Eugene Louis Corbett

delmarvanow.com, January 30, 2009

SALISBURY -- Eugene Louis "Gene" Corbett, 95, of Salisbury died Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2009, in Salisbury.

Born on Oct. 25, 1913, in Winona, Minn., he was the oldest of three sons of Theodore and Cecelia Corbett.

After his early childhood in Winona on the shores of the Mississippi river, the family moved to St. Paul. There he began a baseball career, which led to a 20-year profession including portions of three years with the Philadelphia Phillies. He led the International League (AAA) in batting average in 1941. At the time of his death, he was the eighth oldest former Major League player.

He was married for 45 years to the former Anna Kane of Philadelphia until her passing in 1985. Together they traveled throughout America as Mr. Corbett pursued his active playing career, then became a manager in the St. Louis Cardinals farm system. One of his assignments brought him and the family to Salisbury, where they settled in 1948.

Mr. Corbett was an active member of Saint Francis de Sales Catholic Church, a founding member of the parish Knights of Columbus and a longtime church usher. He was a cofounder of the original PONY League in Salisbury and an active supporter of youth sports activities at all levels throughout the region. He was elected to the Eastern Shore Baseball Hall of Fame.

He operated a sporting goods store on Main Street, which later evolved into the trophy business he ran until his retirement in 2003. An active fisherman all his life, he never lost his touch, fishing occasionally and still catching crappie into his 90s.

He is survived by son and daughter-in-law, Eugene Jr and Sue Corbett of Colorado Springs, Colo.; daughter and son-in-law, Mary Ann and Larry Maier of Sea Cliff, N.Y.; son and daughter-in-law, Michael and MargaretAnn Corbett of Washington; five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; and two brothers, Thomas Corbett of Oklahoma City and Theodore Corbett of Gales Ferry, Conn.

Mr. Corbett was preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Ann. He will be missed by all whose lives he touched.

There will be a private family service.