U.S. Officially Declares Neutrality; ChiSox Roll through St. Louis, Detroit
September 11, 1939
Following the example of President Woodrow Wilson in the Great War, President Roosevelt proclaimed the United States neutral status in the war which has broken out in Europe.
At least for now . . .
The previous 4 words were not spoken by the President. They are mine. If history from the World War between 1914–1918 repeats, the U.S. will become involved at some point before peace is finally restored.
Two triggers to watch for will be the deliberate targeting and death of U.S. citizens. The other will be the attacks on U.S. merchant shipping on the open seas. In anticipation of that possibility President Roosevelt ordered the creation of a Neutrality Patrol to observe and report any belligerent forces by patrolling the United States Atlantic coast and the Caribbean. In fact, on September 8 FDR declared a “limited national emergency” because of the war in Europe.
Word from Europe was that General Von Reichenau’s panzer division had reached the suburbs of Warsaw on September 8 and that main elements of the Nazi army were penetrating the city on the 9th.
Furthering the extent of the potential conflict, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Canada all declared war on Nazi Germany in the last few days.
My friend Wojtek had not heard from his family for five days. They lived south of Warsaw, but Wojtek knew they were on the move heading further south. Neither his brother Mariusz nor he were ones to sit around and wait. They began making plans to go to England. They would train and join the fight when the time came.
My heart is breaking for Wojtek and Mariusz and their home country. Polish neighborhoods on the North and South sides of Chicago are distraught. People walk through the streets either searching for scraps of news from Europe or simply numb like zombies.
Poles certainly aren’t the only ethic Chicagoans affected. First and second-generation Brits, French, Dutch, Belgian, Italians, and of course, Germans try to go through daily routines in the Windy City, but their minds and hearts are in Europe.
The Jewish community, more than any other, have seen this coming for several years. From the first days of Adolph Hitler’s control of Germany, the Jews have not been safe in that country. They scattered and fled everywhere they could, only to find those new places unsafe as the Third Reich expanded. Poland had long been a relatively safe haven for the Jews. Not anymore.
Meanwhile, my job continues to be traveling with the White Sox and reporting on their success and failures within the American League 1939 baseball season.
I can deliver good news from the diamond for those looking for something to brighten their day. September 7 was a banner day for the ChiSox in St. Louis. The White Sox swept the Browns in a Twin Bill by scores of 8–3 and 14–4. It raised their season record to 66–66. It was the first time the team has been at the .500 level since Aug. 8 when they were 51–51.
Ted Lyons (13–5) was the winning pitcher in the lid-lifter. It was his first Win a month. Thornton Lee (10–14) won his 3rd consecutive game with another complete game in the nightcap. Offensively, Mike Kreevich, Luke Appling, Rip Radcliff, Larry Rosenthal, and Gee Walker have all been contributing timely hits. Lee himself banged 3 hits, including 2 doubles to help his cause.
Detroit was a quick 1-day stop, but a doubleheader was played. The Sox and Bengals split with Chicago losing the opener 5–3. Our heroes rebounded to win the second game 5–3 in 10 innings.
As the team and I ride the rails to Washington, the Pale Hose sat at 67–67 and in 4th place in the AL standings. The Sox are just 1 game ahead of the Senators as they prepare to play head-to-head for two single games. After that, it’s on to Philadelphia for 3. The Yankees and Red Sox loom in the near future.
