Volume 2, Issue 8 Gary Bedingfield’s April 2008

Contact: in Wartime [email protected] www.baseballinwartime.com

100,000 Hits for the Baseball in Wartime Website in 2008

n March 21, Baseball in flew 35 missions earning the Wartime received its Distinguished Flying Cross and Air 100,000th web page of Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters. O the year. That means Outfielder Bobby Byrne, shot down between January 1 and March 21, six enemy fighter planes over the 2008, an average of 1,234 pages of skies of North Africa while flying a the Baseball in Wartime website P-40 Warhawk. He was awarded the were looked at each day. That’s Distinguished Flying Cross and Air quite an achievement for a website Medal. that began as a -page affair Two minor league heroes of World eight years ago when I wanted World War II are included in this month’s War II baseball to have a cyberspace newsletter. Bill Brenner flew 29 presence! missions as a B-17 pilot, while Thanks to all of you who visit the site Mickey McGuire earned a Silver Star on a regular basis and thanks to all as a medical aid man in North Africa, you first-time visitors - I hope you’ll Sicily and Italy. Billy Southworth Jr, son of the Cardinals be coming back regularly. You can read about all the other Billy Southworth. Billy Jr flew 25 Minor League Heroes Minor League heroes at missions over Europe without a scratch, www.baseballinwartime.com/player_ but was killed when the B-29 Superfor- Over the last month I’ve been adding tress he was piloting crashed into Flushing a number of biographies to the biographies/player_biographies_min Bay, while attempting to land at website for minor league players. ors.htm. LaGuardia Field on February 15, 1945. While I’ve always claimed that major league players have failed to receive Player Databases Annual the recognition they deserve for their Georgia-Florida-Alabama military service during World War II, Baseball in Wartime is proud to this is even more true of minor announce it can now offer Pat Minor Leagues Baseball league players. Doyle’s outstanding database CD- Reunion ROMs. Packed with statistics for all I have been fascinated by the stories minor league players dating back as August 22 and 23, 2008 I have discovered about minor far 1920, this computer software is A reunion for men who played in the old league players who were genuine a “must have” item and an essential Georgia-Alabama, Georgia-Florida, Georgia State, Alabama-Florida, Alabama State, heroes during World War II. For part of the arsenal of research tools example, John DeJohn, a second Florida State and Florida East Coast used here at Baseball in Wartime. Leagues. baseman before the war, was a tail- For more information see the last For more information contact: gunner on a B-17 who was awarded page of this newsletter or visit the Clint Chafin the Air Medal for shooting down two database page at Nazi fighter planes that attacked his Program Chairman www.baseballinwartime.com/databa 4789 Tallokas Rd plane after a bombing raid. Joe se/database.htm Moultrie, Ga. 31788 Chiozza, a and brother of Spread the Word about the Baseball in Check out www.alabama-florida- major leaguer Lou Chiozza, was a Wartime Newsletter league.com and see photos of past bombardier on a B-26 that was shot If you know anyone that would like to receive the Baseball in wartime newsletter simply send me reunions and keep up with reunion info. down over Belgium. Pitcher, Joe their email address and I’ll make sure they are [Please not this is a revised date] Loadholtes, was a B-24 pilot and included on the mailing list.

In this Edition of the Baseball in Wartime Newsletter

Steve Sakas: Wartime Baseball Adventures Minor League Heroes of World War II - Wartime NBC Two-Time MVP Volume 2, Issue 8 Baseball in Wartime Newsletter Page 2

Steve Sakas: Wartime Baseball Adventures

teven P “Steve” Sakas was Lubbock in 1941. "We had a sandlot born in Chicago, on baseball league of four or five teams May 13, 1921. He was a and played on a field across from the S multi-sport athlete at old Texas Tech gymnasium. Amundsen High School and attended Somehow, Steve Sakas and another Wright Junior College where he Hubber, Gene Stack, learned about struck out 15 consecutive batters in the games and started coming there one game. some afternoons when they were in town and watched and encouraged Despite interest from the Chicago us and gave us some pointers. We White Sox, Sakas went to Western thought this was great because in Kalamazoo on a these were real professionals and baseball scholarship, but within a our idols and we were at the ball year he signed with the White Sox for park for just about every Hubbers' $75 a month and a $500 bonus. game." Sakas played his rookie year with the Lubbock Hubbers of the Class D The West Texas-New Mexico League West Texas-New Mexico League in was a notorious hitters’ paradise at 1941. But it wasn’t only the the time and Sakas’ 9-18 won-loss beginning of a playing career, it was record and 4.25 ERA looks a lot Military Service also the start of a lifelong dedication worse that it was. In 1942, he moved Sakas was forced to put his career to teaching others to play ball. up to the Superior Blues of the Class on hold when he entered military C Northern League where he was 9- service at the end of the season. He "I was 13 that summer," recalls Bill 12 with a 3.96 ERA. was inducted at Fort Sheridan, Cope, who was a young ballplayer in Illinois and took basic training with the Army Air Corps at Miami Beach as a physical instructor. Sakas was then assigned to Hammer Field, a 4th Air Force training base, near Fresno, California. From there he was relocated to Ephrata Army Air Base in Washington, where he coached the baseball team.

As the war progressed, every able- bodied man was needed for overseas service and Sakas quickly found himself in the infantry. “We had a warrant officer who tried out for the baseball team,” says Sakas. “He didn’t make the grade and I cut him from the team, but he really got me back when he sent me to the Army. That was the dumbest cut I ever made!”

Heading for Europe Sakas was soon on his way to Europe aboard the Queen Elizabeth. He was briefly attached to a replacement depot in England before Steve Sakas (right) with the Lubbock Hubbers of the West Texas-New Mexico League in 1941. being assigned to the 119th Infantry On the left is first baseman Kauzlerich. Volume 2, Issue 8 Baseball in Wartime Newsletter Page 3

Steve Sakas: Wartime Baseball Adventures

Regiment of the 30th Infantry Division. Not only did Sakas find himself in the thick of the Battle of Bulge but he also found out that he was the new bazooka man, even though he’d never fired a bazooka in his life! “Do you know what beat the Germans?” Sakas asked. “The thought of this crazy Greek coming at ‘em with a bazooka!” Sakas was with the 30th Division as they crossed the Rhine, then the Ruhr, and captured Magdeburg on the Elbe River on 17 April, 1945, where they were forced to wait to allow the Russians to be the first in to Berlin.

Playing Ball in Germany Following the German surrender, Sakas got back to doing what he did best, organizing sports and recreation for the troops, which included a softball team. One day, Colonel Stewart asked Sakas if he could put together a baseball team. Another division had a hot team that included Billy Johnson of the Yankees and were looking games. Sakas told the Colonel he didn’t have any baseball players but he’d do his best. He held tryouts among his softball players and selected the best, including the company cook, who became the team’s and always ensured Sakas had the best steak whenever he wanted.

The next step was to find somewhere to play. Sakas requisitioned a large mansion house and grounds in the German town of Schleiz, assuring the family that his players would take Steve Sakas (right) at Gray Field, Fort Lewis, Washington with Herm Reich. Reich played first great care of everything. He then set base with Portland of the before the war. He later played with about finding uniforms and Washington, Cleveland and the Cubs. approached a German dress factory ball player’s careful instruction. manufacturer who decided to use which just happened to be owned by “They looked great but they must cardboard for the peak inserts. “Just the family who owned the house his have been the heaviest spikes in the like the spikes,” says Sakas, “the baseball team had taken over. While world!” recalls Sakas. caps looked great, but we would the factory started making uniforms, sweat a lot and the cardboard peaks Sakas approached a cobbler, who Caps were next on the list and Sakas would just flop down in our faces made baseball spikes following the had these made by a German while we were playing.” Volume 2, Issue 8 Baseball in Wartime Newsletter Page 4

Steve Sakas: Wartime Baseball Adventures

Sakas was getting a dozen Sakas also worked with his father in and change up. He won’t teach a kid sent every month by Bill DeWitt, the family tavern business and how to throw a slider or a circle owner of the St Louis Browns, but bought his own place on Rand Street change. “Those pitches are too hard balls were always in short supply, in Des Plaines, called Steve’s Lounge on your elbow,” says Sakas who and some German women even tried (which he owned until his retirement knows too well the devastating making these – the experiment was in 1986). In 1970, he had the honor effects of a pitching injury. a disaster and ended very quickly. of having a street named after him in Des Plaines. Sakas Drive is a small And what about that shoulder injury Dressed and ready to go, Sakas’ ball street running alongside his bar. he suffered back in 1948? Well, team christened their home ground Sakas suffered a heart attack in Colonel Stewart Field and played a But Sakas wasn’t through with 1998. Talking with his doctor one number of games including a baseball. He continued to pitch, day, he mentioned how he used to heartbreaking, 1 to 0, loss to Sam when his arm would allow, and play pro ball and hurt his shoulder. Nahem’s All-Stars who went on to be hurled for the semi-pro Michigan City The doctor offered to take a look at the European Theater champions. Cubs of the Michigan- League his shoulder with an MRI scan and Nahem asked Sakas to come and in 1949. In the meantime, he discovered that he’d torn his rotator play for his team in Rheims, France, became a scout for the White Sox cuff. “At 78, is it too late to make a but Sakas was more interested in and Milwaukee Brewers. In 1951, he comeback?” Sakas wondered. getting home to the States and formed the AHEPA All-Stars, a picking up where he left off with his collection of Greek-American Steve Sakas lives in Skokie, Illinois baseball career. ballplayers. The team had great and continues to teach young success in semi-pro leagues. Sakas ballplayers with the North Shore Coming Home was also player-manager for the Baseball Academy. He was back home by November semi-pro Skokie Indians in the late 1945. “I went to with 1950s and 1960s. Thanks to Steve Sakas who shared the Milwaukee Brewers in 1946,” this information with me during a recalls Sakas. “They felt I wasn’t During the 1970s, Sakas was a telephone conversation in February ready and sent me to Greenville, pitching with high school and 2008. Thanks, also, to his sons, Jim South Carolina.” college kids. He served as the and Peter, for helping with additional pitching coach for the Lincolnwood information and photos. Sakas only spent a short time with Big league All-Stars youth team Greenville and joined Vicksburg of which won the World Championship the Southeastern League where he in Florida in 1973. In served as was 5-4 with a 3.89 ERA. In 1947, pitching coach for the Niles West he went to spring training with Indians in the mid-1970s when they Shreveport of the and won two AA State Championships. was assigned to Texarkana of the Big State League for the rest of the year, During the 1980s he coached the where he had a career-year. Sakas pitching staff of the semi-pro was 13-5 during the regular season Maryville Shamrocks and the and won another two games in the Barnstormers, who won the AABC playoffs. His career looked to be on Illinois state title two years in a row. the right track. He joined was back with Shreveport in 1948, won his Still Teaching Kids to Pitch at 87 first start against , 9-4, In the late 1980s he served as on April 29, then beat Dallas, 3-1, on pitching coach for Northeastern May 4, but a shoulder injury brought University and began giving lessons everything to a sudden halt. He at the Grand Slam USA Baseball simply couldn’t throw without pain Academy in Palatine. At 87, he is still and held out for the rest of the teaching to throw. He firmly season before retiring from pro ball. believes in teaching control and for pitchers to master the fastball, curve Steve Sakas (right) at Paine Field, Washington in 1943. Volume 2, Issue 8 Baseball in Wartime Newsletter Page 5

Minor League Heroes of World War II

Bill Brenner so badly shaken up mentally the his manager was Merv “Bud” William W "Bill" flight surgeons wanted to send us to Connolly, a former Red Sox infielder. Brenner was a flak home for a rest, but we out- He batted .237 in 121 games that born in Olympia, talked ‘em.” season and entered military service Washington in Then he recalled: “Of course, going at the end of the year. 1920. A graduate over Berlin was always rugged – of Oregon always plenty of flak and fighter McGuire served as a medical aid University, he opposition.” man through the North African and Distinguished Air Medal Sicilian campaigns and the Italian Flying Cross was signed to a Hollywood Stars Captain Brenner was awarded the invasion. He carried litters and contract by Red Killefer in 1939 and Distinguished Flying Cross with two treated wounded soldiers under sent to Bellingham of the Western Oak Leaf clusters and the Air Medal heavy shellfire for which he was , where he with three clusters. He was awarded the Silver Star. batted .288. honorably discharged in July 1945 and returned to baseball to play with McGuire rose from the rank of The young catcher was sold to Los Angeles, appearing in 22 games sergeant to second lieutenant in Tacoma of the same league in 1940 before the end of the season. December 1943, the first medical and batted .310 with 15 home runs soldier to be commissioned in the and 76 RBIs. He was purchased by Brenner remained in baseball as a Medical Administration Corps. “A lot Los Angeles of the Pacific Coast player-manager until the late 1950s of soldiers,” remarked McGuire to League in 1941 and made spring with such teams as Vancouver, the Stars and Stripes at the time, training at Ontario but was farmed Yakima, Lewiston, Seattle and “have the impression that the first to Vancouver where he batted .271 Portland. He also turned his hand to aid man is a goldbrick who hasn’t before entering military service on pitching late in his career and the nerve to carry a gun. In my own December 17, 1941. enjoyed three successive 20-win experience, I’ve found first aid men seasons between 1952 and 1954. in the field as courageous and Brenner served with the Army Air devoted to duty as any hero in the Force as a B-17 pilot and flew 29 Bill Brenner passed away in thick of the fight.” missions over Europe as a squadron Portland, Oregon on May 17, 1979. group leader. “I was just as scared Fifty per cent of all medics McGuire on my last mission as I was on the Lloyd “Mickey” McGuire served with were casualties first,” he told The Sporting News on Lloyd F “Mickey” McGuire themselves and his own squad spent August 2, 1945. “I had a mighty fine was born in Waukegan, 103 days in the frontlines treating crew. We were lucky, too. We had Illinois. As a third and evacuating the wounded. four planes shot up, but none of us baseman he signed with got more than minor scratches and the McGuire returned home in late we always managed to land back at organization and played 1945. In January 1946, he attended our base.” for the Hopkinsville the Cubs’ advanced spring training Silver Star Hoppers of the Class D group for former servicemen at Lake Brenner describes his toughest Kitty League in 1937, where he Worth, Florida. He was assigned to mission: “We were on a bomb batted .242 in 122 games. In 1938, the Portsmouth Cubs of the over Brux, Czechoslovakia. We were he raised his average to .285 with for the season up for nine and a half hours. We lost the Hoppers, and his .334 batting where he batted .213 with 8 home a lot of planes and crews that day, average in 1939 was among the runs and 80 RBIs in his last year in but we were lucky. Got back okay, best in the Kitty League. In 1940, organized baseball. but our plane looked like a sieve and McGuire was with the Madison Blues had to be junked. Some of us were of the Class B Three-I League where Ebbets Field Flannels is the finest manufacturer of vintage historically-inspired athletic clothing. www.ebbets.com Volume 2, Issue 8 Baseball in Wartime Newsletter Page 6

Cot Deal - Wartime National Baseball Congress Two-time MVP

Army Air Force in game of the tournament the Enidairs September. faced the Sioux Falls Army Air Field club with the score tied, 3 to 3, going Deal was stationed at Enid into the eighth. That morning Cot Army Flying Field in Deal had received news from home Oklahoma - a Basic Flying that his wife had given birth to a School - where he served as baby girl. With the bases loaded and a physical instructor and the count standing at three-and-two, played ball for the Enid Deal hit one over the center field Army Flying School Enidairs. fence and the Enidairs won, 7 to 3. In 1943, the team finished The Enidairs advanced to the final of second in the Victory the tournament where they were League, second in the beaten by the Sherman Field Flyers, Oklahoma State semi-pro 5 to 4. Deal again made the All- tournament and second in American team and was voted the the Sooner Service League. most valuable player of the tournament. In August 1943, the Enidairs made it to the In 1945, Deal – who batted .326 for finals of the National the year - along with Lou Kretlow and Baseball Congress Semi- Red Sox catcher Danny Doyle led the Pro Tournament in Wichita, Enidairs to the Oklahoma semi-pro Kansas, where, on August title on July 28, defeating Tinker 29, and with Cot Deal on Field, 9 to 3. They then claimed the the mound, they were National semi-pro title without a Ellis F “Cot” Deal was born on beaten, 5 to 3, by Cecil Travis and single defeat. For the third straight January 23, 1923 in Arapaho, the Camp Wheeler Spokes. Before year he was named to the All- Oklahoma, a small town in the 12,000 fans – the biggest crowd in American team and became the first western part of the state. Aged 14, the nine-year history of the event – man ever to be voted most valuable he was playing for his father, Roy Deal allowed only seven hits, but his player two consecutive years. Deal Deal, a legendary baseball figure in support was limited due to a played in all seven Oklahoma and manager of the semi- makeshift lineup caused by injuries championship games and hurled pro Oklahoma City Natural Gas and illness to regulars in the closing hitless relief in two. Gassers. The young outfielder- days of the tournament. Deal was pitcher was signed by the Pittsburgh named on the All-American semi-pro Sergeant Deal was discharged from Pirates in 1939. “The Pirate scout club for his outstanding play in the military service in October 1945. “It drove my mother, dad and me to tournament. had a maturing effect,” Deal says of Pittsburgh,” recalls Deal. “I spent a his years with the Army Air Force, week in the dugout, then signed. I Coached by B D Booth and Bill “and I was glad to be serving.” wouldn't be 17 until January.” Hankins, and featuring minor leaguers Monty Basgall, Nick Deal was with Toronto of the The Pirates sent Deal to Hutchinson Popovich, Bill Hankins, Ray International League in 1946 and of the his rookie Honeycutt, Odie Strain, Lew Morton 1947, where he was used more year. Playing the outfield and third and, of course, Cot Deal, the Enidairs frequently as a pitcher than an base he batted an impressive .312 competed in the tough Victory outfielder. It was on the mound that in 137 games. He remained with the League in 1944. They finished the he made his major league debut with team in 1941 and batted .285 in year in second place behind Fort the on September addition to pitching five games. The Riley with a 54-18 record. Deal was 11, 1947. Deal made five 19-year-old switch-hitter joined 10 and 1 on the mound, and appearances for Boston, including Harrisburg of the batted .371. Again, the team made it two starts, and finished the year with in 1942, where he batted .266, prior to the National Baseball Congress a 0-1 record and 9.24 ERA. He hurt to entering military service with the Semi-Pro Tournament. In the fourth his arm in spring training the Volume 2, Issue 8 Baseball in Wartime Newsletter Page 7

Cot Deal (continued) following year and spent most of 1948 with Louisville of the American Professional Baseball Player Databases Association but did make four last- Now available from Baseball in Wartime inning appearances for the Red Sox without allowing a run and earning Probably the most valuable research tools used at Baseball in Wartime are Pat Doyle’s Professional his first major league victory. Baseball Player Database CD-ROMs and I’m proud to be able to offer these to you via the website. These clever pieces of software contain year-by-year records for major and minor league players. Every player who is listed in the Official Baseball Guides is included, and many who were omitted Deal was traded to the Cardinals’ from the Guides because of limited playing time have been researched and added to the database. organization in 1949 and was 15-9 The Professional Baseball Player Database (1922 to 2004) includes batting (BA, HR, RBI) and pitching (W- with Columbus of the American L, ERA) statistics for each player as listed in the Guides or other sources. It enables users to search and Association. He started, completed sort information in a variety of ways. Players may be listed alphabetically, ranked by statistical categories, and won a twenty-inning game or sorted by career, team, or league. against Louisville on September 3, The Professional Baseball Statistical Database (1920 to 1945) is similar to the Player Database but is limited to the years 1920 to 1945 and includes in-depth statistics for batting (G, AB, R, H, 2B, 3B, HR, RBI, 1949, allowing only one . BA, OBP, SLG, OPS, SO, BB, SB, CS, HBP, SH, SF and Positions played) and pitching (G, GS, CG, W, L, PCT, He was 10-14 with Columbus in SV, ERA, IP, H, R, ER, SO, BB, ShO, HB, WP, HR, WHIP).

1950, and made three relief They are available now at $48.00 each. appearances for the Cardinals. Deal Visit www.baseballinwartime.com/database/database.htm to order your copy today! was back with Columbus in 1951, and joined the of the International League in 1952. He was 14-9 that year and his 16-9 record and 3.72 ERA in 1953 prompted a return to the major leagues. In 1954, Deal made 33 relief appearances for the Cardinals.

Deal, aged 32, was back with the Red Wings in 1955. He became the club’s player-coach under manager in 1956, took over as manager in 1957 and reached the playoffs the following season. Deal joined Cincinnati as a pitching coach in 1959, and later held that position with Houston, the Yankees, Kansas City, Cleveland and Detroit. Along the The Professional Baseball Player Database gives you all the player stats (major league and minor league) you could ever want at your fingertips. way he managed in the minors and was an assistant farm director with the .

In 1994, Cot Deal was inducted into the Rochester Red Wings Hall of Fame. He remains the only person in National Baseball Congress history to win the annual tournament MVP award twice.

Cot Deal and his wife, Katie, live in suburban Oklahoma City. “We were married at 19, parents at 21, and grew up with our kids,” says Cot. “We've been married 65 years.” www.vallebaseball.com