Scheduled as a double-header between the visiting Great Lakes Naval Training Station’s Bluejackets and a combined team of the Boston Braves and Cincinnati Reds as a fundraiser in support of the Red Cross, the opening game was abbreviated due to heavy rains started falling at 7:47pm after a little more than an hour of play. The storm also prevented several features of the program from being staged.
The Boston Braves were in town for a four-game series from July 27 to July 20. The Braves took the July 27 opener 6-2 ahead of the approaching foul weather. By late evening, heavy rain began to fall and continued to do so overnight. An unusual off day during the series fell on the 28th allowing for the exhibition double-header to take place between the visiting Great Lakes Naval Training Station and a combined lineup of Braves and Reds players.
1943 Great Lakes Naval Training Station “Bluejackets”:
| Player | Position | Former |
|---|---|---|
| Frank Biscan | P | Browns |
| Earl Bolyard | CF | Dallas (TL) |
| Dan Casey | Villanova U. | |
| Mickey Cochrane | MGR/C | Tigers |
| J. Russell Cook | ||
| George “Skeets” Dickey | C | White Sox |
| Robert R. M. Emmet | ||
| Marvin Felderman | C | Cubs |
| Tom Ferrick | P | Indians |
| Carl Fiore | 3B | Wilkes-Barre (EL) |
| Dennis Gleason | C | Lancaster (ISLG) |
| Joseph “Joe” Grace | RF | Browns |
| John Griffith | ||
| George “Pete” Hader | P | New Orleans (SOUA) |
| Chester Hajduk | 2B | White Sox |
| Jack Hallett | P | Pirates |
| Robert A. “Bob” Harris | P | Athletics |
| Tony Hinkle | 1B Coach | |
| Johnny Lucadello | 2B | Browns |
| Tom Madden | 3B | Newport News (VIRL) |
| Barney McCosky | CF | Tigers |
| Glenn “Red” McQuillen | LF | Browns |
| Carl Meyer | Secretary | |
| Johnny Mize | 1B | Giants |
| Leo “Red” Nonnenkamp | RF | Kansas City (AA) |
| Vern Olsen | P | Cubs |
| Eddie Pellagrini | SS | Louisville (AA) |
| Henry Perry | P | Dallas (TL) |
| Warren “Sheriff” Robinson | C | Rochester (IL) |
| Johnny Schmitz | P | Cubs |
| Fred Shaffer | 3B Coach | |
| Luke Walton |
With five innings in the book for the one-hour and 13-minute July 28 game, the Bluejackets were leading the Reds/Braves, 4-2 on Navy starting pitcher Bob Harris’ four-hit effort. Harris struck out one batter and issued one free pass. Meanwhile, the Reds/Braves pitchers were tagged for six hits and put six Bluejackets on base by way of the free pass. The game was called after the end of the fifth inning, handing the Navy the 4-2 victory. At the time the rain halted game, approximately 20,000 fans had paid an estimated $27,500 for the night’s entertainment.
The money and any other received was for the benefit of the Red Cross.
As the rain continued throughout the evening of the 28th, the Reds announced that the second game of the Red Cross benefit would be played under the lights of Crosley Field Thursday, July 29, at 9pm with the Reds and Boston Braves battling in a preceding tilt originally scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
Download a printable version of the full scorecard.
This scorecard was acquired via online auction, August 2025.
Chevrons and Diamonds 