Ducky Detweiler

24 - Ducky Detweiler, Federalsburg, 1947.jpg

Ducky Detweiler, Federalsburg, 1947

Robert “Ducky” Detweiler is one of the most well-known players from Federalsburg. Ducky was born in February 1919 in Pennsylvania. He moved to Federalsburg in 1939 to play for the farm team of the Philadelphia Athletics. While there, he met his future wife Jean and they married in 1944.

Ducky played for the A's for one season before being promoted to the Wilmington Delaware Blue Rocks in 1940 and the Boston Bees in 1941. He made his major league debut with the Boston Braves in 1942 and played in 12 games before being drafted. He served in the U.S. Army from 1943 to 1945 and managed to play baseball throughout his service. After coming home, he returned to play for the Braves for a short time.

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Ducky Detweiler with MVP trophy, 1947

In 1947, Ducky returned to Federalsburg where he became a player-manager for the Athletics. He continued to play and manage in the minors until 1952, when he officially retired from baseball. Ducky went on to own a tavern and work for the post office in Federalsburg. He continued to play an active role in local sports as an official and umpire for high school and college baseball, basketball and football, and as a high school and senior league softball coach.

Ducky was inducted into the Eastern Shore Baseball Hall of Fame in 1995. He became a huge fan of the Delmarva Shorebirds, a farm team of the Baltimore Orioles. Baseball always held a special place in Ducky’s heart. Robert “Ducky” Detweiler passed away in 2013.

Images Courtesy of Gina McConnell
Baseball in Federalsburg
Ducky Detweiler