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Posted 3 months, 30 days ago
demwasdadays
(1 item)
The game played April 30, 1944. My wife's father's birthday was also April 30 (but 1917). We think the card was sent home by an uncle serving in the Navy, stationed at Schofield Barracks, Oahu, Hawaii where the game was played. It's a cross-genre collectible. It shows the MLB players support of our military during war times. The list of MLB professional has 16 players from 11 different teams (some minor league). Two were inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame (Johnny Mize 1981, and Reese 1984). Card is autographed by Pee Wee Reese (Dodgers), Walter Masterson (Washington Senators), and LT Falkenstine (Officer-in-Charge) and Wes Schulermich (Coach) of 14th ND MLB Allstars and two other unknown persons. It is a tribute to MLB and our Military. Only the final score is indicated: ML Al Stars 9, Army All Stars 0.
They did away with major league Baseball during the war and many players went to the services. My Grandfather played pro-ball in Texas and went to the Navy. He served as a Navy Armed Guard on Merchant Marine ships off the coast of California and played ball for the Naval Station Base in San Diego. He said that they seemed to schedule his ship routes for when the base had a game where he would be in town. He mostly went up and down the Pacific Coast. Too bad he wasn't in Hawaii to play in this game and get his name on the roster.
Far from doing away with it, MLB continued during the War years.
With many of the stars in the service the talent pool was diminished and some players who probably wouldn't have made it to the big leagues got their chance.
Scott
I sit corrected.
This is the story I remember though.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All-American_Girls_Professional_Baseball_League
"With America's entry into World War II, several major league baseball executives started a new professional league with women players in order to maintain baseball in the public eye while the majority of able men were away. Initial tryouts were held at Wrigley Field in Chicago."
MLB continued and crowned World Series winners throughout the war years.
Stopping MLB would have played hell on the morale of our WW2 soldiers. Reading the boxscores (however old) has always been a favorite pastime of service members.
Scott
Thanks scottvez and AR8Jason for interesting comments. Made me go to ESPN site/world series winners. Series in 1944 was St. Louis Cardinals vs St. Louis Browns.