My father Fred died tragically on Dec. 18, 1948, when my mother was three months pregnant with me. I never had the privilege of meeting him in this world, but he impacted my life in many beautiful and important ways.

My father was part of the greatest generation. He served as an Army sergeant in the Pacific Theater of World War II. My mother kept mementos of his time in the military that were reminders of his heroic service and love for our country.

Before his military service, my father played professional baseball in the St. Louis Cardinals’ minor league system. He was a catcher and caught for Stan Musial before the Cardinals realized “Stan the Man” was a much more gifted hitter than pitcher.  

One of the ways in which my mother wished to honor the memory of my father was to cultivate in me a love for baseball. One of my father’s best friends, Sheldon Bender, became the chief scout for the Cardinals. I will never forget Mr. Bender taking my brother and me into the Cardinals’ dugout the night before a game to meet some of our childhood heroes.

I have never met anyone who spoke negatively about my father. From all accounts, he was a great teammate, a good friend and a man of virtue, although my mother did save some newspaper clippings of dad being ejected for arguing with umpires. In 1997, my father was inducted into the St. Louis Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame.

My mother and father married at the beginning of 1941. She loved to tell the story of her logic in convincing my grandfather that she was ready for marriage by pleading: “I am 18, practically 19, almost 20!”

I am indebted to my father for choosing for me an amazing mother. After my father’s death, my mother never remarried. She devoted her life to 1) living her Catholic faith, serving always as an active member of the Legion of Mary, 2) caring for me and my brother, and 3) forming students in the faith as a Catholic school teacher.

My father was murdered at his job. My mother recounted that my father had been looking for a new job because he wanted to be able to participate in daily Mass. 

Partially because of my father’s death, the priests in our parish took a special interest in me and my brother. They were friends of our family. Thus, it was natural for me to consider a vocation to the priesthood. 

I inherited from my dad a love of country, a passion for baseball, and a deep faith in Jesus and his Real Presence in the Eucharist. I can honestly attest that I have no father wounds, but received many blessings from a heroic and virtuous dad. I look forward to meeting him in heaven.  

Archbishop Joseph Fred Naumann is archbishop emeritus of Kansas City, Kansas.