𝗔 𝗛𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗬 𝗟𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗢𝗡 𝗙𝗥𝗢𝗠 𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗘 𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗥𝗘𝗦 𝗙𝗘𝗔𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗣𝗔𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗢𝗧𝗜𝗦𝗠, 𝗠𝗨𝗦𝗜𝗖 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗕𝗔𝗦𝗘𝗕𝗔𝗟𝗟

 

A glimpse of Baseball, Song and Patriotism

While the baseball league folded, others were inspired to compose patriotic music.

The Valley baseball league of 1942 had a premature ending because of WW II, but it was not because of lack interest, but due to lack of rubber—which was listed as rationed item.

With war came a change of lifestyle—almost everything that was readily available before the war was rationed during the conflict.

Even baseball, the only sport that has its own song, “Take Me out to the Ball Game,” suffered shortages. While the local boys took the diamond like every other season, in ’42 an unexpected culprit caused the demise of the league.

The dough boys from Moore Field in Mission, Harlingen Air Force Base and Fort Brown,who were part of the league, were not affected by the lack of rubber.

The civilian teams: Mission 30-30, Magnolias of Harlingen and San Benito, at mid-season declined to play away from home. Not having extra tires prevented them from playing away games and thus the season took a curtain call before its time.

Valley sporting activities were not totally absent during the war. But one thing was certain—many, who had roamed the playing fields before the war, were then seen carrying a duffle bag.

For those that stayed home…Civilian Defense director and then mayor of New York, Fiorello La Guardia, challenged every American to give an hour a day for the USA. 

The Valley did its part, especially in Brownsville because of its proximity to the coast.

While many in Brownsville participated in the war effort there were two men who stood out for their work in an expected way.

It was in 1908, that Jack Norworth was inspired to write, “Take me out to the Ball Game,” when he read a sign that said, “Baseball Today—at the Polo Grounds.”

In 1942, two Brownsville men (described as Latin Americans men by the Herald) were also inspired, just like Norworth was, to compose a song.

Frank Alvarez and Jesus “Chucho” Carillo were so inspired by patriotism in defense work that they jointly wrote a song entitled “National Defense March Song.”

The song was first introduced to the public at the Kiwanis club defense meeting at the El Jardin Hotel. Members of the club gave their praise of the song expressing, “That the song had all the depth and feeling so necessary of any patriotic song.”

The words were written by Mr. Alvarez, who incidentally completed every course in civil defense work offered in Brownsville.

Carrillo, who set the words to music, was an excellent piano instructor and well known among local musical groups. 

The song was copyrighted, and the words are as follows:

“You can hear the words of volunteers

Ready to defend this hemisphere

Our country we are ready to back

If a foreign foe does dare attack

For we are going to join the army now

And we are proud of it and how

For our country to defend

We’ll do the best we can

For we all love our liberty,

On we go marching and training

To perfectly do our sacred duty

For we’re all for Uncle Sam

Nothing can stop us we have our aim

For our Freedom we stand one for all, all for one

And we’ll defend our Liberty.

Let’s go marching to our defense

For our Freedom we will bear the expense

Army and Navy Air Corps and all

Let’s stand United

Freedom shall not fall.”

“Take Me out to the Ball Game,” survived through the decades and today is the unofficial anthem of baseball. 

“The National Defense March Song,” perhaps did not reach such status, but in the hearts of many, it was the right song at the right time.

Allow me to close with words of patriotism as written by Stephen Decatur…

“Our Country!" 

In her intercourse with foreign nations, may she always be in the right; but our country, right or wrong.”