Like many of the ballplayers in his era, Hall of Famer Johnny Mize sacrificed his prime baseball years serving in the United States Armed forces during World War II. Mize served in World War II with the US Navy from 1943-45. Offered here is Mize’s official honorable discharge certificate from the Navy. The certificate reads “Honorable Discharge from the United States Navy” on the top half with a rendering of a battle ship and further reads “This is to certify that JOHN ROBERT MIZE, a SPECIALIST (A) FIRST CLASS (T) USNR is HONORABLY DISCHARGED from the U.S. NAVAL PERONNEL SEPARATION CENTER GREAT LAKES, ILLINOIS and from the Naval Service of the United States this 9TH day of OCTOBER 1945 This certificate is awarded as a Testimonial of Fidelity and Obedience”. Also included in this lot is a 7 x 9-inch signed black and white photograph of Mize in his Navy baseball uniform with another Connie Ryan, both holding a bat. On the back of the phot is a newspaper note that reads “MAJOR LEAGE BASEBALLERS NOW PLAY FOR NAVY Connie Ryan (handwritten) ELBIE FLETCHER (crossed out) (LEFT) FORMERLY OF THE PITTSBURGH PIRATES, SHOWS a NEW BAT TO Johnny Mize (handwritten) CONNIE RYAN (crossed out) FORMERLY OF THE “NY GIANTS” (handwritten) BOSTON BRAVES (crossed out), BEOFRE THE OPENING NAVY ALL-STAR GAME AT GEIGER STADIUM, GUAM, MARCH 4. NOW IN THE NAVY, THE FORMER MAJOR LEAGUERS ARE TOURING PACIFIC BASES TO ENTERTAIN SERVICEMENT”. There are two secondary file copies of his discharge, an original envelope with Mize’s name and rank typed on the front. These items come with a letter of provenance from Johnny Mize’s daughter Judi Mize and a COA from Steve Grad of Beckett Authentication (Q65715).

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