. >> joe fosz is running around when i was going through my training period and i wanted to be joe foszly did. there was no problem for me to become a marine whatsoever. >> born in alabama and one of ten children, future hall of famer monte irvine grew up playing baseball in orange, new jersey. >> i had five brothers and four sisters. and we all played baseball. >> a four sport high school superstar he was well on his way to becoming a professional athlete. but like america, baseball was segregated. he headed for the negro leagues. >> i got to know all of the negro league teams and stars. after i grew up and tried to emulate them once i got into the negro leagues. >> preparing to return for another season, irvine's path took a different turn. >> i was drafted and all of the sudden i go to go to the army, leave my wife and my baby and so on. so my whole world changed. >> after his training, irvine and the rest of the 13th general service engineers shipped out for england. >> do you remember what ship you were on? >> yes, big english ship. >> how was the weather? >> terrible. which again