Chevrons and Diamonds

1945 Rawlings “No. RO” Professional Base Ball Fund

October 14, 2023

2–4 minutes

During World War II, troops serving domestically and in the combat theaters were supplied with sports and recreation equipment that was obtained through numerous charitable ventures. Aside from Major League Baseball’s “Bat and Ball Fund,” actor-comedian Joe E. Brown’s All Pacific Recreation Fund and countless fund-raising exhibition games played throughout the United States and the Territory of Hawaii, equipment reached the troops often through direct donation from manufacturers, professional baseball leagues and individual teams.

Some of the direct-donations were marked by manufacturers with whichever service branch the equipment was distributed to or through. Though it is impossible to verify or trace, much of the equipment that reached the troops did so without being imprinted with any service branch or charity markings.

Stamped, Professional Base Ball Fund, this Rawlings-made ball dates to 1944-45. The preponderance of the autographs adorning the panels are from players who were serving in the U.S. Army Air Forces during WWII (Chevrons and Diamonds Collection).

Wartime service baseballs are terribly scarce in the marketplace, however the Professional Base Ball Fund marked baseballs are true rarities within this category. This Rawlings-made ball dates from 1944-45 and was game-used in the South Pacific. With 23 autographs, signed by U.S. Army Air Forces and U.S. Navy players makes this ball difficult to narrow down to a specific year of use. All 16 of the of the identified players whose signatures grace the panels were present on Oahu late in 1944 and midway through 1945.

The west panel features six signatures. Top to bottom are: Bob Dillinger, Walter Judnich, Bill Leonard, James Ashworth, Don Lang, and Jim Carlin (Chevrons and Diamonds Collection).

Player	Branch	Experience	Service Teams
Bob Dillinger	USAAF	Toledo (AA)	McClellan, 7th AAF, Bellows, 73rd Bombers
Walter Judnich	USAAF	Browns	McClellan, 7th AAF, Bellows, 313th Flyers
Bill Leonard	USAAF	Oakland (PCL)	McClellan, 7th AAF, Bellows, 313th Flyers
James Ashworth	USAAF	Helena (CSTL)	7th AAF
Don Lang	USAAF	Kansas City (AA)	San Bernardino AB, 7th AAF, Wheeler, 58th Wingmen
Jim Carlin	Navy	Phillies	Norfolk, Fleet City, Aiea Hosp, Navy NL All-Stars
Dario Lodigiani	USAAF	White Sox	McClellan, 7th AAF, Hickam, 73rd Bombers
Carl DeRose	USAAF	Amsterdam (CAML)	McClellan, 7th AAF, Wheeler, 313th Flyers
Eddie Shokes	Navy	Syracuse (AA)	Norfolk, Aiea Hosp, Aiea Barracks, Navy NL All-Stars
Eddie Jabb	USAAF	Quebec (PROV)	7th AAF
Eddie Kowalski	USAAF	Appleton (WISL)	Bellows, 58th Wingmen
Ferris Fain	USAAF	San Francisco (PCL)	McClellan, 7th AAF, Hickam, 73rd Bombers
Rugger Ardizoia	USAAF	Kansas City (AA)	McClellan, 7th AAF, Wheeler, 313th Flyers
John Shumbres	USAAF	USAAF	7th AAF, Hickam
Jim Hill	USAAF	USAAF	7th AAF, Hickam
Gene Grasso (Vincent Genegrasso)	USAAF	Sem-Pro	7th AAF

These are the sixteen of 23 autographs that we could positively identify. Perhaps in time we can determine who the other six players were that signed this baseball.

The east panel (left) nine signatures: Eddie Kowalski, Ferris Fain, Rugger Ardizoia, unknown, unknown, John Shumbres, Jim Hill, unknown, and (Vincent Genegrasso) Gene Grasso (Chevrons and Diamonds Collection).

While it is not apparent that any future Hall of Fame enshrinees signed this particular baseball, there are a few stars from the game including the 1950 and 1950 American League batting champion and five-time All-Star, Ferris Fain.