As time progressed America made significant inroads into winning the day towards peace. My brothers had gone off to war. Brother Dick came out of his Navy service with diabetes, and brother Bob survived the duration of the war as a gunner on B-24 and B-29 bombers. The family was preoccupied with the welfare of Bob and Dick as well as the progress of the war. We didn‘t dwell too much on the progress of the Boston Braves. That was probably a good thing, since they were not winning much anyway.

The Braves rookie of 1942, lefty Warren Edward Spahn, gave up his career in 1943 and enlisted in the Army. Spahn served from 1943 through 1945. His Army experiences took him to the Battle of the Bulge and

Figure 2. Warren Spahn

Ludendorff Bridge among other places. He earned a battlefield commission as a Lieutenant in 1945. Also in 1945 he was wounded at the battle to save the last bridge crossing the Rhine River in Remagen. It was a long and costly battle for both sides. He was awarded the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, and numerous campaign medals. In 1946 Spahn returned to the Boston Braves. His record in 1946 was 8 wins and 5 losses. The team record was 81 and 72, the first of three consecutive winning seasons, the third of which ended in the World Series of 1948.

But the war had ended, the boys were back home, and by spring of 1947 we all had the urge get back into the swing of a baseball season. The Braves looked pretty good – they had Johnnie Sain, Vern Bickford, Bill Voiselle, and this new guy – the ex-rookie from 1942 - Warren Edward Spahn – a left-hander, as pitchers.

In 1947 Warren Spahn was pitching as well as, if not better than any pitcher of the day with a record of 21 and 10. He led the league in Earned Run Average. Spahn had come a long way in a short time. Still, in 1948 his record was not impressive – 15 wins and 12 losses, but he had proved himself a worthy pitcher and showed great promise. And in 1948 the team went to the World Series against Cleveland.

By this time I had become enamored of the game of baseball, loved the Boston Braves, who were playing well, and thought the sun rose and set on my pal Warren Spahn. Oh, I know, I didn’t know him personally, nor did he know me, but I was his fan for the duration. It was obvious in the news media and radio broadcasts that he was easy-going, free with his autograph with kids and adults alike, and was a pitcher who was set far apart from other pitchers of the day.

I loved to go out to Braves Field and watch Spahn pitch. He was the only pitcher I ever saw who pitched with such a high kick and with a ball delivery from so near the ground. He didn’t appear to be very much out of the ordinary in general. But with a man on first, Spahn had a pitching stance that was out of this world. He would plant his left leg high on the mound, raise his right leg such that his foot was straight out and above his waist his gloved hand blocking any view the

Figure 3. Spahn in the Stretch –

batter might have of the throwing arm. Meanwhile, Spahn’s left arm was straight down and back behind him, and his hand and the ball about a foot above the ground. From this position, a few things occurred.

First off, the batter saw only the right foot and leg, not the delivery arm and hand. So the batter could not pick up sight of the ball until Spahn’s arm and hand had come up and over his shoulder, and until after he had let go of the ball. And the batter could not get a clue as to whether or not Spahn was going to throw to the plate, or make a pick-off move to first base.

The first base runner was in much the same predicament. Where most right and left handed pitchers had to look up or around to see that base runner on first, Spahn had only to glance over to first from this position to see the runner. And the runner had no hint about whether Spahn was going to try a pick-off move, or actually pitch to the plate. So the runner remained closer to the first base bag then usual, and the batter looked at this huge foot staring him in the face, wondering if he was going to get a pitch. There were not a lot of stolen bases made on Spahn in his career. And all the catchers who were behind the plate when Spahn was pitching were thrilled.

Spahn had turned into a great pitcher bringing significant wins to the Braves. Near the end of 1948 there cropped up a verse that the fans picked up on, "Spahn and Sain and then pray for rain." The implication here was that they were the only two pitchers on the team who could win a game. This was not true, really. There were Vern Bickford and Bill Voiselle too. Bickford went 11 and 5, and Voiselle was 13 and 13 during the season. So there were a couple of pitchers worth their salt who supported Spahn and Sain.

But in September of 1948 it happened that Spahn pitched a great game, followed by Sain – both won. Then there were two days off, and then a day of rain occurred. So Spahn and Sain pitched two more games – and both won. This sequence of events occurred a couple of more times actually, seeming to almost become a habit. In a 12-day span of time, Spahn and Sain won 8 games and had no losses. Hence, the old saying, "Spahn and Sain and then pray for rain."

Dad died at the age of 45 in 1947. I was 13 at the time. He had juvenile diabetes, severe asthma, and a rheumatic heart. I missed him terribly, and to be truthful, I miss him still – some 64 years later. Over the years I have found myself thinking about how much fun we would’ve had if he could’ve watched the Braves team progress – and in particular, their young left-hander Warren Spahn. We would’ve continued to make the best of fans for the Braves team and its players.

The Braves were sold from Boston to Milwaukee in 1953. They played 13 seasons in Milwaukee as the Milwaukee Braves, and all 13 seasons were winning seasons. In two consecutive years, 1957 and 1958, they went to the World Series. Both times they played against the Yankees, winning one series (1957) and losing the other (1958). Spahn won the Cy Young Award in 1957, earned National League Pitcher of the Year Award 4 times while in Milwaukee, and from 1947 to 1963 was elected to the All Star game 17 times. He was nominated three more times for the Cy young Award. He was doing well. I thought he was the greatest.

I had enlisted in the Air Force in 1952 and continued to follow the progress of the Braves and Spahn as I wended my way from base to base. In 1957 I was a Crew Chief on an Air Force refueling tanker. We were flying a refueling mission during one of the World Series games that Warren Spahn won, and I heard it over one of the aircraft short wave radios while we were hooked up to a B-52, refueling him way up in the northern climes. I was teaching Engine Conditioning courses at Sheppard AFB in Texas when Spahn pitched his first no-hitter against the Phillies in 1960 – Spahn was 39 years old at the time. I was still at Sheppard when Spahn pitched his second no-hitter against the Giants in 1961 at age 40.

In 1963 I was on the flight line at Hickam AFB maintaining assorted aircraft types ferrying men and equipment to and from Southeast Asia. I had been there since late 1961. That year I heard what has to be one of the greatest pitcher duels of all time. On July 2^nd Warren Spahn pitched against Juan Marichal of the NY Giants. Once again I found myself glued to an aircraft radio listening to the game on short wave. The game wore on through the 5^th, 7^th, and 9^th innings – still no score – and still on the mound were Marichal and Spahn.

There was little offense, and what hits were made were negated quickly enough by the pitching skills of both pitchers. Throughout the later innings, once they got into the 12^th, 13^th, 14^th etc., Al Dark, the manager of the Giants, (and former teammate of Warren Spahn’s back in the late 1940s) came out to ask Marichal if he wanted to come out of the game in favor of a relief pitcher. Finally, Marichal looked at Dark and told him, "If that 42-year old Spahn is still out there pitching, then so too can 25-year old Juan Marichal." Al Dark went back to his dugout and shut up!

With one out in the 16^th inning, Willie Mays came up to bat. Spahn threw him a fast ball, which was probably not as vibrant, so to speak, as his fast ball of old. And Willie hit it. You could almost hear the ball as it sailed away – "Goodbye infield, goodbye outfield, goodbye bleachers, goodbye wall, this is what we call a home run ball." And so after more than 4 hours of no-hit ball, Spahn lost the game 1 – 0. They say that Carl Hubbell was in the stands watching the game and after it was over his comment regarding the 42-year old Spahn was, "He ought to will his body to medical science." Spahn ended that 1963 season with a 23-7 record, which tied his best record to date.

In 1964 Spahn’s performance waned. He spent much time in the bullpen and ended up with an Earned Run Average something over 5. Not a good thing. He was traded to the New York Mets after the 1964 season. They traded him to the NY Giants in July of 1964, and Spahn ended his professional career that year. He did coach for minor and major league teams for another 12 years, and finally retired. He died in is hometown of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma on November 24, 2003.

Spahn holds the record for most wins by a left-hander with 363 wins. He holds the record for having 20 or more wins a season for 13 seasons. He is third on the all time list for strikeouts with 2583. He holds the National League record for career home runs for a pitcher with 35. (In 1958 – the year the Braves were in the World Series against the Yankees, Spahn’s batting average for the year was 333.) He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1973, the first year of his eligibility.

After his rookie year in 1942, Spahn spent three years in the Army. When asked if he thought he would’ve had much better career records if he had not have gone off to war during these years when he was younger and stronger, he said he didn’t know. He thought that had he played those years, he may not have lasted as long – might have become worn out sooner. He did say that the war experience taught him a lot, and when he played the game of baseball, he played it much better for having had that war experience.

The Braves went to Atlanta from Milwaukee. Since that move they have had 25 winning seasons – 14 of them consecutive. And they were in the playoffs all 14 of the consecutive winning seasons. They have been in five World Series since being in Atlanta, winning one and losing four. In that time they have had some mighty fine players, including the current star, Chipper Jones. Two of my favorites have been the great left-hand pitcher Phil Niekro, a great knuckleballer; and Hammerin’ Hank Aaron – one of the greatest players of all time. There have been many, many greats, including a fella named Babe Ruth, who played his last season with the Boston Braves.

I don’t know what makes a great fan, or even a good one. I have an idea, and I like to think I am a good one - at least I am faithful. Today I may have arisen from bed, looked at the box score of yesterday’s game, and belittled the sloppy play and lousy hitting of the Braves in their loss. Tomorrow I might arise, look at the box score, and applaud the infielder’s prowess and the power hitter’s successes in their win. But every day I arise knowing I love the Braves as a team, and their players as ball players. I’ve enjoyed them because they have given me many years of good games and great seasons. Next year will be my 70^th year as a Braves fan. You might think I was kinda hung up on them.

I do know what makes a good sportsman and a good friend. Warren Spahn, to me, exemplified what makes a good sportsman. He was a skilled professional who knew how to adjust when some of his skills faded. He learned new skills, and applied them well. When his fast ball slowed a bit he diligently learned how to throw a wicked screwball and slider to supplement his fast ball and curve ball. He treated his fan base like they were faithful friends - which they were – and he certainly stood as a wonderful role model for the youth of America.

I never did get to meet him. I always thought I would get down to Broken Arrow, Oklahoma and maybe drop by his place some day, maybe get him to autograph a baseball I could give to my grandson. But he died before I got to do that. Oddly enough, a few years ago my wife and I were in Tulsa and got a hotel room for the night in the area. The town the hotel was in was Broken Arrow – but Spahnie had already left for that ball field in the sky....