Chevrons and Diamonds

1944 Gowen Field Pilots vs Wendover Wings

October 7, 2022

2–3 minutes

A departure from other scorecards in the Chevrons and Diamonds Collection, the two Army Air Forces ball clubs featured on this game scorecard lack the star-power seen on other service team rosters. Regardless, the Gowen Field club’s success led them to the National Semi-Professional Championship tournament in Wichita, Kansas.

One of the most poignant cover illustrations for a wartime baseball scorecard, the juxtaposed base runner over the the infantryman is something not seen on other cards (Chevrons and Diamonds Collection).

Present day Gowen Field, in Boise Idaho, shares the air strip facilities with the civil airport as it did during World War II and was the used by the U.S. Army Air Forces as a training base for B-17 Flying Fortress and B-24 Liberator bomber crews. More than six thousand men were stationed there during the war and baseball was a significant activity for the men stationed there.

Visiting Gowen for this 1944 season game, the Wings from Wendover Field at Wendover, Utah on the border with Nevada, 120 mile due West of Salt Lake City.

This scorecard featured some of the best artwork as it draws a parallel between the sliding baserunner and the soldier moving through a jungle setting with his rifle. Printed in monochrome black inking on cardstock, this piece was built sturdy however doe to being folded and handled, wear has lead to some separation of the inner pages as well as dog-earing of the corners. View the program in its entirety.

Gowen Field “Pilots” Roster:

Player	Position	Former
Ed Bakunas	RF	Jeanette (PASA)
Bigler	RF
Blaisdell	C
Bodney	C
Ralph Greene	1B
Hoffman	3B
Koche	OF
Francis Joseph “Bobby” Konick	P	Batavia (PONY)
Steve Kontos	CF
Koszarekp	P
Kropinak	P
Kyelen	OF
Melton	P
Roberts	LF
Shankin	CF
Slifko	SS
Bob Swayze	2B
Tinsley	OF

The condition of our program/scorecard is good showing signs of being folded, some moisture damage and oxidation. Unfortunately, neither of the scoring grids were utilized leaving the game history to be discovered in the future. As of present, this game has yet to be uncovered through research efforts nor has much detail regarding either team’s roster.

Wendover Field “Wings” Roster:

Player	Position	Former
Allia	P
Art Bonnell	2B	Staunton (VIRL)
Borgstadt	P
Brumfield	RF
Butler	CF
Joseph DeFiglio	3B	Pocatello (PION)
Keye	LF
Tom Mabry	CF	Newport (NEAR)
Manni	OF
Matthews	P
Nieman	OF
Poli	SS
Rhyme	P
Zalesky	OF