Battle of the Bulge (with the 76th Infantry Division), he sustained frostbite on his feet and was never able to recover completely.

That explains why his post-war numbers dropped so sharply. Back in May 16, 1933, in his major league debut, Travis set a record with five hits.

 
Bob Mayer 
Westwood, NJ. 

Cecil Travis was a boyhood idol of mine, along with Lou Gehrig.

To his credit, Travis did not want his World War II service to influence Hall of Fame voters. I think it should, however, since he saw infantry combat and suffered frozen feet which seriously affected his performance when he returned to the majors after his discharge.

I saw him play at old Griffith Stadium in late 1945 and he was a shadow of his former self. He could not move, and I saw him thrown out at home by ten feet, attempting to score on a standard fly ball to right.