WWII story....Patton & St Louis pitcher Dickson..what's yours ?

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Posted By: Frank Wakefield

There are several books about Moe. His sister sponsored one, as did his brother. They didn't get along, and the books reflect that, with virtually no mention of the other sibling. One can be found used, the other is difficult to locate, it was a very limited printing.

Then there is The Catcher was a Spy. A good read.

Moe was not as much of a spy as some folks think... He did stuff a bit independently, but he did do some spy stuff. He did take the photos during the Japan Tour in the 30s, the photos were of some help for Doolittle's raid. But it seems he did that on his own. He left the team and went to the hospital to visit someone, dashed up into a tower and took some images. He did some good work helping to get a fellow who was hot in the aerodynamics field to go over to the Allies, I think that was in Italy where that happened. He could speak the languages, but couldn't hit very well, as the stories go. He'd get a newspaper and read it in its entirety, unless someone messed with his paper. Once he started it, it was "alive", and it was "dead" once he finished it or once someone took it and read some of it... My recollection is that newspapers would pile up in stacks wherever he was.

My recollection is that after the war, the government was after him for thousands of dollars for unaccounted expenses from his "spy" activities, so Moe didn't work, and Moe didn't go accept that award because he was mad with them.

Moe would arrive with little announcement on friends and acquaintances, who would put him up for a few days until he moved on. He was able to walk into ballparks, see games, hang out in clubhouses (and eat), I think he even traveled with a team or two, on occasion. His friends enabled him in this fashion.

The books are interesting reads, as I recall. But it's been several years since I've read them.