Baseball in World War II Europe (Images of Sports) (Sports History) [Paperback]

Gary Bedingfield (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Arcadia Publishing (SC) (January 21, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0738503215
• ISBN-13: 978-0738503219
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,166,947 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

For an Englishman, now living in Scotland, my enthusiasm for baseball may seem a tad strange. Baseball does not enjoy a big following in Britain, and yet I developed a passion for the American national pastime at a tender age. By the time I was 12, I was playing in a competitive league and continued to do so for the next 20 years. During that time I played for the Enfield Spartans (British champions 1989, 1990 and 1991) and the Great Britain national team (1986, 1989 and 1991) and have played against such talented professionals as George Foster, Tug McGraw, Graig Nettles, Mark Fidrych and Luis Tiant.

As a baseball historian and author involved in research of the game for over 15 years, my interest in baseball focuses on the World War II era, and, in particular, the military service of professional players. In 2000, I founded the unique Baseball in Wartime website (www.baseballinwartime.com) - coinciding with the release of my first book Baseball in World War II Europe (Charleston, South Carolina: Arcadia Publishing 1999).

Since then I have written numerous articles, produced a monthly e-newsletter that has gained critical acclaim and have become recognized as a leading authority on WWII baseball. In November 2007, I was invited - as a keynote speaker and panel moderator - to the When Baseball Went to War conference at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans, which was attended by Bob Feller, Tommy Lasorda, Johnny Pesky, Jerry Coleman and many others. In 2008, I was a contributing author for the book celebrating this event - When Baseball Went to War (Chicago, IL: Triumph 2008).

In October 2009, I launched the Baseball in wartime blog (http://baseballinwartime.blogspot.com/) a daily updated forum of interesting articles relating to baseball during World War II.

In 2012, I will be launching a set of baseball cards dedicated to professional players who lost their lives during WWII. These cards will be based upon my unique online database of biographies for all 142 players who made the ultimate sacrifice (http://www.baseballinwartime.com/in_memoriam/in_memoriam.htm).

I currently run Gary Bedingfield Training Services in Glasgow, Scotland www.garybedingfield.co.uk.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Baseball in World War II Europe: A Big Hit !, April 8, 2000

By 

toni kastroll (Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Baseball in World War II Europe (Images of Sports) (Sports History) (Paperback)

Baseball has always been one of America's favorite pasttimes, whether one played or was a spectator. Here is a beautiful collection of photos and history recapping baseball in a way that many may not even be aware. The author salutes the unknown heroes that served in World War II and boosted the morale of other soldiers and spectators by exhibiting their love of the game of baseball. For anyone who served and had loved ones involved in the sport, this is an absolute treasure. One can reminesce or capture the spirit of those who played and witnessed the game that has become and always will be America's favorite. If you like baseball and would like to learn more of its history, reading these pages will certainly increase your knowledge and give you insight on the significance of baseball's presence during World War II.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For Baseball Lovers, April 12, 2000

By 

Rich Heller (Illinois) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Baseball in World War II Europe (Images of Sports) (Sports History) (Paperback)

Gary Bedingfield has done a FANtastic job showing the American Pastime. It's like a trip though The Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. This is a must for all baseball fans. The photos bring back memories of the House of David and other barnstorming teams. Seeing integrated baseball teams years before the Major League, is something I never knew existed. Well done, Gary!