Athletic competition across the American Expeditionary Forces (A.E.F.) commenced shortly after the Armistice took effect on November 11, 1918. By the following spring, the A.E.F. organized several baseball leagues throughout occupied Western Europe drawing teams together from individual military units and commands. Stars and Stripes called it, “a ‘big league’ which bids fair to rival major baseball organizations. It will be composed of members of the AEF; will have eight teams, and will play a schedule of 21 games, while the teams will travel from place to place like professional clubs. There will be no holdouts, or $22,500 stars in the new circuit but anybody from a buck private to a commanding general who can demonstrate his ability to play baseball is eligible.”[1]
With sponsorship funding from the Y.M.C.A., the leagues were well organized with, “official umpires, scorers and newspaper reporters, in fact, the while works with the exception of the Pullmans. Their places being taken by autos.”[2] Early season play across Europe served as a prelude to what could be considered as combination of playoffs and all-stars play with eliminations occurring in the various A.E.F. athletic areas in order to determine champions that would advance to the A.E.F. Leagues.
The A.E.F. baseball league was divided into Northern and Southern divisions. Within each division, teams were separated into American and National Leagues.[3]
Our (schedule shown above) showcases the 1919 season for the 2nd Division’s National League. Headquartered just north of Koblenz in the town of Neuwied on the banks of the Rhine River, the National League consisted of eight teams from units in the 2nd Division’s command structure.
- 5th Marine Regiment
- 6th Marine Regiment
- 9th Infantry
- 23rd Infantry
- 12th Field Artillery
- 15th Field Artillery
- 17th Field Artillery
- 2nd Engineers
The 2nd Division’s National League games were scheduled from April 9t through July 31 with the 6th Marine Regiment taking the pennant.
[1] Yanks To Have Their Own Big League Circuit,” Stars and Stripes, May 2, 1919: p.6.
[2] Ibid.
[3] “Major Leagues in Third Army Gobble Up Stars,” Stars and Stripes, May 16, 1919: p.6.
This schedule was from a private seller, February 2026.
Chevrons and Diamonds 