in a situation where he would be wounded, killed or from a propaganda stand point, worst of all captured. and so most of the men or major league baseball players who joined the military spent their time playing ball on air force and navy time. >> it was a chance to watch nine innings of normalcy and recall sweet memories of home and the freedom. >> was there something different of the player ares of the world war ii era? >> certainly the times were different and the war was differenent. and the perceived threat to our liberties. there was no point of having a national part-time if the nation would be challenged. >> and the idea of baseball being a daily war which was a metaphor.