Chevrons and Diamonds

A note to our readers: This is the second of a three-part story. We will include links to each segment for easy navigation.

• See Part 1: The Bomber Brownie: Walt Judnich

Hawaii Baseball and the 7th Army Air Force Fliers
The Honolulu press understandably focused their attention on “Joltin’” Joe’s addition to the 7th’s roster as cause for celebration while fantasizing about the baseballs flying from the great DiMaggio’s bat in ballparks throughout the Hawaiian Islands. However, some sportswriters noted that the addition of Sgts. Walter Judnich, Dario Lodigiani, and Myron [Mike] McCormick and Pfcs. Jerry Priddy and Bob Dillinger should put all of the opposition on notice.[1]

The re-configured Fliers made their Honolulu debut on Saturday, June 4 at Honolulu Stadium, a wooden ballpark nicknamed “The Termite Palace” that had been built more than a decade earlier and served as the home of civilian baseball on the island.[2] Three games behind first place Navy and firmly in the fourth position in Hawaii League standings,[3] the 7th could begin to close the gap by defeating Navy in their game. With the newly added stars just days removed from their shipboard voyage, 7th AAF manager “Long Tom” Winsett let his veteran players start the game, replacing them with the former major leaguers as the game wore on. After the visiting Navy tallied their fourth run of the game in the fifth inning, Flier batters managed only their third hit in the bottom half and plated their first run. Following a leadoff walk by pinch-hitting Ferris Fain, Judnich doubled to right field, but Fain was held up. Fain scored on a Kearny Kohlmeyer long fly to right field, but that was the extent of the scoring in the inning.

7th Army Air Force (7th AAF) Roster:

Player	Position	Former
John Andre	P	Honolulu League
Renaldo “Rugger” Ardizoia	P	Kansas City (AA)
James Ashworth	C	Helena (CSTL)
John (Murphy) Bialowarczuk	3B	Perth-Amboy (Semi-Pro)
Alfonso “Al” Ceriello	IF	Semi-Pro
Joseph Clark	Coach
Carl DeRose	P	Amsterdam (CAML)
Bob Dillinger	3B	Toledo (AA)
Joe DiMaggio	CF/1B	Yankees
Ferris Fain	1B	San Francisco (PCL)
Edward Funk	P	Federalsburg  (ESHL)
Joseph “Joe” Gedzius	SS	Spokane (WINT)
Vincent Genegrasso	Trainer
Joe Gordon	2B/SS	Yankees
Hal Hairston	P	Homestead Grays
James Hill	C	Pensacola, FL
Ed Jaab	OF	Moline
Walter “Wally” Judnich	CF/1B	Browns
Cornel George “Kearny” Kohlmeyer	SS/1B	Tyler (ETXL)
Don Lang	1B	Kansas City (AA)
Will Leonard	C	Oakland (PCL)
Al Lien	P	San Francisco (PCL)
Dario Lodigiani	2B/3B	White Sox
Myron “Mike” McCormick	OF/3B	Reds
Gerald “Jerry” Priddy	2B	Senators
Arthur Rawlinson	IF	Semi-Pro
Charles “Red” Ruffing	P	Yankees
Frank “Pep” Saul	P	Seton Hall College
Don Schmidt		Seton Hall College
William “Bill” Schmidt	P	Sacramento (PCL)
John Shumbres	Coach
Charlie Silvera	C	Wellsville (PONY)
Tom Winsett	MGR	Dodgers

Judnich fumbled a Mo Mozzali single that allowed the Navy centerfielder to reach second. The next batter, Al Brancato, lined a single to center that allowed Mo to score in the eighth inning. Another error and another single allowed Navy to extend their lead to 6-1 by the end of the inning. The stands were filled with more than 22,000 fans and they were on the verge of leaving the game disappointed when the 7th AAF’s main attraction, already 0-2 in his plate appearances, stepped up to the plate to face Navy starter Bob Harris. Joe DiMaggio had faced the former American League hurler 49 times during Harris’ time with Detroit, St. Louis and Philadelphia and the Yankee slugger, who historically had the pitcher’s number, hitting .349 with 15 singles, a double, triple and a pair of homers in 49 at-bats, was on the verge of going hitless.[4]

Behind the dish, Neil Clifford, a six-year minor leaguer, watched as DiMaggio’s lumber met a Bob Harris pitch and sent the ball bursting like a 2,240-pound 16-inch projectile from the main battery of the battleship USS Washington. DiMaggio’s projectile was propelled over the left-field bleachers, landing 435 feet outside of the stadium, much to the delight of the fans who remained. Harris proceeded to shut down the Fliers to close out his 6-2 complete game victory.[5]

Following the game, Honolulu Stadium crews installed heavy canvasses covering the wire fences alongside both bullpens in response, they said, to bullpen staff complaints of constant winds. However, Honolulu Star-Bulletin sports columnist Blues Romeo offered an alternative reason. “With DiMaggio, Judnich and the rest of the 7th AAF sluggers eyeing the fences,” Romeo wrote, “the league probably felt the need to keep the parade of opposing pitchers warmed up.”[6]

The loss to Navy put the Fliers further behind in the Hawaii League. Traveling to the east side of the island, the Fliers arrived at Kaneohe Bay to face the Naval Air Station’s “Klippers” for a CPA League contest. The Klippers featured a handful of former major leaguers including Tom Ferrick (Indians), Russ Mears and Marvin Felderman (Cubs), Brooklyn’s fireball hurler Hugh Casey, and Giants slugger Johnny Mize. The Klippers carried a 2-0 lead, on a Mize two-run blast, from the second inning into the top of the sixth. After the Fliers loaded the bases on three consecutive singles, Bob Dillinger doubled, driving in two runs. After a combination of fielding and baserunning errors, Lodigiani scored from second as the Klippers copped the frame’s second out. Judnich worked the count in his favor and earned a free pass. DiMaggio stroked a two-out single with Walt on first. Kaneohe’s centerfielder Wittig, attempting to limit Judnich’s advance to second base, threw wildly, allowing Walt to tally the Fliers’ fourth run.[7]

Leading the Klippers 4-2 in the bottom of the ninth, Al Lien, the 7th’s starter, was touched for a pair of runs on three consecutive hits before being lifted for reliever Don Schmidt, who shut down the sailors’ offense. After trading zeros in the tenth inning, the two clubs were still knotted in the top of the 11^th when Judnich stepped up to lead off against Tom Ferrick. The former Browns slugger drove Ferrick’s first pitch over the right field wall to break the tie. Walt’s solo shot was the difference as Schmidt kept Klipper bats silent in the bottom half of the 11th, preserving the 6-5 victory.[8]

Ten days after Judnich and his major league teammates landed on the 7th’s roster; the team’s turnaround was felt immediately. Before their arrival, the team was batting .192 collectively through their first eight games. The revamped roster elevated the team average by 41 points to .233. The offense was also responsible for an improved standing in the league. They moved up to third. DiMaggio was leading the team with his bat, reaching base in seven out of ten at-bats for a .700 average. Judnich was second on the team with .364.[9]

As the Fliers soared, Judnich was grounded. In a Hawaii League Friday night game against the Tigers, Judnich, who was one-for-three at the plate with a single, a walk and a run scored, turned his ankle in an 8-1 victory on June 9.[10]The outfielder injured himself sliding into second base during the game.[11] Despite aggravating an old injury,[12] he was hopeful that it was minor. He was back in the lineup in the CPA League game against Wheeler Field the next day.[13] After getting a base hit in his first plate appearance, the pain forced him from the game. He tried once more in the Sunday tilt against the Braves and had the same results: one at-bat for a single and a swift yet painful exit.[14]

A week after Walt’s injury, there was no timeline for a return to the lineup. The Honolulu Star-Bulletin’s Maxwell Herbert noted, “It is unlikely that Walt Judnich will play for a while.”[15] His absence, though not impacting the outcomes of the Fliers‘ games, was still noticeable. “We figure that the 7th AAF are losing at least two runs a game with the injured Walt Judnich out of the lineup,” the Honolulu Star-Bulletin’s Carl Machado noted on June 19.[16]

Another week passed with Judnich on the sidelines but still the 7th’s winning continued. “The Army Fliers have not dropped a [CPA League} tussle since going on a strict diet of hit and field vitamin tablets in the form of 18 ballplayers shipped to manager Tom Winsett,” Chief Chas. Fowler wrote for a June 28 story. “The Fliers are on a five-game win streak.”[17] After Judnich spent three weeks off the diamond, Hawaii baseball fans were almost as antsy for his return as the man himself. “Walter Judnich, 7th Air Force’s hard-hitting outfielder who watched the Fliers the other night from the bleachers back of his regular post, hopes to discard his crutches soon,” Maxwell wrote on June 30.[18] Judnich’s efforts to expedite his healing process led to extending his time away from the game, “Walt walked around on his injured ankle so much that he aggravated the injury and it got worse instead of better.”[19]

The Fliers traveled to the “big island” of Hawaii for a two-game series against an aggregation of the island’s service and local civilian ballplayers. The “Defenders” hosted the 7th AAF at Hoolulu Park for a pair of tilts amid Independence Day celebrations and the day after, doing their best against a powerhouse of major league all-stars. Judnich’s injury continued to linger as doctors determined the injury to be worse than a sprain and kept him from participating in the series. The discovery of a chipped bone in his ankle necessitated immobilization with a cast.[20] His teammates won the July 4 game handily, 5-2.[21] The Fliers shut out the Defenders in the second game, 5-0, for a sweep of the holiday series.[22]

As Judnich’s present team continued their dominance over the service teams of Hawaii, his former team, the Browns, were amid a historic season and were leading the American League by 2-1/2 games as talk of a World Series dared to be spoken throughout St. Louis. A month had elapsed since Allied Forces landed in Normandy to begin pushing German forces off occupied European soil. In Italy, the U.S. Fifth Army overcame the last Axis holdouts to liberate Rome on July 4. Closer to Judnich, the war in the Pacific was raging as the island campaign was gaining momentum. As the Fliers were defeating the Defenders, American forces were nearing the end of some of the war’s fiercest fighting on Saipan (landings commenced on June 15), an island that would become a major U.S. Army Air Forces base for the assault on the Japanese home islands.

Five weeks after injuring his ankle, Judnich was still laid up and unable to help the 7th AAF and their quest for two league titles. The Fliers, though not in need of any help in their championship quest, received a shot in the arm with the arrival of former Yankees second baseman Joe Gordon on July 15. He was immediately assigned to Hickam Field and added to the Fliers’ roster.[23]

 In the sixth week, Judnich’s cast was off and he returned to the lineup for the 7th’s game against the Hawaii League’s Braves. In his first at-bat, he drew a walk in the second inning with Priddy aboard and one out. Gordon advanced both runners on a long flyball. Fain singled, scoring Priddy but Judnich was gunned down at the plate. He did not have to wait long for his first hit as he went one-for-three in the 2-0 Fliers’ win, the club’s 12th consecutive Hawaii League victory.[24]

By late July, as the end of the CPA season was drawing closer, the Fliers, currently in fourth place, trailed the league-leading Aiea Naval Hospital club by 1-1/2 games. Red McQueen, sports columnist for the Honolulu Advertiser, began hinting at a best-of-seven Army-Navy championship series.[25] With the 7th AAF effectively an All-Star team, the Navy would be left to assemble their own stars from its clubs spread across the island.[26]

McQueen also suggested the games be played at Honolulu Stadium for the benefit of all baseball fans on Oahu.[27] The idea of such a series resonated with service members. Lee Berry, who was stationed on Oahu for part of 1944, sent to his hometown newspaper, the Columbus Ledger, a clipping of Red McQueen’s Honolulu Advertiser column along with a letter. Describing the 7th AAF’s roster and their success, Berry wrote, “This club has swept through 21 straight wins in that tough Central Pacific Area League and the loop is plenty tough, as witnessed by the names of other players in the loop.” He listed 12 Navy ex-major leaguers on Navy rosters throughout the island, including Pee Wee Reese, Johnny Mize, Joe Grace, Al Brancato and Walter Masterson.[28]

Judnich announced his return to the Fliers’ lineup with his bat as the 7th demoralized Navy in a Hawaii League contest on July 30. More than 24,000 spectators at Honolulu Stadium witnessed the Fliers pound out 24 hits off Navy pitchers Walt Masterson, Eddie Stutz, and Rankin Johnson as they plated 21 runs. Despite their high offensive output, 7th batters tallied only seven extra-base-hits, two of which were home runs. Both Ferris Fain and Judnich clouted three-run round trippers in the 21-1 blowout.[29]

The 7^th had trailed Pee Wee Reese’s Aiea Naval Hospital nine in the CPA League since early June and were at the point of overtaking them as the calendar flipped from July to August. After missing significant playing time, Judnich continued to make up for his absence. In an August 1 CPA League game against the Wheeler Wingmen, Judnich cranked out a pair of home runs as he went two-for-three, driving in five runs as he accounted for half of the 7th’s runs in their 10-4 victory, narrowing Aiea’s lead to a half-game.[30]

Judnich’s batting tear continued as he stroked what turned out to be the game-winning home run in the 6th inning to beat the Braves, 4-3, for the Fliers’ 17th consecutive Hawaii League win.[31]

Already a veritable collection of major league all-stars, the 7th AAF’s pitching staff was further bolstered with the arrival of future Hall of Fame enshrinee Charles “Red” Ruffing, who formerly led the 6th Ferrying Group ball team in Long Beach, California. Ruffing, a Yankees teammate of Fliers stars Joe DiMaggio and Joe Gordon, was also one of the best hitting pitchers in the major leagues, adding even more depth for manager Tom Winsett.[32] As the Fliers notched their 18th consecutive league contest by defeating the Hawaiis on August 6, they had already moved into a CPA League tie for first place with Aiea Naval Hospital following the latter’s 10-inning, 3-2 defeat at the hands of NAS Kaneohe Bay the day before.[33] The Fliers were in control of their destiny, having expanded their Hawaii League lead to 2-1/2 games over second-place Navy.[34]

Sportswriter Red McQueen got his wish as Central Pacific Area League officials announced an Army-Navy baseball championship that would commence on September 22, with the first game to be played at Furlong Field at Pearl Harbor. The best-of-seven series was preliminarily scheduled with Hickam hosting game two on September 23; Redlander Field at Schofield Barracks on September 24; and NAS Kaneohe Bay on September 27 for game 4. If further games were necessary, they would be played at Furlong Field on September 28, Redlander Field on September 29 and Furlong Field on September 30.[35] Rosters were limited to 25 players per team, and plans were being made to broadcast the contests to armed forces personnel around the world.[36]

In an August 9 CPA League contest against Kaneohe Bay, Walt Judnich destroyed a Tom Ferrick pitch, sending it over the right field fence at Hickam’s Flood Field with Mike McCormick and Dario Lodigiani aboard in the seventh, negating the visitors’ 5-4 lead. Fliers hurler Don Schmidt held the Klippers at bay to preserve the 7-5 victory.[37] Two days later, with the 7th already a half game in front of Aiea Naval Hospital, the Fliers sent Red Ruffing to the hill against the Hilltoppers. Despite being hitless in the contest, Judnich pushed the first run across the plate on a long fly ball to right field. Ruffing helped his own cause with a pair of hits, a run, and two RBIs. The 7th was now firmly in front of the CPA League by 1-1/2 games.[38]

Judnich’s power took an interesting turn in the sixth inning against the Tigers at Honolulu Stadium on August 14 during a Hawaii League contest. Tigers hurler Tom Johnson was having his way with Fliers batters through the first five frames until Walt stood at the dish. Johnson fired a fastball that Judnich drove deep over the head of centerfielder “Poker” Nakai’s head but still short of the outfield fence, giving Walt the opportunity to return to the plate after rounding the sacks with an inside-the-park round tripper. Two days later, Judnich homered to send the Fliers past the Aiea Receiving Barracks Maroons, 6-5.[39] The Hilltoppers were downed by the Sub Base, which helped to extend the 7th’s CPA League lead.[40]

There were no signs of Judnich’s power receding as he homered for the third time in as many days, pushing the Fliers to their 21st straight Hawaii League victory at the expense of the Wanderers, 5-2.[41] “Breaking up ballgames with home runs is Walter Judnich’s specialty,” the Honolulu Advertiser published on August 20. In eight days spanning August 9-16, “he sparked the 7th nine to four victories in the CPA Service and Hawaii Leagues,” leading the Williams Equipment Company to bestow their “Award of the Week,” upon Judnich.[42]

Walt’s power had a direct impact on the Fliers’ position in the standings of the two leagues as they held a two- and-a-half-game lead over the Navy in the Hawaii loop and two games over Aiea Hospital in the CPA by August 20.[43] The next day, Judnich crushed a grand slam off the Hawaiis’ Wally Cyr and drove in six runs to fuel the Fliers’ 22nd straight win in the Hawaii circuit with a 12-3 victory.[44] A non-league game against the South Sector nine on August 23 saw Judnich shine on both offense and defense. Playing the first sack, Judnich recorded 15 putouts, giving starting first baseman Ferris Fain a rest. At the plate, Walt was four-for-five with a home run, a double, and two singles and drove in a pair of the Fliers’ dozen runs.[45]

Despite his torrent of long-balls, Judnich was still trailing the power hitters in both leagues. Sitting atop the Hawaii League was Ferris Fain with six home runs. Judnich and Joe DiMaggio were tied for second with five. In the CPA League, Barney McCosky of the Aiea Receiving Barracks “Maroons” and Jim Carlin of the Aiea Naval Hospital were tied for first in home runs with 10 apiece while Walter was well behind with six. The landscape of the home run leaderboard changed in dramatic fashion on August 26 when the 7th faced the Schofield Barracks Redlanders. In the fourth frame, the Fliers’ hitters batted around, allowing Judnich to bat twice. In both plate appearances, Walter went deep. It was a night of power for the former Browns outfielder as he homered in five consecutive at-bats after singling in his first appearance in the tilt at Redlander Field. When the dust settled on the Fliers’ bombing mission, Judnich had accounted for 12 runs in the 7th’s 30-2 drubbing of Schofield.[46] According to sports columnist Doug Vaughan, Red Ruffing, Judnich’s teammate, stated “at least three of Judnich’s circuit wallops would have sailed out of any park in the United States.”[47]

Judnich was recognized by Hawaii League official Earle Vida[48] for his record-setting performance[49] as he was presented with a lei made of Hawaiian pheasant feathers along with a carnation lei.[50]

Walter continued his slugging as he helped the Fliers clinch the second-half championship of the CPA League in a 3-2 victory over Aiea Naval Hospital. Judnich clouted a sixth-inning homer, providing the eventual winning run. With two games remaining on Aiea’s schedule, they were mathematically eliminated from contention as the Fliers held a three-and-a-half game lead.[51]

The Fliers faced the Tigers as the Hawaii League’s season was drawing near its close. They did not disappoint their fans. While Judnich did not contribute a long ball in the effort, he did play a role in the win. Joining Mike McCormick and Lodigiani on the basepaths in the sixth inning, Judnich scored one of the four runs in Ferris Fain’s grand slam that broke a 1-1 tie on the way to helping the Fliers clinch the Hawaii League title with an 8-1 victory. It was the 7th’s twenty-fifth consecutive win in Hawaii League play.[52]

With the two regular seasons in the books, the Fliers turned their attention to a three-game championship series against Aiea Naval Hospital, champions of the CPA League’s first half. The first two games were set for home-and-home starting on September 8 at Hickam’s Flood Field and continuing the next day at Furlong Field. The location to host the deciding third game, if necessary, was yet to be determined.[53]

Ahead of the Central Pacific Area championship series, CPA League officials announced player accolades. Judnich’s teammate Ferris Fain led all hitters with a .385 average, ahead of Bob Dillinger (.362) and Dario Lodigiani (.351). Though he batted .375, Walt’s lack of qualifying games (two-thirds of the team’s scheduled contests) kept him out of the hunt for second place.[54] He tied for the league lead in RBIs with Aiea Hospital’s Jim Carlin at 35 but captured the home run crown with 14 round trippers. Walter received his third Williams Equipment Company award recognizing his five-consecutive-home-run game.[55]

As league play continued in the Hawaii League, the Fliers stretched their win streak to 27 games by downing the Athletics, 5-1, on September 3 [56] and the Wanderers four days later, 10-1, despite the lack of a Judnich home run in either contest.

The Fliers fired the opening salvo across the bow of the Navy’s Aiea Hospital with an 11-3 blowout win. Judnich slammed his 15th home run of the CPA season with a monster shot over the right field scoreboard at Flood Field. Walt was two-for-four with two runs batted in and a run scored in the contest.[57] At Furlong Field for the second game, Walter was two-for-five with a run scored as the Fliers sealed the series with a 6-2 victory.[58]

Playing their last game of the Hawaii League season on September 11, the Fliers faced the powerful Navy club. The 7th used four long bombs by Fain, Joe Gordon, Don Lang and Judnich to take down their rivals. Walter’s only hit of the game was a two-run blast as the boys from Hickam sank the submariners, 9-5. His team finished the season by securing their 28th consecutive win.[59] Recognized as a slugger, Judnich’s glove was equally important to the 7th as his .977 fielding percentage ranked fourth among the league’s outfielders with 40 or more chances.[60]

The Hawaii League’s post-season playoffs were named in honor of baseball pioneer Alexander Cartright, who settled on Oahu. The Cartwright Series commenced on September 12. From the outset, the Fliers were the dominant club, winning three consecutive games. In their first game against the Hawaiis, Judnich was 1-5 at the plate, scoring a run and driving in two.[61] Facing the Braves, Judnich’s bat ignited with a 5-5 performance including two home runs and a pair of doubles as he drove in seven runs and scored three of his own in a 13-1 win over the Braves.[62] For the championship game versus Navy, Judnich didn’t disappoint his teammates or the fans as he crushed a pair of home runs with his 2-4 performance. He drove in three runs as the 7th captured the Cartwright Series crown with a 7-5 victory.[63]

During Judnich’s injury-shortened CPA League season, he played 21 games for the 7th. In those games, he was 30-for-80 at the plate, with one double. He scored 25 runs, drove in 35 and logged 73 total bases. Walt’s 14 long balls gave him the league’s home run crown with two more than power-hitting Barney McCosky.[64] 

In addition to the in-season accolades Judnich received, end-of-season laurels were also placed upon his head. He was named the Central Pacific Area League’s all-star right fielder, joining 7th AAF teammates Ferris Fain, Joe Gordon, and Bob Dillinger at first, second and third base, respectively, and Mike McCormick in center field.[65] Walt was clearly the most valuable player of the post-season as the Honolulu Star-Bulletin’s Carl Machado wrote, “The Cartwright championship series … might have just as well been called the Walt Judnich Championships.” Of the four teams in the playoffs, Judnich led batters with a .572 average, home runs (4), hits (8), runs batted in (14) and 22 total bases. He also tied Eddie Funk, Joe Grace, and Johnny Jeandron with the most doubles (2).[66][67]

Continue to part 3: Bellows, the 313th Bomb Wing and Home

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[1] “Baseballers in Honolulu,” The News (San Antonio, TX), June 3, 1944: p. 5.

[2] Five of the 7th’s starters, John (Murphy) Bialowarczuk, 3B; Joe Gedzius, SS; Louis Hagan, pitcher; “Kearny” Kohlmeyer, infielder; and Arthur Rawlinson, infielder, were sent to Wheeler Army Air Field to play for the “Wingmen.” “7th AAF In 15-1 Victory,” Honolulu Star-Advertiser, June 12, 1944: p.7.

[3] “The Williams Sportlight – Standings of the Leagues,” Honolulu Advertiser, June 4, 1944: p.16.

[4] Bill Kim, “Joe DiMaggio Thrills Record Baseball Mob.” Honolulu Advertiser, June 5, 1944: p.8.

[5] Bill Kim.

[6] Blues Romeo, “The Army Sports Front,” Honolulu Star-Bulletin, June 6, 1944: p.8.

[7] Chief Fowler, “Fliers Beat K-Bay As Judnich Homers,” Honolulu Advertiser, June 8, 1944: p.10.

[8] Chief Fowler.

[9] Carl Machado, “DiMaggio and Company Meet Nomads Tonight,” Honolulu Star-Bulletin, June 14, 1944: p.9.

[10] Bill Kim, “DiMaggio Homers as 7th AAF Win,” Honolulu Advertiser, June 10, 1944: p.8.

[11] Maxwell Herbert, “Touching All Bases With Hawaii League,” Honolulu Star-Bulletin, June 15, 1944: p. 8.

[12] Bill Kim, Joe DiMaggio Leads Fliers to 7-0 Win,” The Honolulu Advertiser, Mon, Jun 12, 1944 · p.6.

[13] “7^th AAF In 15-1 Victory,” Honolulu Star-Advertiser, June 12, 1944: p.7.

[14] Bill Kim, “Joe DIMaggio Leads Fliers To 7-0, Win, Honolulu Advertiser, June 12, 1944: p.7.

[15] Maxwell Herbert, “Touching All Bases With Hawaii League,” Honolulu Star-Bulletin, June 15, 1944: p. 8.

[16] Carl Machado, “DiMaggio Fails To Hit A Homer Off Kasparovitch,” Honolulu Star-Bulletin, June 19, 1944: p. 10.

[17] Chief Chas. Fowler, “Big Service Loop Tilt At CHA3 Today,” Honolulu Advertiser, June 28, 1944: p.8.

[18] Maxwell Herbert, “Touching All Bases With Hawaii League,” Honolulu Star-Bulletin, June 15, 1944: p. 8.

[19] Maxwell Herbert, “Touching All Bases … Hawaii Loop Chatter,” Honolulu Star-Bulletin, June 30, 1944: p.11.

[20] Maxwell Herbert, “Touching All Bases…Hawaii Loop Chatter,” Honolulu Star-Bulletin, July 8, 1944: p.15.

[21] Berny H. Friewall, “7th AAF Defeats Local Nine, 5-2,” Tribune-Herald, July 5, 1944: p.7.

[22] Berny H. Friewall, “Flyers Sweep Hilo Series; DiMaggio Held To One Hit,” Tribune-Herald (Hilo, HI), July 6, 1944: p.7.

[23] “Joe Gorden Here! May Play Tomorrow,” Honolulu Star-Bulletin, July 15, 1944: p.6.

[24] “7th AAD Blanks Braves, 2-0, For 12th Straight League Win,” Honolulu Advertiser, July 21, 1944: p.8.

[25] Red McQueen, “HoomalimaliI (Kid ‘em along), Honolulu Advertiser, July 23, 1944: p.16.

[26] Red McQueen.

[27] During the 1944 season, the Army discontinued allowing its teams to play games in civilian venues.

[28] Ellwood Moyer, “Moyer’s Sport Optics,” The Columbus Ledger (Columbus, GA), August 30, 1944: p.8.

[29] “7th AAF Outclasses Navy, 21-1,” Honolulu Advertiser, July 31, 1944: p.8.

[30] Box score, Honolulu Advertiser, August 2, 1944: p.9.

[31] “Fliers Extend Streak; Beat Braves, 4-3,” Honolulu Advertiser, August 5, 1944: p.6.

[32] “Red Ruffing Newest Member To Star-Studded 7th AAF Team,” Honolulu Advertiser, July 31, 1944: p.8.

[33] Chief Chas. Fowler, “K-Bay Edges Hilltopers, 3-2 In 10 Innings; Sub Base Wins 6-5,” Honolulu Advertiser, August 6, 1944: p.6.

[34] “The Williams Sportlight – League Standings,” Honolulu Advertiser, August 6, 1944: p.18.

[35] Chief Charles Fowler, “Army-Navy Titular Series To Open Sept. 22,” Honolulu Advertiser, August 6, 1944: p.18.

[36] Chief Charles Folwer.

[37] Chief Charles Fowler, “Judnich’s Homer Beats K-Bay, 7-5,” Honolulu Advertiser, August 10, 1944: p.8.

[38] Chief Charles Fowler, “Red Ruffing Limits Medics To Five Hits,” Honolulu Advertiser, August 12, 1944: p.8.

[39] Carl Machado, “Judnich Homers As Fliers Win Another,” Honolulu Star-Bulletin, August 15, 1944: p.8.

[40] Chief Charles Fowler, “7th AAF Wins on Judnich’s Homer,” Honolulu Advertiser, August 16, 1944: p.8.

[41] “Fliers Win 21st Straight Loop Victory,” Honolulu Advertiser, August 17, 1944: p.10.

[42] “Walt Judnich Top Athlete Of The Week,” Honolulu Advertiser, August 20, 1944: p.19.

[43] “The Williams Sportlight – Standings of the League,” Honolulu Advertiser, August 20, 1944: p.18.

[44] “22nd Straight,” Honolulu Star-Bulletin, August 21, 1944: p.8.

[45] “Judnich Stars,” Honolulu Star-Bulletin, August 24, 1944: p.9.

[46] Chief Charles Fowler, “Walt Judnich Clouts Five Homers,” Honolulu Advertiser, August 28, 1944: p.8.

[47] Doug Vaughan, “On The Rebound,” The Windsor Star (Windsor, ON, Canada), October 16, 1944: p.23.

[48] “Is Given a Feather Lei,” Honolulu Star-Bulletin, August 29, 1944: p.10.

[49] “Judnich Sets All-Time Record,” Honolulu Advertiser, August 28, 1944: p.8.

[50] “Hawaii Loop Fans Honor Walt Judnich,” Honolulu Advertiser, August 28, 1944: p.8.

[51] Chief Charles Fowler, “7th AAF Captures CPA 2nd Half Title With 4-3 Win Over Aiea,” Honolulu Advertiser, August 30, 1944: p.10.

[52] “7th AAF Cops Hawaii Loop Title,” Honolulu Advertiser, September 1, 1944: p.17.

[53] Chief Charles Flowler, “7th AAF-Aiea Hospital To Play In 3-Game Series For CPA Loop Title,” Honolulu Advertiser, September 3, 1944: p.16.

[54] “Cocky Fain Wins CPA Batting Championship,” Honolulu Advertiser, September 3, 1944: p.10.

[55] “Judnich And Harrington Win Honors,” Honolulu Advertiser, September 3, 1944: p.17.

[56] “Red Ruffing Hurls 7th AAF To 5 To 1 Victory Over Athletics,” Honolulu Advertiser, September 4, 1944: p.8.

[57] Chief Charles Fowler, “Fliers Blast Olsen To Win, 11 to 3,” Honolulu Advertiser, September 9, 1944: p.8.

[58] Chief Charles Fowler, “Fliers Annex CPA League Title,” Honolulu Advertiser, September 10, 1944: p.16.

[59] “Four Homers As 7th AAF Wins 28^th,” Honolulu Advertiser, September 11, 1944: p.8.

[60] “Hawaii League Fielding,” Honolulu Advertiser, September 25, 1944: p.8.

[61] “Fliers Trip Hawaiis 9-4 As Series Opens,” Honolulu Advertiser, September 13, 1944: p.10.

[62] “Walt Judnich Paces Fliers To 13-1 Win,” Honolulu Advertiser, September 16, 1944: p.10.

[63] “Judnich Clouts Two Homers As Fliers Cop Cartwright Title,” Honolulu Advertiser, September 18, 1944: p.8.

[64] “Cocky Fain Wins CPA Batting Championship,” Honolulu Advertiser, September 3, 1944: p.17.

[65] “Official CPA All-Star Team,” Honolulu Advertiser, September 10, 1944: p.16.

[66] Carl Machado, “Judnich Was Big Star of the Cartwright Series,” Honolulu Star-Bulletin, September 22, 1945: p.8.3

[67] The major leaguers were very approachable and accommodating to their comrades’ requests for autographs and many pieces exist within contemporary collections from the war. Staff Sergeant Richard D. Unger, stationed on Oahu during the war, gifted an autograph ball to his father, Roy S. Unger upon his return from the war. The ball, signed by Joe DiMaggio, Joe Gordon, Red Ruffing, Mike McCormick, Jerry Priddy and Judnich, members of the champion 7th AAF team. “Soldier’s Gift To Old Timers,” The York Dispatch (York, PA), October 1, 1945: p.9.