They Also Served: Baseball and the Home Front, 1941-45

This is a readably interesting look at baseball in the war years (1942-1945). Author Bill Gilbert shows that the military draft began grabbing players (Hank Greenberg) in early 1941, before the USA entered the conflict. Then after Pearl Harbor, the expanded military draft, travel restrictions, and President Franklin Roosevelt's support all affected the national pastime. By 1943, a majority of players had entered the armed forces, including stars like Joe DiMaggio, Ted Williams, John Mize, Bob Feller, etc. Replacing them on the field were aged and a few retired players, those deemed 4-F/unfit for service (including one-armed outfielder Pete Gray), plus teenagers like Eddie Yost, Tommie Brown, and 15-year old Joe Nuxhall. The author examines the tense AL pennant races of 1944-St. Louis/Detroit and 1945-Detroit/Washington, both of which were undecided until the last day of the season. (The latter was clinched by Hank Greenberg's slam and heard live over Armed Forces radio by my uncle's unit in the Phillipines). We also see how a few players began returning in mid-season 1945, then the truly postwar year of 1946 when attendance surged. These pages capture the feel of that pre-TV era of train travel, color barriers, and pennant winners that included the St. Louis Browns (1944) and Chicago Cubs (1945). I'd like more information on attendance (which dipped 10% in both 1942 and 1943, then recovered), but readers should enjoy the author's easy style, plus the memories from several aged players interviewed for this 1992 book. Overall, this is an informative look for the fans, and a nostalgic one for those of a certain age.

While there are literally thousands of books on World War II, few focus on the homeland during the war. "They Also Served" focuses on baseball during the war years. More than 500 baseball players, including greats like Ted Williams and Joe DiMaggio, served their country in the war. Others served their country by playing baseball, giving Americans a brief escape from their war time troubles.Gilbert's storytelling is focused on four main themes: the developing war, players going to war, the replacement players, and Bert Shepard. Bert Shepard wanted nothing more than to pitch in the major leagues. When he lost his leg in the war, he was able to pitch in the major leagues despite his disability. More remarkable, he had success as a pitcher. I found the war time decisions that surrounded baseball to be interesting as they are documented in few sources. Baseball could have been cancelled during the war had Franklin Roosevelt not green lighted the sport to continue. To conserve resources, travel restrictions limited team travels. Despite rationing, night games were increased to allow more people the opportunity to attend games after a long work day. All of the players being shipped off to war allowed the rarest of events, the Chicago Cubs in a World Series. This can be attributed to the shortage of talent in the major leagues. On the same theme, many people were allowed the opportunity to play baseball because of the shortage. These war time players provide a collection of unique stories. People past their prime and others who lacked skills were given the opportunity to play. Because of the distraction from the war these players provided by playing baseball, they served their country too.Bill Gilbert has written a priceless classic that is both informative and entertaining. I was forntunate to pick up a copy of this book at a book fair. I question why a book such a this valuable piece of a history is out of print.