Dated October 11 1917 this Bain News Service photo depicts Giants manager John McGraw alongside Hank Gowdy at the time a catcher for the Boston Braves. Already a baseball hero due to his role with the 1914 "Miracle Braves " Gowdy begame a different kind of hero on June 1 of 1917 when just two months after the United States entered World War I he became the first active player to enlist in the National Guard. Just a few short months after this photo was taken Gowdy was overseas serving in the 166th Infantry and enduring brutal trench warfare against the Germans in the Lorraine region of France. Despite being heavily involved in the fighting Gowdy returned unscathed rejoining baseball for the 1919 season with the Braves. At the age of 53 Gowdy returned to the military in 1943 as a captain serving as the Chief Athletic Officer at Fort Benning Georgia. Gowdy is the only Major Leaguer to have served in both World Wars. Despite a pronounced tilt the photo itself is quite attractive in strong condition with excellent clarity and composition. Editorial type and the Bain stamp are presnet on the reverse along with some mild creasing and typical edge wear. An outstanding photo depicting one of baseball's most legendary managers alongside one of baseball's most legendary war heroes.