Athletes at war... let's see some wartime memorabilia

[ZachS]

As a veteran and sports collector, I love items that depict athletes who answered the call during times of war. Show off your stuff with athletes in uniform.

Joe and Dom in uniform. Original 8x10 photo... the note was taped to the back of the sleeve when I got it (appears to be an authentic Dom auto)

Joe was a sergeant in the Army Air Forces and mostly played baseball during the war. Dom was a chief petty officer in the Navy (he had to fight his way into the service due to his eyesight) and also played baseball during the war.

PeeWee Reese in uniform. Original 2.5x3.5 photo.

Reese was a chief petty officer in the Navy... also played baseball during the war while stationed in the Pacific.

[71buc]

I used to have more of this type of stuff. These three are all that remain,

[GoCubsGo32]

I got a few snapshots of players in their military uniforms, just need to find them.

Until then...

Here's a rare snapshot photo of Washington Senators (P)
Bert Shepard who was a decorated WWII P-38 Lightning pilot. He flew over 33 combat missions in the war, on his 34 mission his P-38 was shot down over Germany. Shepard survived the crash, but his right leg severely injured had to be amputated. Feb 1945, he returned to the United States in a prisoner exchange. Determined to return back to his baseball career he was fitted for a makeshift prosthetic leg and started playing catch again.

Clark Griffin helped him get with the Washington Senators and on Aug 5 1945 Shepard pitched against the Red Sox at Fenway Park for his only major league appearance. Shepard remains to be the only MLB player to have played with an artificial leg.

Shepard was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal & Purple Heart.

A fan took this picture of Bert Shepard & George Binks the day Shepard took the mound on Aug 5 1945.

[Topnotchsy]

Program from the "World Series" held in Nurmberg in Sept 1945. The games were played with Hitler's bunk in the background.

The history of the tournament and the particular series is incredibly interesting and important. The winning team was integrated and included HOFers Leon Day and Willard Brown.

[JoeDfan]

DiMaggio at Camp Cooke. One of my all time favorites in my collection.

[BuzzD]

Here is a 1918 postcard from Joe Harris to his sister while posted in army in Bordeaux France in WWI. He had a facial injury but returned to continue his baseball career. Got his start with NYAL playing 2 games in 1914.

[Chris Counts]

That's some great stuff! I especially like Gary's snapshot of Bert Shepard, who had such an inspiring story. Is that Fenway Park in the background? Here are a few photos, including one of the U.S. Navy's Aiea Barracks team in Hawaii from 1944-45 — those pictured include Bill Dickey, Fred Hutchinson, Max Patkin and Billy Herman. The others show 1) a baseball field on the island of Guadalcanal shortly after the famous battle, and 2) an action shot from a game on Bougainville Island that would have made a nice cover image for LIFE magazine in 1945.

[Scott Garner]

Wow, Chris! Love the last photo.

[Scott Garner]

Here are some Vandy 1944 and 1945 WWII photos.

The top one is a snapper of Vandy and his team in Guam (1945).

Photos at Sampson Naval Training Center in NY and pitching in Hawaii in the Army Navy Baseball Championship (both 1944).

The WWII Hawaii Autograph pages come from an unknown likely baseball teammate, but feature many of the players that played in the Army Navy Baseball Championship in 1944.

[JimmyC]

Originally Posted by 71buc

I used to have more of this type of stuff. These three are all that remain,

The DiMaggio photo with the hottie in a striped dress I have never seen before - great period era photo!

[Exhibitman]

Black servicemen's team, The Brown Bombers.



HOFer Kid Williams as a trainer during WWI



HOFer Packey McFarland doing the same:



HOFer Benny Leonard, who enlisted, on a goodwill tour at Camp Kearney, near San Diego, in 1918:



Jeff Dickson was an American boxing promoter in Europe in the interwar period, elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2000. This British 1930s RPPC shows him with fellow HOFers Thil and Brown. In 1943, Capt. Jeff Dickson was killed in action over Germany while serving in the U.S. Air Force during World War II.



Joe Louis visited Camp Beale during WWII and the California-based military installation issued a series of postcards to commemorate the visit. This one shows him with Sugar Ray Robinson. I have seen four different; there are apparently at least 11 since all are numbered.



WWII era premium of Jack Dempsey, autographed. You see quite a few of these around, relatively speaking, though not always signed. They were given to sailors who completed basic training in Dempsey's coast guard program in New York. The image is a classic Apeda shot of Dempsey from the 1920s.



Final, and a bit of a twist. These are 2000 calendar cards of the Klitschko brothers from Ukraine. They are currently serving in the armed forces fighting the invading Russians.

[Topnotchsy]

I love this thread. It's an area of focus for me and I have quite a few programs and other items related to WWII baseball. If anyone has anything they would be open to sell or trade, I'd be happy to discuss.

The centerpiece of my collection is the final pitch thrown in the clinching game of the 1945 Navy All-Star tournament. It is signed by Stan Musial and others on the team. A notably rare signature from that era; Wimpy Quinn also signed. It originated in the personal collection of catcher Bob Scheffing.

[EddieP]

I have a War Gum card that features my grandmother’s cousin. But the card is not politically correct ( it has a racial slur).

[karamaxjoe]

Here's my tribute to the WW2. I've yet to run into anyone that actually claims they know what it is. I'm pretty sure you guys know.

[Topnotchsy]

Former Negro Leaguer John Miles Tuskegee Airmen patch

[todeen]

My one and only.

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[todeen]

Originally Posted by Scott Garner

Here are some Vandy 1944 and 1945 WWII photos.

The top one is a snapper of Vandy and his team in Guam (1945).

Photos at Sampson Naval Training Center in NY and pitching in Hawaii in the Army Navy Baseball Championship (both 1944).

The WWII Hawaii Autograph pages come from an unknown likely baseball teammate, but feature many of the players that played in the Army Navy Baseball Championship in 1944.

Wow, sir! From a Reds fan, what an archive! Thanks for sharing.

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[ZachS]

Really awesome stuff! This is what I was hoping to see when I started the thread. Keep 'em coming!

[Jcosta19]

I recently picked up this Joe Dimaggio "retail" bat for a display and noted it had an unusual Profesional Baseball Fund stamp on it.

Through a post I made on net54 I learned after the fact that the Profesional Baseball Fund was actually an effort by MLB to raise money, primarily through All Star game profits, toward the purchase of Baseball equipment which were provided at discount to the troops during WWII.

I linked a few sources below for anyone more interested, as I had never heard of it prior to picking up this bat.

Very happy surprise addition to the collection.


https://text-message.blogs.archives....-ii-1941-1942/

http://keymancollectibles.com/newsletter/june2016.htm

http://keymancollectibles.com/balls/...seballfund.htm20220913_121023.jpg20220913_121032.jpg20220913_121046.jpg

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[Bill Rayburn]

Hey Justin...Great bat, never new that info for WWII bats. Thanks for sharing.

[gonefishin]

Here are some photos and items relating to former major league baseball player Jimmie Wilson. Jimmie played baseball from 1923 to 1940 with the Phillies, Cardinals, and Reds. He managed the Phillies from 1934-1938 and the Chicago Cubs from 1941 to 1944. After retirement he moved to Bradenton, Florida and purchased an orange grove. He died of a sudden heart attack on May 31, 1947.

Jimmie's son, Robert J. Wilson was a Second Lieutenant in the Army Air Force and was declared Missing in Action, and later Killed in Action, on November 28, 1944 while serving with the 794th Bomber Squadron, 468th Bomber Group, of the U.S. Army Air Corps. He was a passenger aboard a B-29 Superfortress on a bomb practice run at Halliday Island, East India when the Superfortress caught fire and crashed attempting to return to base. His Army commendations include; Purple Heart, World War II Victory Medal, American Campaign Medal, Army Presidential Unit Citation, Army Good Conduct Medal, and the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal. He is a true American Hero and is remembered by the State of Ohio on HonorStates.org.

Pictured is Robert's Cadet Yearbook from 1944 where he attended the Army Air Force Training Academy, and some pictures from the book, to include a picture of Robert. There are also some photographs that tie the story together. The first picture showing Robert standing with another Officer is inscribed and autographed on the reverse by Jimmie Wilson. It reads "Best of Luck Always to Capt Wedding" and is signed Jimmie Wilson, Selina Wilson (Jimmie's wife) and Jane (Jimmie's daughter). The photo is also dated November 10, 1944, just 18 days before Robert was Killed in Action. I currently have this photo at PSA being classified and certified. The other photographs, circa early 1940's picture Jimmie with Robert (An official Army Air Force photo), Robert alone sitting in the bleachers of a ball park, a family photo picture, and a couple other photo's showing Robert.

Pretty tragic ending for this family and what a sacrifice.

[Billyscards]

for sale also if interested...