Womens Professional Baseball Begins in WWII

1
Womens Professional Baseball Begins in WWII

• By J. W.

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My Purpose

• What was womens baseball like during World War
  II?

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Why did professional womens baseball come into
being?

• All able bodied men were drafted into the
  military during World War II.
• Baseball promoters recruited athletic women.
• The AAGPBL was created to keep baseball alive in
  the US during World War II.

4
Important Vocabulary

• League
• First Base
• Second Base
• Third Base
• Home Plate
• Shortstop
• Pitchers Mound
• Catcher
• Umpire
• Strike
• Foul

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Important Dates

• 1939- World War II begins in
  Europe.
• 1941- USA enters War.
• 1943- All-American Girls Professional
  Baseball League begins with four teams.
• 1945- World War II ends.
• 1954- League ends with ten teams.

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Teams and YearsAdded to League

• 1943- Kenosha Comets
• 1943- Racine Belles
• 1943- Rockford Peaches
• 1943- South Bend Blue Sox
• 1944- Milwaukee Chicks
• 1945- Fort Wayne Daisies
• 1946- Muskegon Lassies
• 1946- Peoria Redwings
• 1948- Chicago Colleens
• 1948- Springfield Sallies

Entire AAGPB League
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Womens Rules

• Women used the same rules from the mens game.
• This game offered faster action than softball.
• Runners were allowed to lead
  off and steal.

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Rules (continued)

• Women used a baseball diamond smaller than a
  mens diamond, but bigger than a diamond used in
  softball.
• Women also used a ball that was smaller than a
  traditional baseball.

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Positions Played

• Pitcher
• Home Plate
• First Base
• Second Base
• Third Base

• Umpire
• Outfielder
• Catcher
• Shortstop

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Former Players

• Mary Bonnie Baker (1919-2003) Catcher
• Maddy English (1925-2004) Third Baseman
• Millie Deegan (1919-2000) Pitcher and
  Second Baseman
• Dorothy "Dottie" Schroeder (1928-1996)
  Shortstop

Bonnie Baker
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Salary

• Pay schedule was 55.00 to 125.00 per week.
• That was not bad for playing a game that was fun.
• Expenses on the road were paid by the team.
• They were also paid 2.25 per day for meals.

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Clothing Uniforms

• Always had to be dressed in feminine clothes off
  the field.
• Their uniforms
• consisted of
• skirts instead
• of pants.

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Lady-Like?

• Women had to act like proper ladies both on and
  off the baseball fields, as they were considered
  role models and heroines.
• Those participating in the League had to attend
  charm school, fulfilling the League owners
  expectations of how ladies should act.
• They learned etiquette and beauty tips.
• Lipstick was required because people focus on
  your mouth when you speak.

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AAGPBL After-Game Routine

• Shower well and soap the skin.
• Dry thoroughly to avoid chapping or chafing.
• Apply cleansing cream to face and remove.
• Wash face with soap and water.
• Apply skin astringent.
• Apply rouge moderately but carefully.
• Apply lipstick with moderate taste.
• Apply eye makeup if considered desirable.
• Apply powder.
• Check all cuts, abrasions or minor injuries.

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What I Learned--

• AAGPBL was created to keep US baseball alive
  during World War II.
• Women used the same rules as men, but their
  uniforms reflected their gender role.
• Women in the AAGPBL had to attend charm school,
  be dressed in feminine clothes, and act as proper
  ladies.

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Bibliography

• Baseball. World Book. Vol. 2, 2006, 132.
• Womens Baseball in the 1940. 1998. 26 November
  2007 baseballww2.html.
• All-American Girls Professional Baseball
  League. 2005. 27 November 2007
  .
• Casdorph, Paul D. Let the Good Times Roll Life
  at Home in America During World War II. New York
  1989.
• Vaccaro, Mike. 1941- The Greatest Year in Sports.
  Double Day Publishers, 2007.
• Tripp, Valerie. Mollys Surprise. Middleton
  Pleasant Company, 1989.

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Bibliography (continued)

• Baseball Fever. 2000. 2 December 2007
  www.baseballfever.com/showthread.php3Ft3D55236
  aagpbl,salary,ww2hlenctclnkcd5glus.
• All-American Girls Professional Baseball League.
  2005. 1 December 2007 h?qcacheFZ1BXRi_GDkJaagpbl.org/articles/general
  .cfm3FID3D5aagpbl,salary,ww2hlenctclnkcd
  4glus.
• 2 December 2007 ages/Texans1.gif.
• 1 December 2007 om/2006/03/grand-rapids-chicks.jpg.

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Bibliography (continued)

• All-American Girls Baseball- 1940s Women. 1999
  27 November 2007 .
• Craats, Rennay. History of the 19402. Weigl
  Publishers, 2007.
•  2007 1 December 2007 hat_year_did_the_US_enter_World_War_2.
• 2 December 2007 hers/catchers/aa_baker.jpg.
• 30 November 2007 .