August 6, 1945: Brooklyn, NY:
The sound coming out of Powell & Claudia Slocum's big Westinghouse radio crackled only slightly as the people in the room listened to an announcement from the White House:
"Sixteen hours ago an American airplane dropped one bomb on Hiroshima, an important Japanese Army base. That bomb had more power than 20,000 tons of T.N.T. It had more than two thousand times the blast power of the British "Grand Slam" which is the largest bomb ever yet used in the history of warfare.
The Japanese began the war from the air at Pearl Harbor. They have been repaid many fold. And the end is not yet. With this bomb we have now added a new and revolutionary increase in destruction to supplement the growing power of our armed forces. In their present form these bombs are now in production and even more powerful forms are in development.
It is an atomic bomb. It is a harnessing of the basic power of the universe. The force from which the sun draws its power has been loosed against those who brought war to the Far East."
The voice reading the statement was not the President's, though the words were said to be his. Truman himself was at sea, returning from the Potsdam Conference. The statement continued for several more minutes, ending with the hope that the power of the atom could be harnessed to help maintain world peace.
Tom Barrell frowned as he heard those words, slowly shaking his head. "I hope he's right," Deuce Barrell muttered. Jack Cleaves shook his head in agreement, remarking, "No one's putting that genie back in the bottle. If there's one thing mankind's always been good at, it's killing other people. This just makes it a lot more efficient."
Claudia Slocum looked at her husband, seeking reassurance. Powell shook his head to reassure her and said, "I doubt James had anything to do with that mission." Claudia sat there, looking stricken. She'd been a Red Cross nurse in her native Germany during the First World War and all the wanton destruction over the past six years had left her brokenhearted.
Deuce shrugged and remarked, "This is kind of good news, though, isn't it?" Tom frowned and replied, "In the short term, yes. I don't see how the Japanese can keep fighting if we can wipe out entire cities with one bomb." Jack added his agreement.
All the people in the room had close ties to servicemen in the Pacific. They discussed their loved ones who were involved in the war, expressing hopes that the bombings would bring about a quicker end to the conflict and ensure the safe return of their family members.
The day had started on a high note: the Cincinnati Cannons had arrived in Brooklyn for a series with the Kings. However, the war had disrupted baseball's schedule, resulting in two days off before the series began on Wednesday. Deuce, Tom, and Jack all played for Cincinnati, while Powell managed the Kings. Tom and his brothers Dan, Fred, and Harry had previously played for Powell in Brooklyn.
Jack brought news, through his brother George, that Roger had somehow managed to get married in the middle of the war. "His telegram was short," Jack said, adding, "But that knucklehead somehow found someone dumb enough to marry him."
Deuce smirked, finding Jack's stiff, moralistic view on their shared half-brother amusing. Roger and Deuce shared a father, while Jack and George Cleaves shared a mother with Roger. Roger was illegitimate, and his last name should have been Barrell, but he only discovered he wasn't a Cleaves in his teenage years. Roger had been a troublemaker, a trait Deuce secretly admired. "I've heard that Roger has changed quite a bit since he joined the Marines," Deuce said, based on what George had heard. George, who kept tabs on Roger because his father-in-law worked in the Pentagon, looked out for their youngest brother unlike Jack.
"But married? I just can't fathom it," Deuce said to Jack. Jack nodded in agreement. "She must be a helluva gal," he said. "George did say she's from New Zealand. Maybe they like knuckleheads over there," he finished.
After the discussion about Roger ended, Tom chimed in. "Well, with my nephew now engaged, I suppose I can piggyback on that by announcing that Marla and I are getting hitched too," Tom said with a grin.
Claudia's eyes widened. Among the Barrells, Tom had always seemed destined for permanent bachelorhood, not because he didn't like women but rather because he liked them too much.
"You? Married?" she asked with a merry laugh. Tom took it good-naturedly; he was well-aware of his reputation as a lady killer.
"Yep, finally found one I can take home to mother," he said.
They discussed the wedding plans, which were still rudimentary at that point but would obviously take place after the World Championship Series. The Cannons were two-time world champs and favorites to make it three in a row.
Then Powell announced that he had been talking with Claudia and decided that 1945 would be his last year as a manager. "I've been around baseball my whole life, and it's time to let the younger folks take over," he said. Slocum, originally from Alabama, had played in Baltimore and Brooklyn before transitioning into coaching and managing, which kept him in the north. However, he still longed to go back "home." "Too much hub-bub for an ol' Reb like me," he said.
"I'm coming to the end of the road too, Powell," Tom admitted. "My fastball's got no hop. I'm getting by on chicanery and the occasional foreign substance," he said with a twinkle in his eye. Powell laughed and said, "I knew it!" before adding, "Don't worry, I won't say anything to the umpires."
They all had a good laugh, with Tom cracking up even harder when he saw the expression on Deuce's face.
"I'm joking, Deuce," Tom said. "You can ask Tom Bird, if you think I'm lying."
Powell wiped a tear from his eye. "You know Tom, I always had you pegged for a skipper after you hung it up."
Tom grew serious. "Huh, I never really thought about that, to be honest," he admitted.
"Really?" Claudia asked.
Powell nodded and told her, "Ballplayers never look past the next game, the next season. We have to act like we're immortal. It's how we keep our edge." Tom, sober-faced, nodded in agreement.
"I married a pilot and somehow ended up in a family of crazy baseballers," Claudia said, shaking her head.
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A similar scene was unfolding in Detroit. Bobby was visiting his two oldest living siblings at Rollie Barrell's home. Bobby was in town with the Keystones, who were preparing for a series against the Detroit Dynamos starting the next day. It was also a farewell gathering for Jack Barrell and his family.
"Tacoma?" Rollie asked his brother. The three Barrell brothers sat in Rollie's home office, while the women—Rollie and Jack's wives and daughters—were in the living room, listening to the radio.
Jack shrugged and replied, "The Lions were the only club that made me an offer. Bill Yeadon has always told me how beautiful the Pacific Northwest is. Now I'll get to find out."
"Marie and the girls okay with this?" Bobby asked.
Before Jack could respond, Allie rushed into the room and said, "You all need to hear this," then quickly hurried back into the living room.
Jack glanced at Rollie, who shrugged and stood up. "I wonder what's going on?" Rollie mused as the three of them left the office.
They caught the last two-thirds of the announcement.
"A single bomb that can wipe out a city?" Bobby said, his voice tinged with awe and fear. "I guess it's a good thing the Nazis didn't build it first," Rollie added.
Marie hugged Jack and said, "Hopefully, this means the Japanese will surrender, and Agnes can come home."
Jack gave a small smile and said, "If she does, I hope she'll like Tacoma."
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In the nation's capital, Rufus had just arrived home, taking a half-day at the office to review receipts from the recently concluded homestand. The Eagles had an off-day, as they would be heading to Chicago the next morning to begin a road trip. Like most FABL teams, they had Monday and Tuesday off. Rufus had decided to let the players spend the day at home. He just wished that Sunday's doubleheader against Boston had gone better. The Minutemen had won both games, leaving the Eagles at 56-52 and missing an opportunity to gain ground on the first-place Keystones, who had lost both games in their Sunday doubleheader with Pittsburgh.
As Rufus was hanging up his hat, he heard the radio announcer interrupt Alice's favorite show, stating that the White House had a special announcement.
Rufus frowned and said, "Truman hasn't returned from Germany yet. I wonder what this is about?"
"Oh, I hope it's good news!" Alice exclaimed, standing up and giving Rufus a "welcome home" kiss on the cheek.
Ten minutes later, they sat in stunned silence. "This is good news, right?" Alice asked after a moment.
Rufus nodded and said, "Yes, it should mean the war will be over soon. No one can withstand this kind of weapon."
"Well, that's good then," Alice said firmly. "It means James, Roger, Aggie, and all our boys can come home."
Rufus nodded. "Yes, and it'll mean Captain Stockdale can come home too."
Alice patted Rufus' hand. "You knew this thing with the Eagles was only temporary, dear."
Rufus nodded again, his mouth set in a straight line.
"Rufus, you're 72 years old. It's time," Alice said gently.
Rufus nodded for the third time, but he didn't appear convinced.
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New York Times front page, August 7, 1945
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