Chevrons and Diamonds

1941 – USS Phoenix Flannel – Vince Gunderson

2–3 minutes

Acquired directly from the estate of Fire Controlman 2/c, this flannel was worn during the 1941 season, months before the December 7, Pearl Harbor attack (Chevrons and Diamonds Collection).

During the decades of the 1920s and 1930s, baseball was the premier avenue of athletic competition between ships, aviation squadrons, and shore commands. With the significant influx of professional ballplayers into the Navy’s ranks during WWI, the level of competition rose to unprecedented levels that carried forward through the interwar period and to a crescendo during WWII.

For Pacific Fleet ships based out of Pearl Harbor, battled throughout the 1941 season that culminated in the USS Oklahoma “Indians” falling to the the Pearl Harbor Sub Base “Sub Four” nine in the Pacific Fleet Championship on November 27 (see James R. “Dick” Ward: ‘Colonel’ to Seaman, Diamond Star to Hero ). The USS Phoenix’s ballclub did not reach any level of that season’s playoffs.

This jersey, received from the estate of USS Phoenix veteran, Fire Controlman 2/c Vincent Gunderson in 2020, was worn during that 1941 season (see: Remembering Pearl Harbor and the Game).

Heavily soiled and showing game-play stains, Gunderson’s jersey is an absolute treasure from a Pearl Harbor survivor (Chevrons and Diamonds Collection).

The Wilson Sporting Goods-made wool-flannel baseball jersey features raglan sleeves, navy blue athletic felt lettering and back numeral, was acquired along with FC2/c Gunderson’s service and working dress blue uniforms, and flat hat with the rare USS Phoenix ribbon.

Adorned with navy athletic felt lettering across the chest of the jersey, this style is consistent with Navy ship ball teams dating back to the 1920s (Chevrons and Diamonds Collection).

Aside from the deep soiling and accumulated dust, the condition of the the jersey is quite good for a nearly 85 year-old artifact.

Similar to the front of the jersey, the back of the USS Phoenix flannel bears a large #7 number (Chevrons and Diamonds Collection).

Lacking moth-holes in either the jersey shell or the lettering, the flannel does have some thinning that could be the result of improper storage or environmental conditions.

Wilson Sports Equipment tag showing the size – 38 (Chevrons and Diamonds Collection).

Uniform Features:

Jersey:

Buttons: The five buttons (one is missing) are black-colored plastic, concave, four-hole.
Material: The base material is medium-weight road gray wool-flannel.
Soutache: thin rayon single line on each side of the placket, extending down the top 2/3 of the jersey and around the collar. Single line soutache encircling the sleeves, 1-inch from the cuffs edge with a second line directly at the edge.
Lettering: Heavy weight blue athletic felt block lettering spelling out the ship’s name in an arc across the chest, on both sides of the placket.
Numerals: Heavy weight blue athletic felt block numeral showing “7” on the jersey’s back.
Sleeves: Raglan, eight inches (measured from the armpit seam).
Other features: Non-gusseted with vent holes.
Tag: “Wilson Sports Equipment” with size (“38”).