Baseball and the struggle to keep the game going at home during the war; the pivotal role played by President Roosevelt; and the divergent career paths of Detroit Tigers slugger Hank Greenberg and St. Louis Browns outfielder Pete Gray. Greenberg was the top slugger in the game when he joined the Army in 1941 and did not return to the majors until mid-1945. He represented the star player gone to war — players such as Joe DiMaggio, Ted Williams, Bob Feller, Warren Spahn and other legends who sacrificed large parts of their careers for the war effort. Many other lesser-known but courageous ballplayers saw combat on land, sea and air — in fighting against the Germans and the Japanese.
Taking their place were replacement players who didn't belong in the majors in the first place, but whose resolve to see the game go on helped push the country to victory. Pete Gray was the most extreme replacement player of them all — a one-armed outfielder who played the 1945 season with the Browns. He overcame the odds to fulfill his dream and in doing so became a shining example of baseball on the home front.
Together, everyone pulled together for victory, and Greenberg and Gray played each other in the last pennant race of World War II, because as FDR said before he died...The Game Must Go On.
"The beauty of baseball is not only in its playing, but in the endless stories that follow it as the game weaves through American history. With The Game Must Go On, John Klima combines baseball stories and World War II history with a winning combination of deep reporting and fluid writing. Excellent job. The combo of reporting and writing his best yet in my opinion."
David Maraniss, author of Clemente
"Pete Gray holds a special place in my imagination. Many people used his story to inspire me to believe in what is possible for a young player missing a hand. For those reasons reading The Game Must Go On was a moving experience for me. John Klima brought Pete Gray out of my imagination and made him real, revealing his pride, determination and struggles. Mr. Gray's challenge of serving as a role model to so many veterans, while pursuing his dream in a major league environment that tries to exploit any weakness, remains inspirational to this day."
Jim Abbott, former Major League pitcher
"Klima] tells a great story well, makes a dead era vivid and focuses on what really mattered about a wonderful team."
