Reese, Hodges and ??? Pic ID Add'l. Info Added

[quinnsryche]

These 2 photos have come into my possession. I want to id the 3rd guy in the photos if anyone knows. I am going to put these photos up for sale and would like as much info as possible if anyone would be kind enough to help. Were Pee Wee and Gil in the army together or is this not a military photo at all?
Let me know what you think....

[jerseygary]

I can't tell who the other guy is, but I can tell you Hodges was a sergeant and saw combat in a Marine Corps Anti-Aircraft artillery unit during the war and Reese was in the Navy but I don't think he served anywhere near a warzone except Hawaii. I don't think they knew each other before 1946 or 1947 so what ever this picture is it wasn't taken during the war. What is the story behind where you got it? They both look older there. This may be a long shot, but I know the Dodgers toured Japan during the winter of 1955-56 so maybe this is from a stop in Okinawa?

[JollyElm]

I'm far from certain, but I'll give you a starting point. It has a similarity to some shots of Rube Walker...
p-482504-rube-walker-autographed-hand-signed-baseball-8x10-photo-hc-1qo30dqnoj.jpg

[quinnsryche]

Originally Posted by jerseygary

I can't tell who the other guy is, but I can tell you Hodges was a sergeant and saw combat in a Marine Corps Anti-Aircraft artillery unit during the war and Reese was in the Navy but I don't think he served anywhere near a warzone except Hawaii. I don't think they knew each other before 1946 or 1947 so what ever this picture is it wasn't taken during the war. What is the story behind where you got it? They both look older there. This may be a long shot, but I know the Dodgers toured Japan during the winter of 1955-56 so maybe this is from a stop in Okinawa?

My dad had them in his collection until recently. He has/had lots of stuff from old players and this is just something that he got, put away and forgot about until recently. Just the fact that they are personal photos of 2 Dodger greats is pretty cool. I guess I'll just throw them up on ebay and see where it goes.
Thanks for the info on the Japan tour, that helps.

[JayZim13]

The photo is from the 1956 Brooklyn Dodgers Tour of Japan

[mr2686]

This is from an article on that trip to Japan which lists the players/coaches that went..I can't find a photo from any of these that I think match the third guy in your picture.

The Dodger roster included Manager Walter Alston; Coaches Billy Herman, Jake Pitler and Joe Becker; pitchers Carl Erskine, Don Newcombe, Clem Labine, Don Bessent, Roger Craig, Ed Roebuck, Don Drysdale, Ralph Branca and Fred Kipp; catchers Roy Campanella, Herb Olson and Dixie “Homer” Howell; infielders Pee Wee Reese, Don Zimmer, Jackie Robinson, Randy Jackson, Gil Hodges, Jim Gentile, Bob Lillis, Jim Gilliam and Bob Aspromonte; outfielders Duke Snider, Bert Hamric, Don Demeter and Gino Cimoli.
Those who didn’t make the trip included pitcher Sandy Koufax, outfielder Carl Furillo, outfielder Sandy Amoros and pitcher Johnny Podres, whose October 26 release from the United States Navy due to a back ailment didn’t give him enough time to get in proper playing condition.

[toyman55]

Please let us know when you put them on ebay,.

[quinnsryche]

Thanks for all the great info. If someone wants to make an offer, please feel free. I have not the slightest idea what they are worth (I assume they are unique but I don't want to under/overvalue them. If I can save on the ebay fees even better. Shoot me an offer, if it sounds reasonable, we'll just go with that. I'd rather have someone from the board have them than not.
Tony
PS - the top photo is NM but the bottom one has a crease that runs horizontal though it. Not horrible like it was bent in half but it is there and I think you can see it pretty well in the scan.