Army & Navy Nines

> Private Joe Di Maggio is playing ball at Camp Santa Ana, Calif.

> Seaman Johnny Mize is minding first base for the Great Lakes Naval Training Station.

> At Nashville's Berry Field, Lieut. Johnny Beazley (Air Forces) is dishing out the pitching that made him the Cardinal hero of last year's World Series.

> The line-up at the Norfolk Naval Training Station includes Phil Rizzuto, Don Padgett, Dom Di Maggio, Benny McCoy.

> Trooper Pete Reiser is chasing flies for a Cavalry nine at Fort Riley, Kans.

> Ex-Dodgers Peewee Reese and Hugh Casey now play for the Norfolk Naval Air Station.

With stars like these, Army & Navy nines are not only serving the purpose for which they were originally intended (entertainment of trainees), but in some areas are drawing larger civilian crowds than big-league clubs. When the Santa Ana flyers played the Hollywood Stars (Pacific Coast League) last month, Angelenos packed the stadium. Whenever Johnny Beazley's team plays a neighboring semi-pro outfit, the park is packed. Five thousand civilians purchased nearly $100,000 in war bonds to see a recent exhibition game between the Norfolk Naval Training Station and the Norfolk Naval Air Station.

No Time for Champions. Because Army & Navy nines are not allowed to travel far from home, there will be small chance to determine a champion among U.S. service teams. Last year the Great Lakes "varsity,"* managed by famed Mickey Cochrane, claimed the unofficial national service championship with 63 victories in 77 games. Fortnight ago they drubbed the St. Louis Cardinals, 5-to-2.

Great Lakes has a ball team of major-league caliber. But the service team that looks even better, at least on paper, is the one that wears the blue & grey of the Norfolk Naval Training Station. Last year the Sailors had only one great big-leaguer, Chief Boatswain's Mate Bob Feller (now at sea). This year, besides Rizzuto, McCoy, Dom Di Maggio and Padgett, the line-up includes two up-&-coming youngsters: First Baseman Eddie Robinson, onetime Baltimore Oriole, and Catcher Vince Smith, a fledgling Pirate who handled Feller's pitching last year. To replace Feller, the Sailors have Tom Earley (Braves), Walter Masterson (Senators) and Fred Hutchinson (Tigers).

The Captain Says. . . . Unlike the Great Lakes team, the Norfolk Training Station nine is managed by no big-leaguer, but a warrant officer (boatswain), G. R.

Bodie, a 40-odd-year-old sea dog with 23 years of service to his credit. Its patron: Captain H. A. McClure.

A recent convert to baseball, Four-Striper McClure is now a rabid fan. When Seaman Rizzuto made a home run in a recent game with the Washington Senators, the Certain sprang off the players' bench, rushed out to shake his hand as he crossed the plate. During another game, when fly-chasing Di Maggio backed into a deep gully on the edge of the field, Captain McClure jumped into his private jeep, scooted across the field to see if he was hurt. The Captain is constantly tacking notices on the clubhouse bulletin board. The morning of a game with the Senators, one read: Orders of the Day From: The Commanding Officer To: The Baseball Detail Subject: Baseball game at 1530 [3:30] today Orders : Win.

They did.

*At Great Lakes, there are 2,000 ball teams (mostly softball).

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