Monty Stratton was a promising young major-league pitcher with the Chicago White Sox (1934-1938) who had to have his leg amputated in a tragic hunting accident. In 1937 he posted a 15-5 record with a 2.40 ERA and was selected to play in the All-Star Game. He also had a 15-9 record in 1938. After his hunting accident on November 27, 1938 he was determined to resume his baseball-playing career, the Wagner native (seven miles northwest of Greenville) practiced pitching with the help of his wife, who served as his catcher. Since he was a righthander, he could not push off the mound with his artificial leg because of balance problems, so he had to develop a new motion. It was this new motion that enabled him to pitch for Sherman in the East Texas League and post an 18-8 record in 1946. Jimmy Stewart portrayed Stratton in the 1948 film The Stratton Story. The movie won an Academy Award for best original screenplay. Stratton was inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 1961.