Monty Stratton

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Monty Franklin Pierce Stratton (May 21, 1912 - September 29, 1982), also nicknamed "Gander", was a Major League Baseball pitcher. He was born in Celeste, Texas, USA.

Stratton played five years with the Chicago White Sox (1934-38), compiling a career 36-23 record with 196 strikeouts and a 3.71 ERA in 487.1 innings. His major league career ended prematurely when a hunting accident in 1938 forced doctors to amputate his right leg.

A 6-foot-5-inch righthander, Stratton made his debut with the White Sox on June 2, 1934. He became a starter in 1937, winning 15 games with a 2.40 ERA and five shutouts, and made the American League All-Star squad. The following season, he also won 15 and completed 17 of his 22 starts.

On November 27, 1938, Stratton was hunting rabbits on his family farm when he fell, accidentally discharging a holstered pistol. The bullet struck his right leg, damaging a main artery enough to require amputation. Equipped with a wooden leg, Stratton worked with the White Sox the next two years as a coach and batting practice pitcher. When World War II started, he tried to enlist but was rejected. Then, he organized a semipro baseball team at Greenville, Texas, and constantly practiced coordination on the field.

In 1946, Stratton stunned the baseball world when he pitched again in the minors. His return to baseball was rough sledding because other teams persistently bunted balls out of his reach, but Stratton finally was able to make a successful comeback winning 18 games with Class C Sherman in the East Texas League.

His comeback attempt was the subject of the film The Stratton Story (Sam Wood, 1949), which starred Jimmy Stewart and June Allyson, with big-leaguers Gene Bearden, Bill Dickey and Jimmy Dykes in cameo appearances.

Stratton died in Greenville, Texas, on September 29, 1982, at the age of 70.