Battlefield Heroes: Buck Zeiger

Forrest W. “Buck” Zeiger was born on May 23, 1916 in Canton, Ohio. He was signed by the Williamson Colts of the Class D Mountain State League in 1937, but later joined the Huntington Boosters of the same league. Zeiger, a 6-foot-3, right-hander finished the year with a 5-12 record and 4.83 ERA.

In 1938, he was with the Beckley Bengals of the same league and was 10-12 in 36 appearances with a 4.26 ERA. Staying in the Mountain State League in 1939, he pitched for the Ashland Colonels before joining the Staunton Presidents of the Class D Virginia League late in the season. He was 9-12 with the Presidents in 1940 and joined the Bristol Twins of the Class D Appalachian League during the 1941 season.

Zeiger came into his own as a pitcher in 1942. In 24 appearances the 26-year-old produced an excellent 16-8 record and 1.78 ERA. He led the league with 192 innings pitched and was a league all-star as the Twins cruised to a first place finish.

A bright future was sidetracked that winter when Zeiger entered military service on November 5, 1942. During 1943, he was stationed at Camp Wheeler, Georgia. Pitching for the Camp Wheeler Spokes throughout the summer of 1943, Zeiger played alongside Cecil Travis, Ken Jungels and Walt Brickner. The Spokes had an outstanding year and he helped them clinch the National Baseball Congress Semi-Pro tournament title with a fourth round 3-0 win over the previously unbeaten 326th Glider Infantry Regiment of Nebraska of August 19.

Sergeant Zeiger later served with Company L of the 274th Infantry Regiment, 70th Infantry Division in Europe. He was seriously wounded in the abdomen while in combat in France and evacuated to a hospital in England.

Following his medical discharge he rejoined the Bristol Twins in 1946 and was their opening day pitcher, finishing the season with an 11-7 record and 3.50 ERA. In 1947, his last year in professional baseball, Zeiger was 12-8 with the Twins and had an ERA of 3.07.

Zeiger, 32, became player/manager of the semi-pro Bristol State Liners in 1948, a position he held until the early 1950s.

Buck Zeiger passed away in February 1968, aged 51.