Gary Bedingfield’s BASEBALL IN WARTIME

Volume 1, Issue 2 October 2007

WWW.BASEBALLINWARTIME.CO.UK

Duty, Honor, Country: When Baseball Went To War A Special Conference and Exhibition On America’s Pastime in WWII - November 9-11, 2007 - New Orleans

hen I launched the during this time because I certainly I really can’t say Baseball in Wartime have plenty more information to add. enough about what a newsletter this summer I great event this is W had no idea it would On the subject of the New Orleans going to be. Spread receive such a huge and positive conference (which is only two weeks over a three-day response. The mailing list has away), if you get the opportunity to be period, there will be continued to grow on a daily basis and there, please come over and say hello. panels focusing on demand has prompted me to rethink I know so many of you by name. It key issues relating to how regularly the newsletter should be would be great to finally meet you after wartime baseball produced. all these years! including morale, the Gary Bedingfield homefront, the battlefront, civil rights I had originally planned to circulate this, and baseball’s role in American the second issue, after the New society. I love discovering service team logos and Orleans conference, but decided to particularly enjoyed this one. It was worn by In addition to numerous experts in the bring it forward to meet demand. There the Las Vegas Army Airfield Horned Toads. will, of course, be a “special” issue that field of wartime baseball, former major The team was coached by Red Dugan who league players in attendance will will bring you all the highlights and coached the University of baseball include Bob Feller, Johnny Pesky, Lou news from New Orleans in November. team after the war. From there on the newsletter will Brissie, Morrie Martin, Jerry Coleman You can read his biography at and Lenny Yochim. probably be released on a bi-monthly www.baseballinwartime.co.uk basis. Keynote presentations will be from Todd Anton (author of No Greater As you may have noticed, I have been Love), and myself. a little slow in updating the Baseball in I hope to see you there! Wartime website recently and that is primarily due to preparation I am doing For further information call the museum on for New Orleans. Please bare with me 504-527-6012 xtn 257 or email [email protected].

Hal Jeffcoat Baseball in Wartime September 6, 1924 to August 30, 2007 Website Facelift Jeffcoat served with the 517th Parachute Regimental Combat Team in I am currently in the process of WWII. His pro career began in the Tri- redesigning the Baseball in Wartime State League in 1946. He batted .346 website. I have a great-looking new with 15 home runs and 118 RBIs for layout and pages will open in a much Nashville in the Southern Association in more uniform manner, no matter what 1947, and joined the Cubs in 1948. In size monitor you are viewing on. I know 1954, Jeffcoat converted from the there has been a problem with the way outfield to . He had his best some of the pages have been opening season on the mound in 1957 with the and this should overcome that issue. Reds when he was 12-13. He ended his professional career with Seattle in I anticipate a launch sometime in the Pacific Coast League in 1960. December 2007.

Ebbets Field Flannels is the finest manufacturer of vintage historically- inspired athletic clothing. www.ebbets.com VOLUME 1, ISSUE 2 Page 2

Ted Williams at War by Bill Nowlin was no ordinary Williams at War is a day-by- very well on both the baseball ballplayer. He was a two-time day, blow-by-blow account of and military level. MVP winner, led the league Ted Williams the military in batting six times, and won serviceman. It is an The photographs are a the Triple Crown twice. exceptionally in-depth record particular treat, showing Ted of his distinguished career, Williams as a “normal guy” But, it has always amazed featuring many interviews serviceman rather than the me how authors have with fellow servicemen from glamorous ballplayer he was managed to sum up Ted both WWII and the Korean as a civilian. Williams’ military career in a War. couple of paragraphs. They If you have read any of the usually provide you with a Ted Williams is undoubtedly Ted Williams’ biographies paragraph about his WWII one of our greatest military then I strongly advise you to activities and then a baseball heroes but to what get yourself a copy of Bill paragraph about his exploits extent he is worthy of that Nowlin’s Ted Williams at in the … and title has never really been War. At last you will be able that’s it. explored. Bill Nowlin has to fill in the gaps and get a Ted Williams at War done an outstanding job in complete picture of this deep, Well, at long last, author Bill fascinating and intriguing Bill Nowlin piecing together Williams’ Rounder Books $24.95 Nowlin has corrected this human being. career and the book works Order your copy at enormous oversight. Ted www.rounderbooks.com Murry Dickson Past Time Sports www.pasttimesports.biz Murry Dickson was born in joined the Army, but at the Antique-style Baseball Gloves Tracy, Missouri on August request of baseball 21, 1916. He began his pro commissioner Landis, he was career with Grand Island of granted a 10-day furlough by the Nebraska State League Seventh Service Command in 1937 and made single to pitch in the 1943 World game appearances with the Series, and pitched two- St Louis Cardinals in 1939 thirds of an in the final and 1940. game. He is one of only two members of the armed forces After posting a 21-11 record to appear in a . at Columbus of the American In 1918, Fred Thomas was Association, he joined the St on leave from the Navy when Louis Cardinals in 1942, he appeared in all six games I get a lot of emails asking about old baseball equipment and thought I’d posting a 6-3 record in 36 of the World Series for the share with you this range of “antique-style” baseball gloves from Past Time games with an excellent 2.91 Red Sox. Sports. The range includes models from the 1920s as well as the great ERA. 1930s model shown above. For further information contact Dickson was stationed at Fort Past Time Sports at www.pasttimesports.biz. In September 1943, Dickson Leavenworth, Kansas in 1943. He was later stationed forced to dive into a foxhole and pitched the 35th at Fort Riley, Kansas, Fort to avoid enemy fire. Shortly Infantry Indians to a series Meade, and Camp afterwards, someone else of victories in exhibition Shanks, New York, before jumped on top of him. It games in Germany and leaving with the 35th Infantry turned out that this man was France. Division for Europe on May General Patton. After they 12, 1944. got out of the fire and were When Dickson returned able to retreat to the safety of home he had with him a He arrived in Liverpool, their lines General Patton vast assortment of England on May 26 and on asked Dickson to become his "souvenirs" including July 7, he reached mainland personal jeep driver to which German hand guns, Europe. For 10 months, he reclined. He later said "no cameras, binoculars and Dickson advanced through way, Patton is nuts, he watches. Europe with the 35th Infantry doesn't think anyone can kill Division as the driver of a him." Fortunately for point jeep. He was in combat Dickinson he refused the job, Read the full Murry Dickson at the breakout at St Lo, the as Patton was killed in a jeep biography Battle of the Bulge, the accident in France shortly at Baseball in Wartime crossing of the Rhine and the after the war. © Gary Bedingfield 2007 Murry Dickson pitched for 18 seasons final thrust through Germany. in the major leagues. www.baseballinwartime.co.uk When the war ended, he [email protected] On one occasion he was traded fatigues for flannels