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Baseball in the Armed Forces


67Rally
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CHASEUSA11B

I don't have any memerobilia or uniforms but I have a picture of my great grandpa on the USS North Carolina team pre WW1

 

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I don't have any memerobilia or uniforms but I have a picture of my great grandpa on the USS North Carolina team pre WW1

 

attachicon.gifimage.jpeg

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This image is un-researched. It was listed as being a 1940s SeaBees ball team (the Blackjacks) but I haven't found a single shred of evidence to support or sway this notion.

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Here is a WWII Army Special Services Bat from my colle7ction

Interesting. The Safe Hit bats were retail store bats made by Hillerich & Bradsby. I have seen another military bat like the this.

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I have 3 of the "safe hit" model Army bats. You are correct--that was Louisville Slugger's store model. I have gloves of varying levels of quality--from professional models to some lower end stuff. Not surprisingly, the low end Yale brand glove I have has been used very little.

 

Here are 3 of the same glove--the Goldsmith "Elmer Riddle" model. One is the "DW", or professional model. It is a much better made glove. The other 2 are models Goldsmith made just for the military--the "UA", or Army model, and the "UN", or Navy model. They are a little smaller, more simply made gloves. All three are marked for Army use, even the UN model.

post-162239-0-70640200-1457583116.jpeg

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Here are 3 of the same glove--the Goldsmith "Elmer Riddle" model. One is the "DW", or professional model. It is a much better made glove. The other 2 are models Goldsmith made just for the military--the "UA", or Army model, and the "UN", or Navy model. They are a little smaller, more simply made gloves. All three are marked for Army use, even the UN model.

 

Sheesh! These gloves look fantastic!!

 

I have one glove stamped, "US Navy" but I need to treat the leather to see if I can revitalize the maker's markings.

 

I've been so focused on the uniforms, photos and ephemera that I haven't spent much time on the equipment. Thanks for sharing these!

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I have 3 of the "safe hit" model Army bats. You are correct--that was Louisville Slugger's store model. I have gloves of varying levels of quality--from professional models to some lower end stuff. Not surprisingly, the low end Yale brand glove I have has been used very little.

 

Is this a primary collecting interest for you? Are these items part of a larger baseball collecting interest?

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Salvage Sailor

 

21st Infantry 017.jpg

Corporal Warming Up - 21st Infantry Regiment, Hawaiian Division, Schofield Barracks, T.H. 1935

 

21st Infantry 017b.jpg

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General Apathy

Interesting. The Safe Hit bats were retail store bats made by Hillerich & Bradsby. I have seen another military bat like the this.

 

Hi 67Rally, interesting subject, I have several pieces of military sportswear but packed away, this is the one bat that I have, bought it about forty years ago. . . . . . . . . ^_^

 

Lewis.

 

.

 

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Hi 67Rally, interesting subject, I have several pieces of military sportswear but packed away, this is the one bat that I have, bought it about forty years ago. . . . . . . . . ^_^

 

Lewis.

 

.

 

 

 

Lewis,

 

Thanks for sharing. I have passed on a few bats and more than a few balls. I haven't been too axious to get either...but now I see my interest piqued.

 

When you can locate and photograph the baseball sportswear, it would be great to see them here!

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USS Tennessee in the 1930s. These sailors created a batting cage on the starboard side, aft of the ship in the shadow of turret #3.

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Great topic!

 

Here is a close-up from a roll photo I own of the 10th Aero Squadron at the end of WWI.

 

post-203-0-35367200-1457732391.jpg

 

Also from my collection, a photo of Osric Watkins playing baseball at the Foggia, Italy in 1918.

 

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This may not be armed forces, but it is at least homefront. This mitt has several patriotic saying carved into it.

 

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  • 2 weeks later...
Salvage Sailor

Found my military athletics ephemera stash.....pulled the baseball clippings for the topic

 

US Naval Academy Annapolis Team 1906

Baseball 001 USNA Team 1906.jpg

 

US Naval Academy Team 1916

Baseball 002 USNA Team 190.png

 

Regimental Staff, Hawaiian Division Champions

Baseball 003 Staff Regiment Hawaiian Division.jpg

 

13th Infantry Philippines 1916

Baseball 004 13th Infantry Philippines.jpg

 

US Navy Chapel Hill NC pre-flight school 1943

Baseball 005 Navy Chapel Hill 1943.jpg

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Salvage Sailor

I've heard that the US Navy had the greatest baseball teams of WWII - and here's the evidence.....

 

US Navy Great Lakes 1943 - Frank Biscan - Pitcher St. Louis Browns, Johnny Lucadello - St Louis Browns, Chet Hajduk - Chicago White Sox, Leo "Red" Nonnenkamp - Pittsburg Pirates/Boston Red Sox, Eddie Pellagrini - Boston Red Sox, Joe Grace - St Louis Browns, "Whistlin Earl" Bolyard - Indians/Yankees/Red Sox/Senators, "The Big Cat" Johnny Mize - Cardnials/Giants/Yankees, Vern Olsen - Chicago Cubs, George Dickey - Boston Red Sox/Chicago White Sox, Glenn "Red" McQuillen - St Louis Browns, Tom Ferrick - Pitcher Philadelphia, Johnny "Bear Tracks" Schmitz - Pitcher Indians/Cubs/Brewers, Bob Harris - Pitcher Detroit Tigers, Warren "Sherriff" Robinson - future Mets manager, Marv Felderman - Chicago Cubs, Barney McCoskey - Detroit Tigers, Jack Hallett - Pitcher White Sox/Pirates - the players I skipped were minor leagers.

 

Baseball 006 Navy Great Lakes 1943.jpg

 

...and in their athletic uniforms, US Navy Great Lakes 1944

 

Note Gordon "Mickey-Black Mike" Cochrane the coach in the last two photos, one of the greatest catchers in the game

 

Baseball 007 Navy Great Lakes 1944.jpg

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Salvage Sailor

1930 - 27th 'Wolfhounds' Infantry Regiment Baseball Team, Schofield Barracks, T.H.

 

1930 27th Infantry Baseball Team  001.jpg

 

1931 21st Infantry Regiment Baseball Team - Post Champions, Schofield Barracks, T.H.

 

1931 21st Infantry Baseball Team Post Champions.jpg

 

1932 QMC Detachment Hawaiian Division, Staff Regimental Champions, Schofield Barracks, T.H.

1932 Detachment QMC Baseball Team Staff Regimental Champions.jpg

 

1933 13th Field Artillery Baseball Team, Post Champions, Schofield Barracks, T.H.

1934 13th FA Baseball Post Champions.jpg

photo above 13th FA CO Col. R. S. Pratt, Capt. Hanson, Sgt. Raymond and General Gowen, Commanding General, Hawaiian Division

 

1930 21st Infantry Regiment Baseball Team - Post Champions, Schofield Barracks, T.H.

1930 21st Infantry Baseball Team Post Champions 001.jpg

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  • 2 months later...

As far as military baseball uniforms and jerseys go, I have been in a slump with my batting average, not having a hit, let alone a worthy pitch since October. Being that it is spring, I finally knocked an inside-the-park dinger with this 399th Infantry Regiment flannel uniform. It isn't in my hands just yet, but should be here within the next few days.

 

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Overall, the uniform is in decent condition with obvious turf/dirt staining from usage. The uniform is both jersey and trousers and will find its way to the dry cleaners before it gets photographed and put away.

 

post-9529-0-62061600-1464188187.jpg

 

I have also been very busy growing my photograph and ephemera collection for this area of focus. My wife has been surprisingly very supportive of my project (details have not been made public, yet).

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Type I photo signed by Pee Wee Reese (1945). He played for the Aiea Hospital team.

 

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Joe and Dom Dimaggio type I photo

 

dimaggio_zps5be43848.jpg

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Here is my addition to the post.. Hope you all enjoy... The photo is not the owner of the uniform, just showing it was worn by the 16th Constabulary Squadron (sep.), baseball team from mid-to late 40's.

 

c1.jpg.eaa0e4441e8e522a14150c7ac1359f89.jpg

 

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hmmm they werent crooked when I attached them.. Any mods want to straighten them out please feel free. Thanks.

 

Moderator Edit - There ya go... S.S.

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