Baseball in World War II

I'm a Baltimore Orioles fan, so those of you who follow baseball will know that I'm pretty excited this year. As my fellow Orioles fans and I prepare ourselves for what we hope will be a great postseason, I will be writing several posts about the Norfolk Navy's World War II baseball teams, and I'll also be sharing some images that many people haven't seen before.

After the United States entered the Second World War, baseball fans across the country worried that their sport would end, much like it had in World War I in 1918. President Franklin Roosevelt thought differently. On January 15, 1942, Roosevelt wrote a letter to the head of baseball, saying, "I honestly feel that it would be best for the country to keep baseball going." He added that he would like to see more night games for people to attend, and that, though the quality of the teams might be lowered by the greater use of older players replacing young men going into military service, this would not dampen the popularity of the sport.

While major league baseball continued throughout the war, more than 500 major league baseball players swapped their baseball uniforms for military uniforms. Players such as Bob Feller, Stan Musial, Joe DiMaggio, "Pee Wee" Reese, "Ace" Parker, Phil Rizzuto, and Fred Hutchinson joined the military, and several of these famous players came right here to Norfolk for their military service. Some of those players played the game at the athletic field shown below, at present-day Naval Station Norfolk. This athletic field is the second-oldest brick baseball stadium in the country, beat only by Chicago's Wrigley Field.

Present-day photograph of McClure Field's main entrance.

In 1944, the athletic field was named "McClure Field" in honor of Navy Cross-recipient Captain Henry McClure, the commanding officer of Naval Training Station Norfolk from 1941 to 1944. McClure had little knowledge of the game itself, but he loved it and knew baseball's value in raising his sailors' morale. In 1943, McClure sent a message to the field, telling the players to start the game but "not to score until he got there"!

This 1944 photograph of Captain McClure shows him watching Dom DiMaggio during batting practice at McClure Field. Hall of Famer Phil Rizzuto and Eddie Robinson stand next to McClure. (Norfolk Public Library image)

Bob Feller

Bob Feller, Hall of Fame baseball player and World War II Navy veteran, died yesterday at the age of 92. Feller was a true American patriot.  Two days after Pearl Harbor was attacked, Feller informed the Cleveland Indians baseball team not to expect him for Spring training as he just enlisted in the Navy.While the Navy gave him the rate of "Chief Specialist Athletic," he wanted to train like any other sailor.  He struck as a gunner's mate and began his training here in Norfolk.  He later served as a 40mm gun captain on the Norfolk-built battleship USS Alabama (BB-60).

 When I started to work on an article about the "NTS Nine," the name of Naval Training Station Norfolk's baseball team in World War II, I got a phone call from Mr. Feller himself.  He had heard through the grapevine that someone wanted to talk to him about his time in the Navy.  He told me he was always more proud of his service in the Navy than his time in the Major Leagues.   Shortly after the interview, he sent me the autographed picture shown above.  

I strongly encourage you to visit our special section on our website to read about Feller's time here in Norfolk and the rest of the Major League players who gave up a life of luxury to serve their country.

Bob Feller and two of his NTS Nine teammates "Ace" Parker (Football Hall of Fame and Portsmouth, Virginia-native) and Sam Chapman (Philadelphia A's all-star outfielder).