The Greater Baseball Co-Prosperity Sphere

[legendsport]

A quick note before I begin - the alternate universe in which this thread will reside is loosely based on the world of Phillip K. Dick's The Man in the High Castle - a book I highly recommend.

The actual baseball in this thread will be played in OOTP Baseball Manager 2006, so in the next week-plus until that sim is available, I will be providing some back story to set up the baseball.

One last thing - this isn't going to supplant "A House Divided" - I will be working on both dynasties simultaneously. Unlike AHD, this dynasty will not be written through news reports, diaries, etc, but rather as a straight narrative.

Let us begin...

[legendsport]

August 8, 1934 - Los Angeles, California

John Carey, MD, opened his door after a long day at the hospital. His dog Rufus, as usual, charged across the living room to greet him, followed shortly thereafter by his son, Little Johnny.

"I'm home, dear," he called out, removing his hat and placing it on the hat rack as he tried, somewhat futilely, to keep Rufus' paws off his jacket. Little Johnny, eight years old, wrapped himself around his father's waist.

"Settle down, you two, you'll knock me down," he chided gently. Little Johnny stepped back from his father and gave him a serious look.

"Pop, I have a question for you," he began, then waited for a response. John nodded and Johnny added, "Mom said I could listen to the radio with you, until dinner, if that's okay."

John smiled and said, "Sure, we can listen to the radio a bit. I heard the President was going to address Congress about pushing through some of the New Deal. I'd like to see how that went."

John walked over to the radio and turned it on. Once it had warmed up, he gently rotated the dial, searching through the static for the news report.

"...news bulletin out of Washington. President Roosevelt was shot this afternoon while on his way to the Capitol Building..." came out of the speaker, then a wash of static. John, stunned, blurted out a swear-word and saw his son's eyes widen.

"Sorry, Johnny," he said as he turned the dial, hoping to catch the rest of the report.

"...Nance... was sworn-in just after five this afternoon, Washington time. A national day of mourning will be observed tomorrow and Mrs. Roosevelt released a statement saying that her husband's body would...." more static wiped out the rest of the statement.

John sat down in stunned disbelief. FDR dead? How could this have happened?

His wife Martha came out of the kitchen with a smile, which died on her face as she saw her husband's stunned look.

"John? What is it?" she cried, her voice cracking. Little Johnny sat next to his father, crying - he didn't understand what was going on, only that his parents were both upset - while the radio continued to spew static.

[metsgeek]

Joe, I can see that you and I have very similar tastes in fiction. The Man in the High Castle is one of the greatest alternate history novels ever. Are you going to bring the I Ching into the story at all?

[legendsport]

Originally Posted by metsgeek

Joe, I can see that you and I have very similar tastes in fiction. The Man in the High Castle is one of the greatest alternate history novels ever. Are you going to bring the I Ching into the story at all?

Possibly. I was even considering using the I Ching as Dick did, to help plot some of the characters' lives.

[legendsport]

September 10, 1934 - Los Angeles, California

"Hey, Doc, how are you?" greeted John Carey as he and his wife waited in line at the box office of Grauman's Chinese Theater. John looked over his shoulder and found himself face to face with Ralph Deevers, an on-again, off-again patient - and chronic hypochondriac.

"Hello, Ralph. You know Verna, my wife?"

Ralph grinned widely and lifted his cap, "Pleased to meet you, ma'am."

He turned his gaze back to John, "Going to see 'Barretts of Wimpole Street,' eh? I think Fredric March is one of the best actors ever."

John put on a polite smile and said, "Yes, we like to see the newest movies. It's a guilty pleasure. Even though money is tight, I think folks need a little entertainment now and then. What brings you down here, Ralph?"

"Oh, just out for a walk. I've been wheezing lately and thought maybe some fresh air would do me some good." Ralph peered at John keenly. "Think that's a good prescription, doc?"

John chuckled - in spite of himself, he had always liked Ralph. "Sure, Ralph. It's always good to get some exercise."

They had reached the front of the line. John turned to the ticket booth - "Two please," he said, pushing his money through the slot.

"Take care, doc," Ralph said and headed down the sidewalk.

Inside the theater, both John and Verna found themselves waiting for the newsreels with more anticipation than they did for the feature.

The newsreel began with a shot of the new president, John Nance Garner, speaking to the House of Representatives about his own plan. He had decided not to pursue the New Deal, but guaranteed his plan, called the "Square Deal" would be better for the nation. John scoffed - a Roosevelt man, he had little use for the Texas-bred Garner, who John viewed as a political expedient for getting FDR elected and who was now an underqualified President.

"Shoot, this isn't going to be good," muttered John as the newsreel moved on to show more rallies by Adolf Hitler's Nazi party in Germany. He paid little attention to the European stories - America had learned its lesson and was happy to let the Europeans stew in their own juices. Instead he wondered what Garner's "Square Deal" would be all about.

"John," whispered Verna, "don't forget you promised to bring Johnny to the Angels' ballgame this weekend."

John shook himself out of his reverie and leaned over. "Yep, I sure did." He smiled and gazed into her eyes, "That boy and his baseball. Do you know he talks about nothing else but baseball. He's been wanting to see that DiMaggio kid the Seals have - says he hit in 61 straight games last year and..." John cut off as a fierce "Shush" came from the seats behind him. The feature was just getting started, so John turned and for the next couple of hours, took his mind off Garner, the Depression, baseball and everything else.

[legendsport]

October 9, 1934 - New York, New York:

"Ah, nuts!" The words resounded through the third-floor apartment on New York's Lower East Side, coming from the front room where the radio was located.

"Hiram! Such language will not be tolerated. Your Papa would not stand for such words." This from the kitchen, at the back of the four-room "railroad" apartment.

"Sorry, Mama, I lost my temper - the Tigers have lost. Greenberg will not win the World Series after all." Hiram Rosen, twelve years old and a huge fan of the Detroit Tigers star slugger, managed to cross the length of the apartment before finishing his sentence.

His mother Sarah, who doted on her son, shook her head. "Hiram, you should be worrying more about your studies than a baseball game thousands of miles away."

"Mama, Detroit is not thousands of miles from New York." Hiram said, a tone of exasperation in his voice.

"Ah, so you know that. Better you should know all your subjects as well."

"Yes, Mama." Hiram knew better than to argue with his mother. He had run home from school on this sunny Tuesday, hoping against hope that the Tigers (his favorite team the Yankees, with Babe Ruth no longer himself, had not won the pennant) could win game seven against the Gas House Gang - but it was not to be. 11-0 was the final. Since his day was ruined anyway, he figured he'd pacify his mother by doing his mathematics homework.

A couple of hours later, the family was settled around the table for dinner. Hiram's father, who worked in the diamond business, had come home dispirited. Business was not good.

"No one has money for something as frivolous as jewelry. That Garner, he is a fool. His so-called Square Deal will not end the Depression - it seems that nothing will do that."

Sarah clucked softly and said, "Dear, you know that is not true. In good time all will improve. It is not possible for things to continue this way forever. We just need to be patient."

"We can try to be patient - but that will prove difficult once we run out of money," her husband replied.

Hiram, who had planned to ask his father for money for a new baseball glove, now saw the hopelessness of that request and decided not to ask. He would just have to make do with his old one, which was more tape than leather these days.

"God will provide," his mother said firmly. And the family hoped she was right.

[ifspuds]

This looks fantastic already. I haven't read the book you mention, but I'm a fan of Dick's short fiction (actually, I haven't read any of his novels... shame on me!). Count me in as a very interested reader of this, though.

[legendsport]

November 10, 1934 - Tokyo, Empire of Japan:

Eiji Sawamura, 17-year-old pitcher for the Kyoto Shogyo High School had never been so nervous in his entire short life. Of course none of his feelings showed on his properly stoic face. But, oh! did his insides churn.

He stood on the mound facing the greatest 'besuboru' player of all-time - the immortal Babe Ruth. In truth, Ruth looked old and infirm and would probably benefit from some proper training in the Japanese fashion. But it was well-known that despite his diet of hot dogs and "beer" (Sawamura wasn't entirely sure what beer was, but he had heard it had the same effect as sake and it tasted horrible).

It was the second game of the exhibition series between the "All-Americans" and the best of the Japanese school teams. It was an incredible honor for Sawamura and his team mates to take on these famous ballplayers, led by the stoic Connie Mack, who stood on the steps of the dugout, scorecard in hand, watching all the action with a keen eye.

Ruth stood in the classic stance Sawamura had seen in newsreels, his bat cocked, eyes peering out at the youth on the mound. His great belly, reminiscent of a sumo's, stuck over nearly over home plate. His catcher held his glove firmly over the center of the plate and waited, as did the packed throng in the stands and his seven other team mates, spread about on the mostly dirt field behind him.

He wound up, and threw his best fastball.

Time seemed to stop as Sawamura watched the Babe bring the bat off his shoulders, whipping it through the strike zone - where it missed, yes missed! the ball. Strike one!

Feeling a little better now, Sawamura caught the return throw and paced back to the mound.

A second fastball - strike two!

Perhaps I can do it, Sawamura thought - maybe the stories that Ruth is too old are true. Perhaps he can not catch up to my fastball.

A roaring sound filled his ears - at first he thought it was the crowd, then realized it was his pounding pulse. He took a deep breath and tried to settle himself, to achieve perfect harmony within before beginning his windup.

He brought the ball back, twisted and fired....

The smack was clearly audible throughout the packed stadium as the ball soared up and out of the park, a monstrous clout that brought a huge sigh from the crowd, before the fans rose as one and cheered at the mighty blast.

Sawamura stood alone on the mound, watching the ball in flight, amazed at the power of the Babe. Next time, he thought, I will strike him out.

All-Nippon
Player, Pos.	AB	R	H	RBI	SH	SB	SO	BB	PO	A	E
Sugitaya, RF	4	0	1	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	0
Makino, 2B	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	2	1	0	1
Horio, CF	4	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	5	0	1
Inokawa, C	2	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	3	0	0
Kuji, C	2	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0
Ri, PR	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Nagasawa, 1B	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	7	0	0
Date, PH	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0
Murai, 1B	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	2	0	0
Fuma, LF	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	1	0	0
Yajima, LF	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	2	0	0
Shintomi, 3B	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	2	2	1	0
Nakajima, PH	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0
Tominaga, SS	2	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	3	0
Karita, SS	2	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	1
Sawamura, P	3	0	0	0	0	0	3	0	0	2	0
Yamamoto, PH	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0
Totals		28	0	2	0	0	0	18	8	24	6	3

Americans
Player, Pos.	AB	R	H	RBI	SH	SB	SO	BB	PO	A	E
McNair, SS	5	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0
Gehringer, 2B	4	0	1	0	0	1	0	1	4	2	0
Ruth, 1B	5	2	3	1	0	0	1	0	4	0	0
Gehrig, LF	4	2	2	0	0	0	1	1	0	0	0
Foxx, C	4	2	1	2	0	0	0	1	17	0	0
Averill, CF	4	2	2	3	0	0	0	1	1	0	0
Miller, RF	4	1	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Warstler, 3B	4	1	1	1	0	0	1	0	1	1	0
Gomez, P	4	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	2
Totals		38	10	12	9	0	1	4	4	27	3	2

Boxscore of the Game at Meiji-Jingu Stadium in Tokyo, 11/10/1934

[legendsport]

(note: I will periodically use interludes to cover spans of time and to mention events in the world at large. Items in italics are ahistorical, non-italicized items actually happened)

1934

* December 1 - In the Soviet Union, Politburo member Sergei Kirov is shot dead at the Communist Party headquarters in Leningrad by Leonid Nikolaev (it is widely thought that Soviet leader Joseph Stalin ordered this murder).
* December 5 - Abyssinia Crisis: Ethiopian and Italian troops exchange gunfire. Reported casualties for the Ethiopians are 150, and for the Italians 50.
* December 29 - Japan renounces the Washington Naval Treaty of 1922 and the London Naval Treaty of 1930.

1935

* January 1 - Italian colonies of Tripoli and Cyrenaica are joined together as Libya
* January 7 - Italian premier Benito Mussolini and French foreign minister Pierre Laval conclude agreement in which each power undertakes not to oppose the other's colonial claims
* January 11 - Amelia Earhart becomes the first person to fly solo from Hawaii to California
* February 26 - The Luftwaffe is created as Germany's air force. (March 11?)
* March 16 - Adolf Hitler announces German rearmament in violation of the Versailles Treaty.
* April 14 - Dust Bowl: The great dust storm, made famous by Woody Guthrie in his "dust bowl ballads". The hardest hit areas were where in Eastern New Mexico and Colorado, and western Oklahoma.
* May 6 - Square Deal: Works Progress Administration (WPA) creation, originally planned by FDR, is scrapped by President Garner.
* May 27 - In the case of Schechter Poultry Corp. v. United States, aka the "Sick Chicken Case", U.S. Supreme Court declares the National Recovery Act unconstitutional.
* June 9 - Ho-Umezu Agreement: China's Kuomintang government concedes Japanese military control of north-eastern China.
* June 18 - Anglo-German Naval Agreement: Britain agrees to a German navy equal to 35% of her own naval tonnage.
* August 14 - United States Senate votes down Social Security Act, one of the final "pet" projects of late president FDR to receive support from his successor.
* September 8 - Carl Weiss fatally shoots US Senator from Louisiana, Huey Long, nicknamed "Kingfish", in the Louisiana capitol building.
* September 13 - Howard Hughes sets new aviation speed record in his H-1.
* September 15 - Nuremberg Laws in Germany legalize discriminatory practices against people with one or more Jewish ancestors.
* October 2-3 - Italian army invades Ethiopia under General de Bono (replaced November 11 by Pietro Badoglio)
* November 14 In General Election in Britain, Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin returned to office at the head of a National Government led by the Conservative Party with a large but reduced majority.
* December 27 - Mao Zedong issues the Wayaopao Manifesto: On Tactics Against Japanese Imperialism, calling for a National United Front against Japanese Invasion.

1936

* February 6 - The 1936 Winter Olympic Games opens in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany.
* February 29 - Emperor Hirohito orders the Japanese army to arrest 123 conspirators in Tokyo government offices - 19 of them are executed in July.
* March 7 - In violation of the Treaty of Versailles, Nazi Germany reoccupies the Rhineland.
* July - A major heat wave strikes the Midwestern United States, hundreds of high temperature records are set
* July 13 to 14 - Peak of July 1936 heat wave. The states of Wisconsin, Michigan, and Indiana all set new state records for high temperature.
* August 1 - The 1936 Summer Olympics open in Berlin, Germany.
* October 28 - US President John Nance Garner rededicates the Statue of Liberty on its 50th anniversary.

[legendsport]

November 4, 1936 - Los Angeles, California

"Well, Garner won," John said as he dropped the morning copy of the Los Angeles Times on the kitchen table.

Verna turned and looked at her husband from the stove, where she was putting the finishing touches on dinner. "I suppose that's good. I never got the feeling that Landon would have been any better," she said.

"Yes, it's a shame when you go into a presidential election and neither of the candidates really seems to be a good fit for the country's problems." John shook his head as he sat down to peruse the paper.

"Says here that someone named Gallup correctly predicted the election outcome based on a poll he did."

"Really? That's interesting," Verna's reply showed more politeness than general interest, but her husband didn't notice.

"Nothing magical about it. Granted the sample size was small, but it's a good predictor, obviously. I wonder if Gallup can predict when the Depression will end."

Verna did have interest in that: "I don't think anyone knows when that'll be."

They shared a look and Verna's wry smile brought a genuine grin to John's face.

The same day - New York, New York

"Landon and Garner are cut from the same cloth, I don't care if they are from different parties," Hiram told his father.

"Fourteen years old and you think you know of such things?" his father asked with his bushy eyebrows raised at the preposterousness of the very idea.

"It doesn't take a genius to listen to their words and understand, Pop," Hiram replied.

His father grunted and puffed on his pipe.

"Pop look, something needs to be done about Hitler. You have heard what the Nazis are doing to the Jews, right? Seizing property, outrageously unfair laws, the list goes on and on," Hiram was getting angry just thinking about the situation in Germany, where his family had relatives.

"Garner and Landon just reflect the sentiment of the majority of Americans, son. There are very few here who want to get involved in European troubles."

Hiram shook his head and said, "Yes, better we should hide our heads in the sand."

"Unfortunately, that is the prevailing attitude. The Atlantic Ocean seperates us from all of that. Remember, many Americans - including our family - left Europe to avoid the troubles that happen there," his father said.

"I think this so-called 'isolationism' is a big mistake. You can't hide forever," Hiram replied. His father just grunted and puffed his pipe.

[legendsport]

December 19, 1937 - Los Angeles, California:

"Unbelieveable!" John stormed into the house and slammed the newspaper onto the kitchen table.

Concerned, Verna rushed to his side. "What is it?"

"That idiot in the White House just canceled the WPA. That means more unemployment. It's like he wants the Depression to continue." John shook his head and sat down.

Verna sat across from him and took his hand. He looked up at her and her skipped a beat at the look on his face.

"There's something else, isn't there?" she asked in a meek voice.

"Yes, I'm afraid so. The funding for the hospital has been scaled back. There's no money," he paused and squeezed her hand. "I think I'm going to be looking for a job soon."

"Oh, my god. What are we going to do?" Verna asked. She had never been more frightened.

"Well, I am a doctor. There's always a need for doctors - even in a Depression." He gave her his "serious" look and then continued, "Sean did offer me that other job. The pay is good, we should think about it."

Sean, was Dr. Sean McCants, chief of surgery at San Francisco General Hospital - one of John's medical school classmates.

"That job's in San Francisco, John."

"I know, dear, but if there's no work for me in LA, we're going to need to move anyway."

"Well, Johnny won't be happy."

"He'll get over it. They have baseball there too."

December 21, 1937 - New York, New York:

"Moishe! How can you say such things." Sarah Rosen's hand flew to her mouth, her eyes opened wide in shock.

"It is the truth. Garner and his protectionist friends are killing all business in this country. We should go back to Europe."

Hiram stood in the doorway, watching in disbelief. His father could not be serious - go back to Europe? Not a chance.

"Moise, please - the Depression is there too. And we have nowhere to go - we can NOT return to Germany." On this, Sarah knew, she would get no argument.

"Not Germany, no. But Austria? I think yes, we could go there. The language is the same - and Nazis are illegal there." Moise had obviously given this thought - this was not a mere emotional outburst, thought Sarah.

"Hitler's madmen are right across the border. Do you think we'd actually be safer and better off in Austria then here in the United States?"

"It is something to consider, Sarah. If things continue as they are, we will be out of business. There is no WPA any longer - if my diamond business fails, what will we do for money?"

Sarah had no answer to this. Hiram, still standing silently in the doorway, also had nothing to add.

[legendsport]

February 2, 1938 - New York, New York:

The radio was on in the Rosen household, turned to a news broadcast.

"..today the Chancellors of Austria and Germany met to discuss closer relations between the two German-speaking countries. The meeting was held in Berchtesgaden, the mountain retreat of German chancellor Adolf Hitler. Hitler, a native Austrian, is believed to be pressing for a greater say in Austrian affairs. With the remilitarized German Army dwarfing that of Austria, Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg is expected to give in to Nazi demands..."

Moise Rosen snapped the dial off. "Incredible! Does no one have the backbone to stand up to Hitler and his Nazi thugs?"

"Moise, do not get yourself in a state," his wife chided gently.

"We can not go home and we can't stay here if the economy doesn't improve and now, it seems we can't go to Austria either." Moise rubbed his temples.

[legendsport]

1938

March
* March 3 - Oil is discovered in Saudi Arabia.
* March 12 - Anschluss: German troops occupy Austria; annexation declared the following day.

April

* April 10 - Edouard Daladier becomes prime minister of France

May

* May 5 - Vatican recognizes Franco's government in Spain
* May 25 - Bombing of Alicante, Spain, in the Spanish Civil War, with 313 dead.

June

* June 12-18 - Roma and Sinti in Germany and Austria are rounded up, beaten up and jailed
* June 22 - Heavyweight boxing champion Joe Louis knocks out Max Schmeling in the first round of their rematch at Yankee Stadium in New York City.

July

* July 3 - The last reunion of the Blue and Gray commemorates the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
* July 10 - Howard Hughes sets a new record by completing a 91 hour airplane flight around the world.
* July - Building of the concentration camp Mauthausen

August

* August 18 - The Thousand Islands Bridge, connecting the United States with Canada, is dedicated by US President John N. Garner

September

* September - European crisis over German demand for annexation of Sudeten borderland of Czechoslovakia.
* September 29 - Munich agreement of German, Italian, British and French leaders agrees to German demands regarding annexation of Sudetenland.

October

* October 1 - German troops march into Sudetenland
* October 5 - Edvard Beneš, president of Czechoslovakia, resigns
* October 17 - Jan Syrovy's government begins in Czechoslovakia
* October 27 - Du Pont announced a name for its new synthetic yarn: "nylon".
* October 30 - Orson Welles's radio adaptation of The War of the Worlds is broadcast, causing mass panic in various parts of the United States.
* October 31 - In an effort to try restore investor confidence, the New York Stock Exchange unveils a fifteen-point program aimed to upgrade protection for the investing public.

November

* November 9 - Holocaust: Kristallnacht begins - In Germany, the "night of broken glass" begins as Nazi troops and sympathizers loot and burn Jewish businesses (the all night affair saw 7,500 Jewish businesses destroyed, 267 synagogues burned, 91 Jews killed, and at least 25,000 Jewish men arrested).
* November 10 - On the eve of Armistice Day, Kate Smith sings Irving Berlin's God Bless America for the first time on her weekly radio show.
* November 30 - Czech parliament elects Emil Hácha as the new president of Czechoslovakia.

December

* Adolf Hitler is named Time Magazine's "Man of the Year" - as most newsworthy, not as "best man."

1939

January

* January 26 - Spanish Civil War: Troops loyal to Francisco Franco and aided by Italy take Barcelona.

February

* February 2 - Hungary joins Anti-Comintern Pact
* February 10 - Falangists take Catalonia
* February 21 - Golden Gate International Exposition opens in San Francisco, California
* February 27 - United Kingdom and France recognize Franco's government
* February 27 - Sit-down strikes are outlawed by the Supreme Court of the United States.

March

* March 2 - Pius XII becomes Pope
* March 3 - In Bombay, Mohandas Gandhi begins to fast in protest of the autocratic rule in India.
* March 14 - Slovak provincial assembly proclaims independence - priest Jozef Tiso becomes the president of independent Slovak government
* March 15 - German troops occupy the remaining part of Bohemia and Moravia; Czechoslovakia ceases to exist; beginning hostilities leading to WWII
* March 22 - Germany takes Memel from Lithuania
* March 26 - The Philadelphia Story, a comedy by Philip Barry starring Katharine Hepburn, debuts at the Shubert Theater in New York City.
* March 28 - Dictator Francisco Franco conquers Madrid, ending the Spanish Civil War
* March - End of the Great Arab Revolt in the British mandate of Palestine (started 1936)

April

* April 7 - Italy invades Albania - King Zog flees
* April 9 - Singer Marian Anderson performs before 75,000 people at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. after having been denied the use of Constitution Hall by the Daughters of the American Revolution.
* April 11 - Hungary leaves the League of Nations
* April 14 - John Steinbeck's novel The Grapes of Wrath is first published.
* April 30 - New York World's Fair opens.

May

* May 2 - Lou Gehrig's streak of 2130 consecutive Major League Baseball games played comes to an end.
* May 3 - The All India Forward Bloc is formed by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose.
* May 7 - Spain leaves the League of Nations
* May 17 - King George VI and Queen Elizabeth of Great Britain arrive in Quebec City to begin the first-ever visit to Canada by British sovereigns.
* May 22 - Germany and Italy sign the Pact of Steel.

June

* June 4 - Holocaust: The SS St. Louis, a ship carrying a cargo of 963 Jewish refugees, is denied permission to land in Florida after already having been turned away from Cuba. Forced to return to Europe, most of its passengers later die in Nazi concentration camps.
* June 17 - Last public guillotining in France - murderer Eugen Weidmann is decapitated by the guillotine.

July
* July 4 - Lou Gehrig gives his "Today, I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth." speech
* July 4 - The concentration camp Neuengamme becomes autonomous.
* July 6 - Holocaust: The last remaining Jewish enterprises in Germany are closed.

August

* August 2 - Albert Einstein writes President John N. Garner about developing the Atomic Bomb using Uranium. Garner's scientific advisors term the proposal "ludicrous" and encourage the president to dismiss Einstein.
* August 17 - The Wizard of Oz, starring Judy Garland, premieres at the Capitol Theater in New York City.
* August 23 - Hitler and Stalin divide eastern Europe between themselves. Finland, the Baltic states and eastern Poland to the USSR. Western Poland to Germany (Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact)
* August 25 - An IRA bomb explodes in the centre of Coventry, England killing five people.
* August 27 - A Heinkel 178, the first jet-powered aircraft, flies for the first time.
* August 30 - Poland begins mobilization

[legendsport]

September 4, 1939 - San Francisco, California:

The headline screamed "WAR!" in enormous letters. Seemingly every man on the cable car had a copy of the Examiner in hand, reading about the declaration of war by the British and French against Germany. Just a few days earlier, German troops had poured across the border into Poland and this time, the British and French did not back down.

"Looks like Europe's in the s**t again, hey buddy?" said the man next to John. From the look on his face, he actually seemed to think that was a good thing.

"Yes, it sure does look that way," replied John. As a doctor sworn to protect and save lives, the thought of war - anywhere - depressed him deeply.

"Well, at least we're not involved, and if I know Garner, we won't be getting involved either," the man continued. "We've got our own problems to deal with, what Hitler and his boys do in Poland ain't got anything to do with us."

"True. I just hope it stays that way," John said. The man huffed and went back to reading.

By the time John reached his home, having read most of the paper on the trolley, he was completely depressed. Why the hell couldn't Hitler leave well enough alone? Weren't Austria and then Czechoslovakia enough? Apparently not.

Johnny was in front of the house when he father walked up the sidewalk. As usual, his son had his glove on and was tossing a rubber ball against the building and catching it as it bounced back.

"Hey, Dad," Johnny said. "Why so glum? Bad day at the hospital?"

"Oh, the usual. Nothing too traumatic. Wish I could say the same for the boys getting machine-gunned in Poland right now," John said. Then he reached over and ruffled his son's hair. Good thing he's just 13, John thought. Despite what that guy on the trolley may think, if Europe goes up in flames, eventually we'll have to get involved. Even Garner's not that blind, he thought - hoping he was right, but praying he was wrong.

September 5, 1939 - New York, New York:

"Okay, Rosen - toss it in there!" his catcher shouted from behind the plate.

Hiram Rosen, wearing a jersey with the word's 'Wonder Deli" stenciled on the front, took a deep breath, then shot a quick glance at first to check the runner. That kid over there, Phil something-or-other, was cat-quick on the bases and one of the best glove men at short that Hiram had ever seen. Came from over in Brooklyn, playing for the Fish Market.

After looking home once more, Hiram shot another glance at the short kid dancing off the bag, then raised his leg, spun and fired home in a quick motion.

"Strike!" screamed the umpire.

Okay, one and two, Hiram thought. Maybe I can use the curve and get him to chase. But if that kid at first goes and it's a ball, he'll swipe second no sweat. Concentrate, Hiram, he told himself, and glanced at his catcher for the sign. Fastball. Alright, so be it.

Hiram was about to go into his quick-pitch delivery when he noticed a car come screeching to a halt outside the chain link fence surrounding the field.

"What the hell's a car doing in the park?" he said, then his heart flipped when he saw his uncle step out of the passenger door.

"Hiram! You must come with me. Your father, he is... well, he is not well. You must come." By the tone of his uncle's voice, Hiram knew the situation was dire.

"Guys, I gotta go. Sorry," he said as he tossed the ball to his catcher and jogged off the field.

The manager, Mr. Weiss, patted him on the back as he jogged past and said, "Hope he's okay, kid."

It turned out that Moishe Rosen was not okay. A massive heart attack had struck him and the doctors had done all they could, but by the time Hiram reached the hospital, his father was dead.

September 11, 1939 - Yokohama, Japan:

"That is a fantastic machine, sir," said Lt. Hiro Watanabe of the Imperial Japanese Navy as he stepped down from the brand-new fighter aircraft he had just landed at the Yokohama field.

"Yes, the A6M is far superior to any fighter in the world," said his commander, Captain Yoshi Toda.

Watanabe, a thickset man of medium height, was honored to have been given the opportunity to fly the new aircraft. Along with his appointment to the fighter squadron aboard the carrier Hiryu, it was a singular honor he would never forget.

Toda grinned at his young pilot. "Soon, perhaps, we will have an opportunity to fly into battle, neh?"

"Yes, sir," Watanabe replied, never wishing to disagree with a superior, even though he believed that it was unlikely they'd fight anyone soon. The Chinese? They had no air power worth speaking of and the Americans were too busy hiding their heads in the sand to worry about.

"You are thinking of the Chinese," Toda said, startling Watanabe with his seeming omniscience. "But, I was speaking of the Americans. The sanctions they have imposed on our nation are an insult, and they will have to be made to pay," Toda finished with fervor.

Watanabe agreed with a nod and firm "Yes, sir!" But inwardly he felt sick at the thought of fighting the Americans. He had visited the United States - the immensity of the country, the huge factories and miles upon miles of farms - he had been staggered at the potential power of the Americans. Plus, he admitted to himself, he enjoyed the Americans, especially when he played baseball with them.

"Enough talk. You must go fill out your report. Tomorrow we fly the first of these beauties out to the ship. Then, sea-trials and a demonstration flight for the High Command."

Watanabe snapped himself back to the present. I will hope for peace with America, he thought, but if necessary, I will fight them. Oh, I wish I could get a game of baseball in before heading to sea, though. So be it.

[goroyals]

Excellent. KUTGW.

[legendsport]

1939, continued

* September 17 - Soviet Union invades Poland and then occupies eastern Polish territories.
* September 27 - Warsaw surrenders to Germany; Modlin surrenders day later; last Polish large operational unit surrenders near Kock eight days later.

October

* October 8 - Germany annexes Western Poland.
* October 11 - US President John N. Garner is presented with a letter signed by Albert Einstein urging the United States to rapidly develop the atomic bomb. Pressed by economic concerns of the ongoing Depression, Garner shelves the letter for later consideration.

November

* November 4 - US President John N. Garner orders the United States Customs Service to implement the Neutrality Act of 1939, refusing to allow purchases of U.S. made weapons by belligerents.
* November 6 - Sonderaktion Krakau, the codename for a German action against scientists from the University of Kraków and other Kraków universities at the beginning of World War II.
* November 8 - Venlo Incident: Two British agents of SIS are captured by the Germans.
* November 8 - In Munich, Adolf Hitler narrowly escapes an assassination attempt while celebrating the 16th anniversary of the Beer Hall Putsch.
* November 15 - In Washington, DC, US President John N. Garner lays the cornerstone of the Jefferson Memorial.
* November 16 - Al Capone released from Alcatraz
* November 30 - Winter War begins: Soviet forces attack Finland and reach the Mannerheim Line, starting the war.

December

* December 14 - League of Nations expels the USSR because of attacking Finland
* December 15 - The film version of Gone With The Wind, starring Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable, premieres at Loew's Grand Theater in Atlanta, Georgia.
*December 17 - The U.S. Congress passes a resolution requiring Congressional approval on all trade agreements with any power involved in the European War.

1940

January

* January 4 - Hermann Goering assumes control of all war industries in Germany.
* January 7 - Winter War - General Semyon Timoshenko takes command of all Russian forces.
* January 8 - Winter War - Russian 44th Assault Division destroyed by Finnish forces in Battle of Suomussalmi

February

* February 1 - Winter War - Russian forces launch major assault on Finnish troops on the Karelian Isthmus.

March

* March 5- Members of Soviet politburo: Stalin, Molotov, Lazar Kaganovich, Mikhail Kalinin, Kliment Voroshilov and Lavrenty Beria, signed an order, prepared by Beria, for the execution of 25,700 Polish intelligentsia, including 14,700 Polish POWs. The action is known as the Katyn massacre.
* March 12 - Soviet Union and Finland sign a peace treaty in Moscow ending the Winter War. Finns, and world opinion, shocked by the harsh terms.
* March 18 - World War II: Axis powers - Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini meet at Brenner Pass in the Alps and agree to form an alliance against France and the United Kingdom.
* March 21 Édouard Daladier resigns as prime minister of France. He is replaced by Paul Reynaud.

April

* April 9 - Germany invades Denmark and Norway in operation Weserübung. The British campaign in Norway is simultaneously commenced.

May

* May 10 - Battle of France begin - German forces invaded France and Low Countries.
* May 10 - Iceland invaded by the United Kingdom.
* May 10 - With the resignation of Neville Chamberlain, Winston Churchill becomes Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
* May 13 - Winston Churchill, in his first address as Prime Minister, tells the House of Commons, "I have nothing to offer you but blood, toil, tears, and sweat."
* May 13 - German armies open 60-mile wide breach in Maginot Line at Sedan.
* May 14 - Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands and her government flee to London; Rotterdam subjected to savage terror bombing by the Luftwaffe - 980 killed, 20,000 buildings destroyed.
* May 14 - Recruitment begins in Britain for a home defense force - the Local Defence Volunteers, later known as the Home Guard.
* May 15 - Dutch army surrenders.
* May 16 - U.S. President John N. Garner, addressing a joint session of Congress, asks for an extraordinary credit of approximately $900 mill