Chevrons and Diamonds

1945 Wilson Official American Association, George Troutman – (USN stamped)

VetCollector
3 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 traces, much of the equipment that reached the troops did so without being imprinted with any service branch or charity markings.

Chevrons and Diamonds Collection
Chevrons and Diamonds Collection
Showing both signs of game use and aging, this Wilson model baseball was produced for the class “AA” American Association minor league and bears the stamp of its then president, George M. Troutman. Directly beneath Troutman’s facsimile signature is that of Detroit Tigers backstop 58th Bombardment Wing “Wingmen,” Birdie Tebbetts.

This Wilson Sporting Goods-made American Association baseball was stamped “U.S.N.” and distributed through the U.S. Navy. Bearing the autographs of two former big leaguers who were serving in the Navy and were part of the branch’s early Spring 1945 tour of the Pacific Theater of Operations, it is likely that this game-used ball was obtained from tour. Based solely upon the stamps and the signatures of Mace Brown and Buddy Blattner, most folks examining the ball would draw the same conclusion as us. However, with the presence of 14 additional signatures (including four indistinguishable autographs), it is clear that this ball has an overwhelming U.S. Army Air Forces focus.

Chevrons and Diamonds Collection
Chevrons and Diamonds Collection
Chevrons and Diamonds Collection
Pictured at left, the “west” panel of the ball bears the signatures (top to bottom) of Lew Riggs, Enos Slaughter, Buddy Blattner, and Mace Brown (note the visible U.S.N stamp). The south panel (center) bears three signatures: unknown, Max West, and Don Lang. At right are the signatures of Johnny Sturm and Tex Hughson on the sweet spot.
PlayerBranchFormer
Buddy BlattnerNavyCardinals
Mace BrownNavyRed Sox
Bob DillingerUSAAFToledo (AA)
Joe GordonUSAAFYankees
Tex HughsonUSAAFRed Sox
Don LangUSAAFKansas City (AA)
Joe MartyUSAAFPhillies
Lew RiggsUSAAFDodgers
Enos SlaughterUSAAFCardinals
John SturmUSAAFYankees
Birdie TebbettsUSAAFTigers
Max WestUSAAFBraves
George TUSAAF
JohnUSAAF
UnknownUSAAF
UnknownUSAAF
The list of signatures includes four unidentified names among the USAAF and Navy ballplayers. The two members of the Hall of Fame are italicized.
Chevrons and Diamonds Collection
Chevrons and Diamonds Collection
The east panel (left) bears five autographs though only two are distinguishable: Bob Dillinger, unknown, unknown, George T____, and Birdie Tebbetts. Three of the four autographs on the north panel are: Dario Lodigiani, John __, Joe Gordon, and Joe Marty.

The remainder of the signatures, including the unidentified inscriptions, were applied during the late summer as the Army sent their stars to the Guam, Tinian and Saipan in the Marianas to serve in the war effort by day and to entertain the troops after hours. The contingent of USAAF players who signed this ball include two future enshrinees into the Hall of Fame: Joe Gordon and Enos Slaughter.

Return to the Chevrons and Diamonds Baseball Collection main page