Baseball in Wartime Newsletter Page 2
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Gary Bedingfield’s Baseball Volume 3, Issue 18 in Wartime Baseball March 2009 www.baseballinwartime.com [email protected] in Wartime www.baseballinwartime.com Professional Baseball Players Who Lost Their Lives in World War II ell, I made it. I finally I was sure baseball was part of the completed the manuscript for Professional Baseball Americans ‘entertainment Players Who Died in World W To: Gary Bedlingfield - while searching for the location of a WWII Replacement Depot War II and sent it to McFarland in North Carolina within their deadline. (by train about 3 hours from Greenock) in Scotland I came across your website. I’m pleased with the project and I've been trying to fill in some details of my fathers (Max L. Bedell) history as a B-26 honored to be able to pay homage to the Pilot in WWII for a blog. He was with the Mighty 8th in Antrim, No. Ireland (Sept 43), 127 minor league players that made the then transferred (Mar 44)to the 9th Army at Andrews Air Field in England. ultimate sacrifice in military service between 1940 and 1946. Thanks to He never mentioned much about day to day life on the bases other than riding everyone who has helped along the way - bicycles at Antrim. I was sure baseball was part of the Americans entertainment but I could not have done it without your had no idea it was so extensive. Its good to know that baseball was available and support. there was something to divert the guys attention from the war, use their energy and Keep an eye on future newsletters for an provide some measure of normalcy to a horrible situation. update on when the book will be available. Although not a fan myself I found your website fascinating and interesting. Your passion for the sport excites the reader. The personal experiences of the players, the With the project now completed, I intend memorials and the historical references of the progress of the war keep things in to re-introduce myself to my long- perspective. suffering family and get back to working on the website and newsletter. I am I just wanted to take the time to say that I appreciate what a monumental task this hoping to add numerous player has been for you and send my thanks for your detailed research. I enjoyed it very biographies plus some service team much. Its so important to have all facets of the history of the war documented and profiles. you have contributed a lot. In the meantime, if there’s anything you’re looking for just let me know. Barbara Denzer January 25, 2009 Gary Bedingfield [email protected] Get Your Copy Now! When Baseball Went to War With contributions from Todd Anton, Gary Bedingfield, Frank Ce- resi, Bill Nowlin, Bill Swank and many others. Click here to order from amazon.com Ebbets Field Flannels is the finest manufacturer of vintage historically- inspired athletic clothing. www.ebbets.com Volume 3, Issue 18 Baseball in Wartime Newsletter Page 2 Eddie Kearse “Three years ago a doctor told me joined the Army. He served at Camp manager at Eddie Kearse would never play ball Chaffee, Arkansas, where he was Paducah and again. In fact, the doc intimated behind the plate for Warren Spahn Grand Forks, Eddie’s condition was so serious the on the post ball team before going before kid might never get out of bed. And overseas in 1944. retiring from look at him, will you! Hitting that ball the and moving around as though he Kearse served as a sergeant with the professional never had an injury or an ailment.” 125th Armored Engineers in Europe game. and was seriously wounded during a However, he New York Yankees’ scout, Joe Devine, in mortar barrage in France on was still March 1947 November 22, 1944. He underwent playing ball several operations that left appalling with Eureka Edward P. scars on his back and shoulders. But VFW in 1954 “Eddie” he was determined to play baseball and played Kearse was again and against all odds he did so. semi-pro born in San baseball in Francisco, On June 18, 1945, Kearse joined the 1958 with California, on Oakland Oaks as a back-up catcher the Humboldt Crabs at the age of 42. February 23, to Billy Raimondi. The combat 1916. He was veteran was given the night off on Eddie Kearse lived the last 17 years signed by the August 14 to celebrate the end of of his life in Eureka, California, with New York the war, and on October 21 he was his wife, Helena, and worked in the Yankees and selected to play in the annual Majors plywood industry for Mutual Plywood his minor versus Minors game at Oakland. In in Fairhaven, California. They had league career 1946, Kearse played 73 games with three children Edward, Claudia and began with the Rogers Lions of the the Oaks and batted .273. The Kathleen. Kearse passed away on Arkansas-Missouri League in 1936. following season he appeared in 58 July 15, 1968. He was just 52 years In 1937 he played with Joplin of the games producing a .252 average. old. Western Association and spent 1938 with Wenatchee of the Western “You know what got Eddie back into “Humboldt County lost one of its International League. Kearse joined baseball?” Yankees’ scout, Joe most prominent,” wrote Don Terbush the Fort Worth Cats of the Texas Devine, told the Oakland Tribune in in the Eureka Times on July 18, League in 1939 and was with the 1947, “Sheer courage, that’s what. 1968. “He was understandably Seattle Rainiers of the Pacific Coast He wanted to play and he made proud of his days with the Yankees League in 1940, where he batted himself well in spite of any but chose, instead, to discuss .302 in 86 games. predictions made by a smart doctor. baseball in general rather than his What a guy!” personal career. He was an avid fan In 1941, he was with the Kansas City of the game from the Midget to the Blues of the American Association There is little doubt that Kearse had Major League level. He was never and was the following year he was incredible will and determination, in too busy to lend a helping hand to called up by the Yankees to work as addition to be a tough competitor. “I the budding player and to the local the bullpen catcher. Bill Dickey and remember one day,” recalled Oaks’ baseball programs as a whole. Buddy Rosar were the starting owner, Vince Devincenzi in the same receivers for the Yankees, but when Tribune article, “when he went after “Only last summer Ed donated an Dickey injured his right foot and a foul ball and his right hand was oversized baseball bat which had Rosar sprained a muscle in his left practically split open when he been presented to him during his leg in a game against the Tigers on misjudged the catch. Did Eddie ask playing days in New York to the June 11, Kearse got his chance to to be taken out of the game? He did Eureka Midget League. It is to be play. He caught Lefty Gomez for the not. We held up the contest until the awarded annually to the city third inning before the game was hand had been taped and Eddie champion. halted due to rain. Kearse was went the distance.” behind the plate for a further ten “He was a friend indeed to the games filling in for the injured Kearse joined the San Diego Padres national pastime and to the receivers. He ended the year with a in 1947 and became player-manager multitudes associated with it.” .192 batting average, getting five with the Ventura Yankees of the hits in 26 at-bats. California League in 1948. The following year he was player- On December 7, 1942, Kearse Volume 3, Issue 18 Baseball in Wartime Newsletter Page 3 Hank Thompson Henry C. “Hank” Thompson was born rejoined the Mon- on December 8, 1925 in Oklahoma archs through the City, Oklahoma but grew up in Texas. 1948 season. His parents separated when he was very young and he lived with his In April 1948, as mother who worked long hours. “My Thompson was travel- sister Florence was supposed to ing to the Monarchs’ watch me,” he explained. “but I spring training camp would sneak off and play ball. All I in San Antonio, he wanted was to play ball. They made stopped at his sister’s me go to school, but I played hooky.” in Dallas. On April 3, he shot and killed for- mer sandlot ball- He was arrested twice as a teenager player, Buddy Crow. - once for jewelry theft, and later for He turned himself in truancy – and spent six months at to the police the next Gatesville Reform School, near Dal- day and was arrested las, where he played on the first or- for murder. Thomp- ganized baseball team he had ever son pleaded not seen. He got out of Gatesville at age guilty, was released 15, and began drinking but also on bond, and joined played baseball for a local black the Monarchs. Two team. In 1943, at 17, he joined the years later the case Kansas City Monarchs. was dismissed. Thompson entered military service in On February 1, 1949, March 1944. He served with the the New York Giants 1695th Combat Engineers, in which purchased Hank Thompson from the all the soldiers were black and most Monarchs, paying him a $2,500 job as a playground director.