Thanks Marion I so appreciate your help. My father talked about a show he saw in a theater, I think it was before Christmas ’44 I’m not sure what town in Europe at the moment but they showed news film about the ’44 world series and some of the players were present to answer questions from the solders. I need to track that down because my dad asked a question and one of the players threw him a signed ball which my dad cherished. I would like to find out more about the event… any thoughts on how to proceed???

 

Okay, may be hitting (so to speak) on some baseball trivia here regarding an USO show in 44

This is an excerpt from a book I found on Google, Even the Browns: Baseball during WWII

Another excerpt from a book called, The Game Must Go On...

This from Freddie Fitzsimmons: A Baseball Life

Bucky Walters

Baseball and the Bottom Line in World War II...

Found this on The Ballplayers website. See entry from Nov 44

Rip & Big Poison, Danny & The Quail, Goose…1944

While doing this, I found a quote from Hall of Famer: "Ducky" Joe Medwick (1932-1948). This was so funny, I just had to share.

In a 1944 World War II USO Tour, he was lucky enough to meet Pope Pius XII, he greeted him by saying; "Your Holiness, I'm Joe Medwick. I, too, used to be a Cardinal."

Well we struck gold, for a few of the pages I discovered were related to Mel Ott! This is the letter I got from her this morning.

Hi Marion, Thanks for all the info. will check it all out. About the baseball, one of the signers was Mel Ott…there are two other players who signed it. I don’t remember off hand but they were also present at the theater. I’ll have to check it out by looking at the ball. Thanks again. I hope you have wonderful Passover and or Easter!

Regards,

Maryke Petruzzi

From Bucky Walter's page:

From November 1944 through January 1945, Bucky Walters joined Mel Ott, Frank Frisch and Dutch Leonard as members of a USO Tour group who visited U.S. troops in Europe. Bucky was photographed being welcomed by Gens. Omar Bradley and George Patton. The group was in Europe during the fiercest and deadliest months of the war and were nearly caught behind enemy lines during the Battle of the Bulge. He was invited to join a similar USO Tour in 1943 but had to cancel at the last moment for an emergency appendectomy.

This was taken from the 44th Evac Hospital's records. Wow, shows that the USO show was in Malmedy in Nov 44. I hope everyone realizes that these guys were right in the thick of it, for just a few week's later, this is where all hell broke loose and the Battle of the Bulge was in full swing. Also, so many of you know that Malmedy was the place of the famous massacre of US soldiers by the Germans.

Among some of the outstanding entertainment events was the “world premiere” of ‘Saratoga Trunk’, which took place in the First Army Theater in Malmédy. Various USO and Special Services shows helped to pass the time, baseball stars visited the place, and people like Mel Ott, Bucky Walters, and others drew big crowds. ‘Thanksgiving’ was properly celebrated with a big religious service for all units stationed in and around Malmédy, and an appropriate Thanksgiving dinner with turkey was served. Shortly before all this, the infamous “buzz bombs” made their appearance, usually passing safely over the unit’s heads enroute to Liège.

 

I only now see this topic. I will try to find some more if you haven't already found it Marion. Thanks for the message. I wonder why I didn't receive an e-mail.

Best wishes,

Frank

I think we are all set though, for I did send her the above info.