Sox Remain Hot vs. Sens and A’s; Yours Truly Temps as War Correspondent
September 17, 1939
BOSTON— The State Street Tribune enjoys the reputation within journalism circles of being an outstanding news source. It’s especially true when it comes to the inner workings within the city of Chicago and true with international happenings.
The reputation is also that the Tribune can stretch a buck further than most conservative organizations. Ladies and gentlemen that is why many of you have seen my byline in other places in the paper other than just the sports section.
The original purpose of my trip to the Nation’s Capital, of course, was to cover the White Sox at Senators for two games. I did witness Thornton Lee (11–14) win his 6th consecutive game. The ChiSox exploded for 7 runs in the top of the 11th and won 11–5. Gee Walker knocked in 4 runs with a pair of sacrifice flies and a 2-run single in the 11th. Marv Owen (3 hits) and Larry Rosenthal chipped in 2-runs doubles in the 11th.
The Sox had now won over 50% of their games and were playing some of the best baseball of the 1939 season. And what did that mean to our Executive Editor, Mr. R. Steven Tubberman? In money terms, not much more than a dime.
Tubberman is a well-known supporter of Chicago’s North-Side baseball club. He never has completely forgiven the switching of my writing talents to the Pale Hose. He’s also known to have a keen eye on the geo-political world. I wouldn’t go so far as to say he likes war, but he understands it’s value to selling newspapers.
As mentioned before, Tubberman and his collection of Tribune bean counters know how to cut corners. Now, they had an extra reporter in Washington, D.C. where all the movers and shakers lived and worked.
While the White Sox were losing 5–1 at Griffith Stadium Wednesday afternoon, I was floating up and down Embassy Row where I met with Canadian Ambassador Loring Christie and The Australian Counsellor at the British Embassy, Keith Officer.
The content of those interviews can be found in the World section of the Tribune dated September 14. Turns out Officer is a huge New York Yankees fan and is looking forward to seeing the Sox versus Yankees game next Wednesday in New York.
Fully packed, I took a taxi to Union Station. Manager Jimmy Dykes and several of the White Sox coaches and players were milling around the shops. That’s when I spotted him coming out of the cigar shop. It was the immistakable cut of our Washington Bureau Chief, Charles Wittrup.
We immediately made eye contact and I knew there would be no avoiding him. Wittrup marched directly toward me, as if talking to me was his only purpose in life. It turned out it was. At least for that evening. He informed me that my services were required in Washington for the next 3 days, and that I would not be on the next train to Philly.
My first assignment would be to interview Brigadier General George Patton, Jr. at the Pentagon tomorrow morning at 05:00. In anticipation of future combat with German Panzer tanks, the U.S. Congress had just approved the creation of the 1st and 2nd Armored Divisions. Patton had just been appointed to lead the 2nd Armored, and man, did he have some ideas about combat. Yes Sir!
Did I mention the White Sox were playing great baseball? The next 3 days, Chicago swept the Philadelphia Athletics 10–7, 7–2, 5–4. The Tribune and Wittrup kept me busy in Washington that’s for sure. I was expected to crank out two stories a day for the 4 editions of the paper. Some days I conducted as many as 5 interviews. It was a different kind of excitement. I learned a lot about many subjects I had previously not known much about.
To say I was exhausted when I climbed aboard an express to Boston, Thursday morning, Sept. 17, was an understatement. The coffee I brought on board was hardly touched when we arrived in Bean Town.
