Ralph "The Major" Houk was a decorated Army Ranger and combat veteran of World War II and the Battle of the Bulge who received the Silver Star, Purple Heart, and Bronze Star. He later spent 11 years with the New York Yankees and took part in eight World Series championships. He played as a backup catcher behind Yogi Berra and became team manager in 1955. Over 18 years, he managed 3,150 major league games, including five years with the Detroit Tigers and two years with the Boston Red Sox.