World War II Chronicle: July 28, 1942
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George Fielding Eliot column on page eight… Page 12 mentions Eriksen E. Shilling, a former Flying Tiger, who is now flying “over the hump” for the China National Aviation Corp….
Sports section begins on page 14. Ted Williams’ current batting average is .354. No doubt an impressive mark, but 54 points lower than where it was at this point last season… On the following page, Jack Dempsey — now a Coast Guard officer — is pictured instructing sailors in conditioning. On the same page, the National Football League reports that 155 players from last year’s roster are now in the Armed Forces. Also pictured on page 15 is Baltimore Elite Giants catcher Roy Campanella, who may be among several Negro League players to try out for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Pittsburgh management will give in to racist pressure and cancels Campanella’s workout at Forbes Field, making this the second time that Major League Baseball missed out on signing one of the greatest catchers of all time. Several years ago the Philadelphia Phillies tried to sign the young phenom, but that was before they knew he was mixed — Campanella’s father was Italian. They bailed once they found out he was black, and the 15-year-old ends up signing with the Elite Giants instead. Now 20 years old, Campanella is playing his sixth season and challenging Josh Gibson as the best catcher in the Negro Leagues.
Evening star. (Washington, D.C.), 28 July 1942. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress.
https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1942-07-28/ed-1/