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excerpted from the Introduction
More than 500 major league players swapped flannels for khakis during World War II, and such well-known players as Stan Musial, Joe DiMaggio and Ted Williams served their nation off the diamond. The minor leagues, formerly a veritable oasis of talent, were seriously affected by the manpower shortage with 4,076 players seeing military service. On a daily basis talent was drained from the game as promising young athletes who had spent summers developing their athletic skills were plucked from baseball diamonds all across the country and taught to fly planes, shoot guns and maneuver tanks. No more than 12 minor leagues survived during the war years compared to 44 circuits that operated in 1940.
By the early months of 1942, American servicemen were reaching the British Isles. It was a time of upheaval, deprivation and anguish; a time when young Americans were taken from their families and loved ones and faced with the rigors of military life, the anxiety of serving in foreign countries and the uncertainty of what lay ahead.
American servicemen overseas needed a morale booster, and baseball fitted the bill. With the full support of the military high command - who regarded sports as an ideal way to keep soldiers physically fit - baseball flourished. Former professional stars played alongside sandlot players and high school lettermen, and intricate league structures were soon established.
Baseball was quick to ease its way into the everyday lives of British civilians too. After a year of almost non-stop bombing by Hitler's Luftwaffe and with all professional sports on hold for the duration, people were anxious for a spectator sport. American military teams were willing to oblige and games staged in soccer, rugby and cricket stadiums were a common occurrence for the remainder of the war. Local dignitaries often attended these events to throw out the first ball and the British press always took a keen interest, describing with enthusiasm the "wonderful catching" and "spirited dashes from one base to another behind the pitcher's back." Many games were also staged to raise funds for local charities and in 1943 an estimated $344,000 was raised through ball games. One team alone, the 988th Military Police (Aviation) Company, participated in 15 fundraisers during 1943 and 1944. "It was great meeting the British people at these games," remembers their first baseman Norbert Kuklinski. "We had the opportunity to help the community and became heroes, and [the British people] would often swarm us for autographs. The kids, especially, were a delight, full of questions and always fascinated by the gloves, bats and other equipment we used."
By June 1944, 1.5 million American servicemen were stationed in Britain. Baseball was everywhere and with the Normandy Invasion baseball spread to the Continent with the advancing troops. From then until Germany's surrender in May 1945, American servicemen played baseball whenever and wherever they could - often staging pick-up games amidst the shattered ruins of former Nazi occupied towns and villages.
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