Cecil Travis, 93; infielder was chosen for 3 All-Star teams
Cecil Travis, 93, a hard-hitting All-Star infielder whose baseball career was interrupted by service in World War II, died Saturday at his home in Riverdale, Ga. The New York Times reported the cause of death as congestive heart failure.
Travis, a shortstop for the Washington Senators, batted .314 for his career and had a major league-leading 218 hits in 1941 -- the same season Boston’s Ted Williams batted .406 and the New York Yankees’ Joe DiMaggio got a hit in 56 consecutive games.
On Christmas Eve 1941, Travis received his induction notice for World War II. He served much of the war as a foot soldier, and suffered frostbite in two toes while serving with the 76th Infantry in France. He didn’t return home until the final few weeks of the 1945 season.
Travis hit .359 the year before the war and .252 in his first season afterward.
He twice finished in the top 10 in Most Valuable Player voting and was selected for three All-Star teams.
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