Detroit Tigers and Chicago Cubs Wear Throwback Jerseys to Benefit The National WWII Museum
On September 2, 1945, Japan signed the documents that ended World War II.
That October, the World Series was enjoyed by a nation at peace for the first time since December 7, 1941. The Detroit Tigers beat the Chicago Cubs four games to three— in large part due to the play of honorably discharged slugger Hank Greenberg.
Today, the two teams will face off again, with throwback jerseys to benefit The National WWII Museum.
The Museum's Victory Belles, an Andrews Sisters-style singing trio, will be on hand to sing the National Anthem, complete with a military flyover. Veterans will be honored for their service during the game.
The festivities celebrating this historic matchup are a result of the Museum's national board of trustees, which includes Cubs owner Todd Ricketts, Chicago businessman Jeff Carter and Detroit businessman Mike Bylen.
"World War II permeated every sector of life, including our national pastime," said Bylen, a Museum Trustee since 2010. "This game supports the Museum's mission to educate the American people about the heroes of the war, and celebrate the generations of extraordinary veterans who have courageously fought so we can enjoy events as ordinary as a baseball game."
Museum President & CEO Dr. Gordon "Nick" Mueller will be on hand along with a number of Museum board and former board members, including WWII veterans.
"Since opening our doors in 2000, the Museum has had broad public appeal. The personal stories and objects make the war real to our visitors," said Mueller. "Baseball is a central part of that American story too, the players who left behind big salaries to serve and the men and women who stepped up to keep our national pastime going for everyone at home."