[legendsport]

July 9, 1942: Cincinnati, OH:

The game ended at 5:40, the nine thousand-or-so fans streaming out the gates of Tice Memorial Stadium, heading home after watching the hometown Cannons defeat the Brooklyn Kings by a 9-4 margin. Rufus Barrell stood in the window of the office of his old friend and current boss, George Theobald, in a building he still thought of as Monarchs Field, watching quietly.

Theobald walked in from the hallway, causing Rufus to turn away from the window. Theobald was nearing his 80th birthday but was still spry in a way that made Rufus, who was feeling all of his own 69 years of late, jealous. And feeling his age was precisly the reason he'd asked to meet with Theobald in the first place. The older man was tall and thin to the point of near emaciation, but his craggy face broke into a wide smile for Rufus.

"Well, Rufus, did you enjoy the game?" Theobald asked. Theobald had watched, as he usually did, from the owner's box. Technically a minority owner, Theobald had worked with the majority owner James Tice back in '39 on the purchase of the club and helped the then-moribund Cannons transition from Baltimore to their new home on the banks of the Ohio River, including managing the club at age 77 in its first Cincinnati season in 1940.

Rufus had watched the game from his preferred vantage point of a seat down low and behind the plate, a vestige of his scouting days. Though he was now the head of scouting for the Cannons, he didn't do much actual scouting himself, instead managing the crew of scouts the team employed to check out everyone from promising amateurs to minor leaguers to the Cannons' big league competition. It was similar to his old role running the OSA, but now he was focused on just one team. As a former pitcher, he loved the behind the plate view where he could focus on the pitcher and his mechanics.

"I did. It was a good win for the boys," he said.

Theobald offered a wink and a knowing smile as he asked, "Even though two of your boys were playing for the visitors?"

Rufus grinned and bobbed his head a couple of times. "Yes," he said, "I did have some divided loyalties there, but I can hope Fred and Harry do well while still hoping we get the win."

"Fair enough," Theobald replied. Then the smile slipped from his face and he asked, "So what did you want to see me about?"

Rufus took a breath. He wasn't nervous, but he also didn't look forward to disappointing Theobald.

"I'm retiring at the end of the season, George," he said. "I figure we're three years deep now and the organization is running quite well so this is the ideal time for me to finally return to the farm. For good."

Theobald's frown was barely noticeable. Rufus wondered if he had disappointed the older man. After all, Theobald had a full decade on Rufus and he wasn't retiring anytime soon (although he had stepped away from managing - his primary vocation, as his all-time best number of wins would attest).

"I assumed as much, and I won't try to change your mind," he replied after a moment.

"Thank you," Rufus said, punctuating the statement with a nod of gratitude.

Theobald raised a hand and added, "But I would like your thoughts on a successor."

Rufus smiled. He had just the man in mind and had been hoping Theobald would ask for his input.

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Later that night, Rufus was enjoying dinner with his sons. Harry and Fred would be in town for four days as the 9-4 loss for the Kings was just the first of a four-game set in Cincinnati. But Rufus never wanted to miss an opportunity to sit down with any of his far-flung - and large - family. There simply was no better way to get caught up.

Rufus was finishing up telling his sons about Roger's enlistment in the Marine Corps. He was currently at New River, North Carolina, going through basic training. Rufus explained that the main East Coast Marine training facility at Parris Island was full and they'd had to send some recruits to New River for training.

Harry shook his head. "I can't believe he'd join the Marines of all things," he said.

"I don't think he had much choice," Rufus said with a smirk. Then he frowned and added, "I hope it settles the boy down. He hasn't had much of a male role model around since his brothers left home."

Fred sighed and Harry nodded, both realizing this wasn't exactly a shot at their oldest brother, but an unfortunate result of bad circumstance.

"And James?" Fred asked.

"Well, he sends letters to Tommy, so this is second-hand, but Tom said that James is in Florida, near Tampa at MacDill Field. They're doing something called First Phase training on the B-17 bomber. They have two more phases after that, apparently to be done somewhere else, and then they're likely going to be sent to England, or maybe the Pacific. James can't provide a lot of details."

"Understandable," Fred noted.

Rufus nodded and then chuckled and added, "He did say that the squadron commander is a baseball nut and has his men playing ball in addition to all their training. James feels like he's being run ragged between flying and baseball."

They talked about a few other things before Rufus brought the conversation around to where he wanted it - his impending retirement.

"I take it that Mr. Theobald didn't love the idea," Harry said.

Rufus tipped his head a bit and said, "Well, he didn't try to change my mind. But he did ask me to recommend a successor."

"You have someone in mind," Fred asked before taking a drink of his water.

Rufus nodded and said, "Yes. You."

Fred almost forgot to swallow and sputtered for a moment before saying, "Me? Why in the world would you do that!"

Rufus was taken aback and it showed. He leaned back and said, "Well, I know you're retiring as a player but figured scouting would be a good next step. Or maybe managing," he added quickly.

Fred's mouth was open and he appeared to be speechless.

Rufus continued, "Look, catchers are the only ones who have the whole diamond in front of them all the time. In my opinion you'd make an excellent scout... or manager."

Harry nodded in agreement. "I think so too," he said.

Fred looked from his father to his brother. "Pop, I can't," he said finally.

"Why on earth not?" Rufus asked, adding, "I think Tillie and the kids would like Cincinnati. This team is going to be a top contender for the foreseeable future, and Deuce is here."

Fred raised a hand and said, "Pop, stop. I can't. Not because I wouldn't want to, but because I've already made a commitment elsewhere."

"Where?" Harry asked. "This is the first I've heard of you having any plans at all."

"Elsewhere," Fred said with a stubborn note in his voice.

Rufus' confusion had only increased. "I think 'where' is a valid question, Fred," he said gently.

Fred blew out a deep breath and shook his head. "Look, I've been sworn to secrecy," he said and held up a hand as Rufus opened his mouth. "And sworn to secrecy by folks that take that stuff very seriously. All I can say is that it's government work, ok?"

Rufus sat back, stunned. "Government work?" he muttered. "You going into the service?" he asked.

"No, not exactly," Fred replied and then said, "Please, let this go. I just can't take the scouting job, Pop. Sorry."

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