The 1942 (Incomplete) Little World Series at Manzanar
This article was written by Russ Speiller
This article was published in How We Played the Game: Baseball at Manzanar, 1942–1945
In the sports section of the Wednesday, September 2, 1942, edition of the Manzanar Free Press newspaper are found these words: “So here it is … the club tendering the championship in every [softball] league will have an elimination play-off, to be recognized the pennant chief of this Manzanar boom empire. The champs will then be matched with the All-Stars, the cream of all five loops and will bring about the biggest thing yet to hit these parts, ringing the curtain down with a spectacular finale.”
Days later, in the Monday, September 7, 1942, edition of the Manzanar Free Press, Nob Myose, in his sports column entitled “Scanning Around,” proclaimed: “In what is expected to be the game of all games will be the fitting climax of the playoff titles in Manzanar’s little world series. The cream of each league will put forth their boastful teams in: American [L]eague’s San Pedro Gophers, National’s San Fernando Aces, International’s Island Marlins, Manzanar’s Has-Beens, and Owens’ [San] Pedro Pirates. Each team will have a chance to play against the other in a battle for the [fastpitch] softball crown of Manzanar.” The opening-round games were scheduled to be played on Diamond 2.
Going into the series, the Gophers suffered some setbacks. Shortstop Frankie Takeuchi broke his glasses due to a foul ball that also forced him to get stitches above his left eye. Meanwhile, second baseman Ray Goto was ill, and there was concern he wouldn’t recover in time for their opening games.
On the afternoon of Sunday, September 13, the San Fernando Aces and Island Marlins squared off in the playoff opener. The Aces were the favorite going into the game and were sporting the team’s newest recruit, Johnny Endow. His brother Frank was the Aces’ center fielder and the National League batting champion. The Aces filed out into their positions attired in colorful red and white shirts.
Starting on the mound for the Aces was Hiram Hino, who was opposed by Kaz Kawauchi of the Marlins. After a scoreless first inning, it was the Marlin boys who drew first blood in the second when Morikawa singled to center and came home on a smash to right by teammate China Ishida. It took a little while for the Aces to warm up, but they got things going in the fourth inning when Johnny Endow hit a drive to right that brought home Jimmie Tamura for the Aces’ first run. Frank Endow proceeded to hit a ground ball to left field that scored his brother. Lou Sugawara hit a clout to left to increase the Aces’ lead and help secure the 6-3 win, as the Marlins were limited to three hits in their final three at-bats.
The Aces next moved on to play the Has-Beens, winners of the Manzanar League. Hiram Hino, who was again on the mound for the Aces, pitched a gem, scattering five hits and allowing only one run. Has-Beens’ starter H. Tochioka didn’t fare as well. In the second inning, Lou Sugawara hit a double off Tochioka and came home on another double by Ben Yoshiwara. Mas Nakadaira followed with a home run.
The Aces added another run in the fourth inning when Jimmie Tamura walked and then advanced to third on Johnny Endow’s double to left field. Hiram Hino stepped to the plate and hit a towering infield fly that pitcher Tochioka dropped, allowing Tamura to score. Endow was thrown out at the plate as he tried to come home from second base. The Aces scored one more run in the seventh to close out the 5-1 victory.
The San Pedro Pirates began their Little World Series aspirations with a playoff loss and now found themselves facing the Island Marlins and their ace hurler Kaz Kawauchi, who had thrown a no-hitter during the International League regular season. The Pirates countered with their ace, George Mio. Kawauchi looked to be on his way to a perfect game, holding the Pirates scoreless through the first four innings. But things unraveled for him in the fifth, as he issued five free passes and watched as the Pirates tallied five runs. Of note, Kawauchi still hadn’t given up a hit. Mio, too, had his troubles as he issued four walks along with several hits, including two by Nob Murakami. When the dust settled, it was the Marlins who emerged with a 9-5 victory and the Pirates had nary a hit.
In the Thursday, September 24, 1942, edition of the Manzanar Free Press came the devastating news for baseball fans and playoff teams alike:
WORLD SERIES ENDED
From the Community Recreation Office – Due to the fact that baseball teams participating in the play-off have been unable to see that good sportsmanship prevails among the players, the play-off schedules have been cancelled. The season will end with the winning team of each league being recognized as champion of that particular league – A.G. Neilsen.
RUSS SPEILLER has been a SABR member since 2023 and could not be more grateful to the writers, editors, and consultants who contributed to this book. Having graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in Chemical Engineering, Russ lives in Cincinnati, Ohio, with his incredible family. He has contributed to numerous SABR books, the BioProject, and Turnstyle magazine. This is his first time leading the construction of a SABR book and he is appreciative of the SABR publications board for choosing to greenlight this effort. He really hopes you all enjoy and learn from How We Played the Game. To read more of Russ’ work, please visit russspeiller.substack.com.
SOURCES
Unless otherwise noted, all information used to construct these summaries was compiled using game summaries and the comments of the sports editors of the Manzanar Free Press newspaper, accessed via digitized copies of the paper found online at the Library of Congress. https://www.loc.gov/item/sn84025948/?st=calendar&year=1942.