The Adams County Historical Society will host a special presentation next weekend exploring how America’s pastime traveled with U.S. troops during World War II.
The free program, The American Game: Baseball in World War II, is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 13, from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Society’s Gettysburg campus. Historians Ted Herman and Dan Vermilya will lead the discussion, which highlights the unique role baseball played in the lives of soldiers overseas and on the home front.
As American forces deployed around the globe, they carried baseball with them. The sport became a staple of military recreation, uniting major leaguers and amateurs on the same fields. Informal games gave way to organized leagues, providing both soldiers and spectators a sense of normalcy and morale during a time of upheaval.
The program will spotlight the 80th anniversary of the GI World Series, held in September 1945 in France and Germany as the war came to a close. That event showcased the game’s widespread popularity among service members and underscored its importance to the war effort.
Local history will also take center stage. The talk will feature the story of Gettysburg College alumnus Harry O’Neill, one of only two major league players killed in action during the war. O’Neill’s sacrifice connects the global conflict to the community’s own history.
Organizers say the presentation offers both a reflection on baseball’s enduring place in American culture and a commemoration of those who served during World War II.
Admission is free, and no registration is required. More information on this and other upcoming programs is available through the Adams County Historical Society.
Source: Adams County Historical Society