Rex Barney

Rex Edward Barney


Born:
December 19, 1924
Omaha, NE

Died:
August 12, 1997
Baltimore, MD


Career
1940-41 Creighton Prep - Omaha, NE (High School)
1941-42 Creighton Prep - Omaha, NE (High School)
1942-43 Creighton Prep - Omaha, NE (High School)
1947-48 Omaha Tomahawks (PBLA)

Born to Eugene and Marie Barney, Rex was a basketball and baseball star at Crieghton prep. He lead the basketball team to two state titles, and as a pitcher on the baseball team, won two state titles there, too. In the Spring of 1943, Barney signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers, and before the '43 season was done, Barney had a meteoric rise through the Dodgers farm system and joined the parent club for the last month of the season. He entered the U.S. Army after the season, and headed off to Europe. He served in France and Germany, earning two Purple Hearts (courtesy of some German shrapnel) and a Bronze Star.

He returned the the Dodgers in 1946, and was with the team through 1950. After the 1947 season, he played basketball with the Tomahawks back home in Omaha. A broken ankle in 1948 changed his pitching form, and hastened the end of his athletic career. After a couple of seasons in the minor leagues, we was done in 1952. After suffering through severe depression from the abrupt ending of his baseball career, he wound up trying broadcasting, and achieved success, culminating in working as the address announcer for the Baltimore Orioles. Diabetes and heart issues plagued him in his later years, and he died in 1997.

Rex married Beverly Duda in 1947 and they had two children before getting divorced.

MLB Stats:
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/barnere02.shtml

Source:
SABR Biography Project

Stats:
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=barnere01
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/rex-barney/