Gary Bedingfield’s IN WARTIME

Volume 2, Issue 5 January 2008

WWW.BASEBALLINWARTIME.CO.UK

Living WWII Ballplayer Veterans at 250

appy New Year, and when I am not sure what direction to go WWII Major League Veterans welcome to the first Baseball next with this mammoth task of We Lost in 2007 in Wartime Newsletter of recording everything to do with WWII 2008. baseball. Focusing on living players will Ernie Koy - January 1 H Bill LeFebvre - January 19 always give me something to fall back Over the Christmas period I spent some on when I am not sure where to go - January 30 time looking at numbers in relation to next. I intend to interview as many of - February 9 baseball during WWII. Bear with me, all these living veterans as I can and will Buddy Hancken - February 17 will soon become clear. I have a make these biographies available as Bob Malloy - February 20 database that I have used to gather soon as possible. Clem Labine - March 2 information on major league players Bobby Sturgeon - March 10 who served with the military in WWII. Furthermore, there are a couple of book Lou Limmer - April 1 The database currently contains 1,320 proposals in the pipeline, and I will be in Ed Bahr - April 6 names and contains details of each Cooperstown, NY, in mid-January. So Charles Marshall - April 15 player’s playing career, military service, 2008 looks to be another busy year! Ralph McLeod - April 27 date of birth, date of death etc. Milt Bocek - April 29 Dick Kryhoski - May 10 It made me wonder how many players Bill Wight - May 17 with wartime military service were still Vern Hoscheit () - June 11 living and with a few clicks here and Shag Crawford () - July 11 there, I was presented with the answer Carl McNabb - July 16 - 250! Scat Davis - July 23 - August 4 This equates to around 19% of all - August 13 players with WWII military service still Ox Miller - August 13 living. Hal Jeffcoat - August 30 John Sullivan - September 20 Phil Rizzuto Further analysis revealed that Lonny Bob Marquis - November 28 Frey - who is 97 - is the oldest living 1917-2007 Tommy Byrne - December 20 player with WWII service. Hot on the heels of Lonny is , who Sponsor a Page on Baseball in Wartime for 2008 turns 94 in February! Maintaining the Baseball in Wartime website is not an easy task and The youngest living veteran appears to conducting the extensive research that’s required can be very expensive. be Cloyd Boyer, who turned 80 on That’s why I’m offering you the opportunity to help by sponsoring a player September 1, 2007, and served with page on the website. For a donation of between $5 and $50 (it’s up to you), the US Navy. you can sponsor a family member, friend or favorite player’s biography and have your own personal message appear at the top of the page. As a result, I have decided to focus on compiling biographies of living players Payment can be made securely online with PayPal and further information for next couple of months. That doesn’t can be obtained at www.baseballinwartime.co.uk/sponsor.htm mean I will ONLY focus on living or email me at [email protected] players, it’s just that there are times Thanks for your help!

VOLUME 2, ISSUE 5 Page 2

Baseball and the Battle of the Bulge

At 0530 on December 16, 1944, a massive artillery barrage was followed by three powerful German armies plunging into the hilly and heavily forested Ardennes region of eastern Belgium and northern Luxembourg. The result was the bloodiest of battles that US forces fought in Europe in WWII and soon became known as the Battle of the Bulge.

Thinking the Ardennes was the least likely spot for a German offensive, American forces in the area were minimal and almost complete surprise was achieved. Within the first three days of battle, two of the US 106th Infantry Division’s three regiments were forced to surrender and the 19,000 American dead were unsurpassed by those of any other engagement. For the US Army, the battle incorporated more troops and engaged more enemy troops than any conflict before that time.

However, in snow and sub-freezing temperatures the Germans failed to meet their objective - that of reaching the sprawling Meuse River on the edge of the Ardennes. All that they accomplished was to create a Bulge in the American line (hence the name “The Battle of the Bulge”). Ted Williams at War Bill Nowlin The Germans lost irreplaceable men, tanks and equipment, and on January 25, 1945, after heavy lossesRounder on both Books the $24.95 American and German sides, the Bulge ceased to exist. Less than four months later Germany unconditionally surrendered.Order your copy at www.rounderbooks.com At least 25 players from were involved in the Battle of the Bulge - five made the ultimate sacrifice.

Those Who Lost Their Lives at the Battle of the Bulge

Bill Hansen 1945. It was later confirmed was with the 3rd Armored action during the Battle of the Bill was from Chicago, and he had died in combat in Division in Europe. He was Bulge on New Year's Day signed with Greenville in Belgium on December 16, killed in action during the 1945. 1941. He was with the Green 1944 – the first day of the final days of the Battle of Elmer Wachtler Bay Blue Jays of the Battle of the Bulge. the Bulge on January 14, in 1945. Ernie Hrovatic 1942 where he batted .310 Hank Nowak and his contract was purchased by the Milwaukee Brewers of the American Association, but military service beckoned before he had the opportunity to report.

Sergeant Hansen served with the US Army in the Battle of the Bulge. He died from wounds received during that conflict in January 1945. Elmer was from Omaha, NE, Ernie was from and signed a minor league Erne Holbrook Highlandtown, OH, and contract with the St Louis Ernie was from Los Angeles, signed a contract with the St Hank was from Buffalo, NY, Cardinals in 1942 and played and a star athlete at the Louis Cardinals in 1942 and and signed a minor league for Decatur and Lynchburg University of Southern was assigned to the contract with the Albany the next two seasons. California. He signed a Washington Redbirds in the Travelers of the Georgia- professional contract with He was inducted into the Penn State League. He was Florida League in 1937. Charlotte in 1935, and also military in March 1944 and the rightfielder with the played for Rocky Mount in He had a sensational served in Europe with the Jamestown Falcons of the 1936. sophomore year with the 35th Infantry Division. PONY League in 1943, and team winning 20 games and The following year he led the league in hitting for On January 5, 1945, during joined the Buffalos returned to California to most of the season (.336 with the breakout at Bastogne in of the Class A1 coach high school baseball 96 RBIs). snow and freezing League the following year. teams and joined the temperatures, Staff Sergeant Hrovatic was expected to join Nowak was a major league coaching staff of USC in Wachtler was killed in action. the Sacramento Solons in the prospect for the St Louis 1943. the Cardinals but military You can read the full Private Holbrook served with following year but entered service beckoned in March biographies at the the 28th Infantry Division in military service in December 1942. In Memoriam© Gary Bedingfield section 2007 of Europe and was reported 1943. ww.baseballinwartime.co.ukwww.baseballinwartime.co.uk Serving with the US Army in missing in action in January [email protected] Private First Class Hrovatic Europe he was killed in VOLUME 2, ISSUE 5 Page 3

Major Leaguers at the Battle of the Bulge

Andy Anderson Earl Johnson Cecil Travis Anderson was captured by Johnson pitched for the Red Souchock was as tank Travis was the pre-war the Germans during the Sox before the war. He was commander with the 691st Senators’ . He Bulge and suffered a commissioned a lieutenant Tank Destroyer Battalion. served with the 76th Infantry debilitating case of frostbite. on the field for extraordinary He was awarded the Bronze Division in WWII. During the His weight dropped from 185 valor during the Bulge. Star for his heroics during Bulge, much of his time was pounds to 125 while in a the Bulge. Souchock joined spent in a frozen foxhole and POW camp. He made it to Jack Knott the Yankees in 1946. he suffered severe frostbite. the major leagues with the St Knott won 13 games with the Military doctors worked hard Louis Browns in 1948. Athletics in 1941. He saw to his feet. action in the Bulge and was Merv Connors wounded on Jan 10, 1945. Ken Trinkle Connors played briefly with the White Sox in 1937 and Jack Lohrke 1938. He served with the Minor league infielder, 517th PRCT during the Lohrke, survived two battle Bulge. experiences during the Bulge in which comrades on either Ted Williams at War Jim Delsing side of him were killed. He Bill Nowlin Rounder Books $24.95 Delsing served with the made it to the major with the Medical Corps during the Giants in 1947. Order your copy at www.rounderbooks.com Bulge. Hall of Famer, Spahn, had Clarence Maddern pitched briefly for the Giants’ , Trinkle, was Maddern served with the Boston Braves in 1942. He with the 9th Armored Division military police of the 76th served with the 276th during their involvement in Infantry Division in Europe. Engineer Combat Battalion the Bulge, and was awarded He suffered frost bite in his and they soon found the Bronze Star. toes during the Bulge and themselves in the Bulge. had the traumatic experience "We were surrounded in the of having a comrade die in Hertgen Forrest and had to White pitched for the his arms. He made it to the fight our way of there,” Cardinals before the war. He majors with the Chicago recalled Spahn. “Our feet was pinned down in icy water Cubs in 1946. were frozen when we went for a day during the Bulge. to sleep and they were Morrie Martin frozen when we woke up. Dick Whitman We didn't have a bath or Whitman’s baseball career Dickson had pitched in the change of clothes for almost ended before it began 1943 and was weeks." during the Battle of the Bulge with the 35th Infantry Division when he suffered severe during the Bulge. He returned Hank Thompson frostbite and a shrapnel to the majors in 1946 and Thompson played for the fragment pierced his back. continued to pitch until 1959. Negro League Kansas City He joined the Dodgers in Monarchs in 1943. The 1946. following year he was with The Senators’ all-star the 1695th Combat was with an artillery unit Engineers in Europe. Hall of Famer, Wilhelm, during the Bulge. “They [the Thompson manned a received the Purple Heart Germans] got the jump and machine gun during the during the Battle of the Bulge. got too close for comfort,” he Martin was with the 49th Bulge. recalled. “Their tanks were Engineer Combat Battalion less than a mile from the during the Bulge. "The Battle Jocko Thompson position of my . At of the Bulge was the worst,” Thompson, who would play least one company of their Martin recently told baseball for the Phillies after the war, infantry was so close we historian Bill Swank. “It was earned a battlefield could see them.” the coldest I'd ever been in commission during the ©Gary Bedingfield 2008 my life. I didn't have my Bulge. www.baseballinwartime.co.uk shoes off for three weeks and [email protected] Houk was with the 9th I've had trouble with my feet Armored Division during the ever since." Bulge. He joined the Yankees Martin made it to the majors in 1947 and would later with the Dodgers in 1949. become their , also Ebbets Field Flannels is the finest manufacturer of piloting the Tigers and Red vintage historically-inspired athletic clothing. Sox. © Gary Bedingfield 2007 www.baseballinwartime.co.uk www.ebbets.com [email protected]

VOLUME 2, ISSUE 5 Page 4

Nick Macone - 1945 ETO World Series Hero of Nova Scotia in Eastern Canada. Eisenmann's Seine Base Clowns Walker a two- and It was a pretty rough league and the that won the game. Bill Ayers blanked the All-Stars, 5 to local miners were diehard fans who 0. The deciding game saw the Pretty soon, the All-Stars found didn’t like their team losing - the series return to Germany and themselves in the ETO World Royal Canadian Mounted Police despite the support of 50,000 fans, Series where they would face the had to rescue umpires on a number the Third Army were unable to stop mighty Third Army team. The of occasions at Brown Street Park. the underdog All-Stars from creating Third Army was a star-studded a huge upset as they defeated Macone batted .271 in his 1938 outfit led by Cardinals’ Blackwell for the second time. rookie season with the Ramblers Harry “The Hat” Walker and driven Macone had two hits in the 2 to 1 and his .321 average in 1939 was by a pitching staff that featured victory, including his third of third best in the league. But after Ewell “The Whip” Blackwell of the the series. 1939, the league disbanded with . Canada’s entry into the war and the Equipped with pro offers, Master The OISE All-Stars seemed to 22-year-old returned home to Sergeant Macone returned home have little hope of getting a runner Concord to play with the semi-pro and signed with the St Louis on base let alone winning a game Lincoln Mohawks in the Boston Browns in February 1946, joining On December 3, 2007, we lost Nick in the best-of-five World Series Suburban League. the team for in Macone, one of the last surviving against the Third Army – Ewell Florida. Unfortunately, Macone’s players from the 1945 ETO World On October 15, 1941, Macone Blackwell had been unbeaten all professionalTed Williams career didn’t at workWar out. Series. entered military service with the summer! Bill Nowlin He returned home to Concord and Army and was stationed at Rounder Books $24.95 Nick Macone played centerfield for True to form, the Third Army continued to play baseball with the Aberdeen Proving Ground in Order your copy at the underdog OISE All-Stars in their easily overcame the All-Stars, 9 to Lincolnwww.rounderbooks.com Mohawks. Aberdeen, Maryland. memorable clash with the mighty 2, before 50,000 cheering Macone, who married Gertrude Third Army team. His clutch-hitting Macone was later sent overseas servicemen at Soldier Field in Peters in 1947, was a volunteer and solid defense helped cause one with the 70th Ordnance Company Nuremberg, Germany in Game fireman and was employed at of the biggest upsets in wartime and spent two years in North Africa One. One of the few highlights in Polaroid Corporation in Waltham, service baseball. and Europe. With the war over in the game for the All-Stars was Massachusetts, as a mechanical May 1945, Macone was finally able Macone’s double to deep left Nicholas J “Nick” Macone was born supervisor, retiring in 1982 after 20 to get back to playing baseball, center in the seventh. However, in Concord, Massachusetts on years of service. albeit with service teams in Game Two was a different story February 3, 1918. An outstanding mainland Europe. In September as Leon Day handcuffed the Army He continued to tend his 40-acre athlete at Concord High School, he 1945, Macone was playing for the men, allowing just four hits to win, farm in Concord well into his co-captained the 1937 team that OISE All-Stars, a team led by 2 to 1, and tie the series. In Game eighties and this “hobby” provided won the Middlesex County Baseball former Phillies’ pitcher, Sam Three – at their home ground in produce and his notable tomatoes League and was a member of the Nahem. The unconventional All- Rheims, France – the All-Stars for family and friends. 1937 Massachusetts state semi-pro Stars’ line-up included Negro handed Blackwell his first defeat nine that competed at Wichita, Nick Macone passed away at League players Leon Day and of the season, and it was Kansas. Emerson Hospital in Concord on Willard Brown, along with an Macone’s two-run double in the December 3, 2007. He was 89 Following high school graduation, assortment of semi-pro and college fourth that made the difference as years old. he signed a professional contract players and they stumbled along, the All-Stars came out on top, 2 to with the Sydney Mines Ramblers of somehow defeating all the teams 1. Read the complete Nick Macone the Cape Breton Colliery League, a that came their way. A late-season The Third Army came back with a biography at four-team circuit at the heart of the clash saw Macone hit a towering vengeance in Game Four. Harry www.baseballinwartime.co.uk hard-nosed coal mining community home run against Chuck

© Gary Bedingfield 2007 www.baseballinwartime.co.uk [email protected]