WOMEN AND SPORTS WOMEN AND SPORTS 1920-19551920-1955

OVERVIEW-1OVERVIEW-1

WOMEN & SPORTS IN THE 1920sWOMEN & SPORTS IN THE 1920s SWIMMING RECORDS/ MEDIA SWIMMING RECORDS/ MEDIA

SUCCESSSUCCESS TENNIS STARSTENNIS STARS TRACK & FIELD COMPETITIONSTRACK & FIELD COMPETITIONS BABE DIDRIKSONBABE DIDRIKSON

OVERVIEW-2OVERVIEW-2

WOMEN AND WWIIWOMEN AND WWII SOFTBALL LEAGUESSOFTBALL LEAGUES PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL FOR WOMEN, PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL FOR WOMEN,

COMMERCIAL SUCCESSCOMMERCIAL SUCCESS ““PLAY LIKE MEN, LOOK AND ACT LIKE PLAY LIKE MEN, LOOK AND ACT LIKE

WOMEN” BASEBALL POLICIESWOMEN” BASEBALL POLICIES APPEARANCE AND MORAL RULESAPPEARANCE AND MORAL RULES GIRLS BASEBALL LEAGUE DECLINEGIRLS BASEBALL LEAGUE DECLINE LEGACIES OF FIRST WOMEN TEAM LEGACIES OF FIRST WOMEN TEAM

PROFESSIONAL SPORTPROFESSIONAL SPORT

MEDIA AND WOMEN’S SPORTS MEDIA AND WOMEN’S SPORTS 1920s1920s

BY THE 1920s SEVERAL GENERATIONS OF FEMALE ATHLETES BY THE 1920s SEVERAL GENERATIONS OF FEMALE ATHLETES HAVE ALREADY MADE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS IN DIFFERENT HAVE ALREADY MADE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS IN DIFFERENT COMPETITIVE SPORTS, IN PARTICULAR SWIMMING, TENNIS COMPETITIVE SPORTS, IN PARTICULAR SWIMMING, TENNIS AND TRACK & FIELD.AND TRACK & FIELD.

IN THE CONTEXT OF THE WOMEN’S SUFFRAGE MOVEMENT, IN THE CONTEXT OF THE WOMEN’S SUFFRAGE MOVEMENT, MEDIA BEGAN TO GIVE WOMEN ATHLETICS SOME MEDIA BEGAN TO GIVE WOMEN ATHLETICS SOME RECOGNITION AND COVERAGE. RECOGNITION AND COVERAGE.

AMERICAN WOMEN WHO HAD BEGUN SWIMMING IN YWCAs, AMERICAN WOMEN WHO HAD BEGUN SWIMMING IN YWCAs, COLLEGE AND ATHLETIC CLUBS WERE IN A POSITION TO COLLEGE AND ATHLETIC CLUBS WERE IN A POSITION TO CHALLENGE PREVALENT STEREOTYPES ON WOMEN AND CHALLENGE PREVALENT STEREOTYPES ON WOMEN AND SPORTS.SPORTS.

IN 1924 SYBIL BAER BROKE THE MEN’S RECORD IN IN 1924 SYBIL BAER BROKE THE MEN’S RECORD IN BACKSTROKE, REACHING AUTOMATICALLY CELEBRITY BACKSTROKE, REACHING AUTOMATICALLY CELEBRITY STATUS. STATUS.

A SECOND DEVELOPMENT TOOK PLACE IN 1926 WHEN A SECOND DEVELOPMENT TOOK PLACE IN 1926 WHEN GERTRUDE EDERLE CROSSED THE ENGLISH CHANNELGERTRUDE EDERLE CROSSED THE ENGLISH CHANNEL

WOMEN AND SPORTS 1920sWOMEN AND SPORTS 1920s SWIMMING RECORDS GAD GREAT SOCIAL SIGNIFICANCE SWIMMING RECORDS GAD GREAT SOCIAL SIGNIFICANCE

AND RECEIVED WIDE COVERAGE IN PRESS AND RADIO.AND RECEIVED WIDE COVERAGE IN PRESS AND RADIO. IN THE INTERNATIONAL ARENA, AMERICAN FEMALE TENNIS IN THE INTERNATIONAL ARENA, AMERICAN FEMALE TENNIS

PLAYERS INCREASED THEIR PRESENCE AND BECAME PLAYERS INCREASED THEIR PRESENCE AND BECAME DOMINANT FIGURES.DOMINANT FIGURES.

CALIFORNIAN NATIVE HELEN WILLS REACHED A STAR CALIFORNIAN NATIVE HELEN WILLS REACHED A STAR STATUS, AFTER HER MEMORABLE MATCHES AGAINST STATUS, AFTER HER MEMORABLE MATCHES AGAINST EUROPEAN STARS.EUROPEAN STARS.

WOMEN’S VOTING RIGHTS MOVEMENT ENERGIZE THE WOMEN’S VOTING RIGHTS MOVEMENT ENERGIZE THE PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN IN SPORTS ALTOGETHER.PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN IN SPORTS ALTOGETHER.

SUZANNE LENGLEN vs. HELEN WILLS TENNIS MATCHES SUZANNE LENGLEN vs. HELEN WILLS TENNIS MATCHES WERE PRESENTED BY THE MEDIA AS INTERNATIONAL WERE PRESENTED BY THE MEDIA AS INTERNATIONAL BATTLES BETWEEN FRANCE AND THE U.S.BATTLES BETWEEN FRANCE AND THE U.S.

WOMEN AND THE OLYMPIC WOMEN AND THE OLYMPIC MOVEMENTMOVEMENT

ORIGINAL OLYMPIC GAMES IN ATHENS 1896 WERE ONLY FOR MALE ORIGINAL OLYMPIC GAMES IN ATHENS 1896 WERE ONLY FOR MALE ATHLETES.ATHLETES.

THE FIRST DECADES OF THE 20THE FIRST DECADES OF THE 20THTH CENTURY WOMEN PARTICIPATED IN CENTURY WOMEN PARTICIPATED IN OLYMPIC GAMES FOR ONLY TENNIS AND GOLF.OLYMPIC GAMES FOR ONLY TENNIS AND GOLF.

LATER GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING AND ARCHERY.LATER GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING AND ARCHERY. THE 1928 OLYMPIC GAMES IN AMSTERDAM WERE SURROUNDED BY THE 1928 OLYMPIC GAMES IN AMSTERDAM WERE SURROUNDED BY

STRONG CONTROVERSIES AS THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC STRONG CONTROVERSIES AS THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE REFUSED TO ALLOW WOMEN IN THE TRACK & FIELD COMMITTEE REFUSED TO ALLOW WOMEN IN THE TRACK & FIELD COMPETITIONS.COMPETITIONS.

INTERNATIONAL FEMALE ATHLETES DEMANDED A 10-EVENT INTERNATIONAL FEMALE ATHLETES DEMANDED A 10-EVENT PARTICIPATION IN TRACK & FIELD. THE IOC REFUSED, SO AN PARTICIPATION IN TRACK & FIELD. THE IOC REFUSED, SO AN INTERNATIONAL BOICOTT WAS ORGANIZED. ALTHOUGH SOME INTERNATIONAL BOICOTT WAS ORGANIZED. ALTHOUGH SOME COUNTRIES SEND WOMEN IN THEIR DELEGATIONS, THE BOICOTT COUNTRIES SEND WOMEN IN THEIR DELEGATIONS, THE BOICOTT WAS DEEMED ONLY A PARTICAL SUCCESS.WAS DEEMED ONLY A PARTICAL SUCCESS.

THE 1932 OLYMPIC GAMES IN LOS ANGELES INCLUDED TRACK & THE 1932 OLYMPIC GAMES IN LOS ANGELES INCLUDED TRACK & FIELD EVENTS FOR WOMEN IN ONLY THREE CATEGORIES.FIELD EVENTS FOR WOMEN IN ONLY THREE CATEGORIES.

BABE DIDRIKSONBABE DIDRIKSONSUPER STARSUPER STAR

IN A PROCESS SIMILAR TO PARTICIPATION IN SWIMMING, IN A PROCESS SIMILAR TO PARTICIPATION IN SWIMMING, AMERICAN FEMALE ATHLETES INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY THEIR AMERICAN FEMALE ATHLETES INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY THEIR PRESENCE IN TRACK & FIELD COMPETITIONS IN THE 1920s. PRESENCE IN TRACK & FIELD COMPETITIONS IN THE 1920s.

AS TRACK & FIELD BECOME A REGULAR FEATURE IN COLLEGIATE AS TRACK & FIELD BECOME A REGULAR FEATURE IN COLLEGIATE AND AMATEUR COMPETITIONS FOR WOMEN IN THE U.S. THE AND AMATEUR COMPETITIONS FOR WOMEN IN THE U.S. THE QUANTITY AND QUALITY OF ATHLETES EXPERIENCED A DRAMATIC QUANTITY AND QUALITY OF ATHLETES EXPERIENCED A DRAMATIC INCREASE.INCREASE.

IN THE EARLY 1930s BABE DIDRIKSON WAS THE MOST DOMINANT IN THE EARLY 1930s BABE DIDRIKSON WAS THE MOST DOMINANT ATHLETE IN TRACK & FIELD EVENTS BOTH IN THE UNITED STATES ATHLETE IN TRACK & FIELD EVENTS BOTH IN THE UNITED STATES AND WORLDWIDE.AND WORLDWIDE.

DIDRIKSON BROKE NATIONAL, OLYMPIC AND WORLD RECORDS IN DIDRIKSON BROKE NATIONAL, OLYMPIC AND WORLD RECORDS IN SEVERAL TRACK & FIELD EVENTS.SEVERAL TRACK & FIELD EVENTS.

DIDRIKSON DOMINATED IN THE TRACK & FIELD EVENTS IN THE 1932 DIDRIKSON DOMINATED IN THE TRACK & FIELD EVENTS IN THE 1932 OLYMPIC GAMES.OLYMPIC GAMES.

BABE DIDRIKSONBABE DIDRIKSON

BORN IN TEXAS (BEAUMONT), MULTI-BORN IN TEXAS (BEAUMONT), MULTI-SPORT STAR IN HIGH SCHOOL SPORT STAR IN HIGH SCHOOL (SWIMMING, TENNIS, BASKETBALL, (SWIMMING, TENNIS, BASKETBALL, VOLLEYBALL, GOLF).VOLLEYBALL, GOLF).

U.S. TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIP IN U.S. TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIP IN 1932 BROKE FOUR WORLD RECORDS 1932 BROKE FOUR WORLD RECORDS AND WON SIX GOLD MEDALS.AND WON SIX GOLD MEDALS.

BECAME A CELEBRITY AFTER THE 1932 BECAME A CELEBRITY AFTER THE 1932 OLYMPIC GAMESOLYMPIC GAMES

DIDRIKSON SHOWSDIDRIKSON SHOWS 1934 STAR IN HER MEN & WOMEN ITINERANT BASKETBALL 1934 STAR IN HER MEN & WOMEN ITINERANT BASKETBALL

TEAM.TEAM. 1935 MLB SPRING TRAINING CAMPS TOUR, PITCHER, VERY 1935 MLB SPRING TRAINING CAMPS TOUR, PITCHER, VERY

SUCCESFUL. MLB COMMISSIONER PROHIBITED THE SUCCESFUL. MLB COMMISSIONER PROHIBITED THE PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN IN TRAINING SEASON AFTER PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN IN TRAINING SEASON AFTER SEING HER.SEING HER.

BARNSTORMING BASEBALL TEAMSBARNSTORMING BASEBALL TEAMS LATE 1930s PROFESSIONAL GOLFERLATE 1930s PROFESSIONAL GOLFER HER IMAGE IN THE MEDIA WAS A THE “BOGEYMAN FOR HER IMAGE IN THE MEDIA WAS A THE “BOGEYMAN FOR

WOMEN IN SPORTS”WOMEN IN SPORTS” DESPITE BEING ONE OF THE MOST TALENTED ATHLETES OF DESPITE BEING ONE OF THE MOST TALENTED ATHLETES OF

THE CENTURY, SHE WAS REGULARLY PRESENTED AS THE THE CENTURY, SHE WAS REGULARLY PRESENTED AS THE “MASCULINE” WOMAN BY THE MEDIA. DIED OF CANCER IN “MASCULINE” WOMAN BY THE MEDIA. DIED OF CANCER IN HER FORTIES.HER FORTIES.

WOMEN AND WORLD WAR IIWOMEN AND WORLD WAR II SIGNIFICANT ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL TRANSFORMATIONS IN THE SIGNIFICANT ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL TRANSFORMATIONS IN THE

1940s MADE POSSIBLE THE CREATION OF THE FIRST 1940s MADE POSSIBLE THE CREATION OF THE FIRST PROFESSIONAL TEAM SPORT FOR WOMEN IN THE UNITED PROFESSIONAL TEAM SPORT FOR WOMEN IN THE UNITED STATES: BASEBALL. STATES: BASEBALL.

AS LARGE NUMBERS OF MEN PARTICIPATED IN THE MILITARY AS LARGE NUMBERS OF MEN PARTICIPATED IN THE MILITARY DRAFT, THE WAR EFFORT AT HOME OPENED GREAT ECONOMIC DRAFT, THE WAR EFFORT AT HOME OPENED GREAT ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR AMERICAN WOMEN.OPPORTUNITIES FOR AMERICAN WOMEN.

MILITARY INDUSTRY, AUTOINDUSTRY. STEEL INDUSTRY, MILITARY INDUSTRY, AUTOINDUSTRY. STEEL INDUSTRY, MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY, IN THE GREAT LAKES, CALIFORNIA, MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY, IN THE GREAT LAKES, CALIFORNIA, AND NATIONWIDE, HIRED LARGE NUMBERS OF WOMEN FOR AND NATIONWIDE, HIRED LARGE NUMBERS OF WOMEN FOR BLUE AND WHITE COLLAR POSITIONS: ROSY THE RIVETEER.BLUE AND WHITE COLLAR POSITIONS: ROSY THE RIVETEER.

SUCH MASSIVE PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN IN THE LABOR SUCH MASSIVE PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN IN THE LABOR MARKET, PROVIDED THEM: ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE, LEISURE MARKET, PROVIDED THEM: ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE, LEISURE TIME, DISCRETIONARY INCOME. AMERICAN WOMEN BECAME A TIME, DISCRETIONARY INCOME. AMERICAN WOMEN BECAME A DISTINGUISHABLE CONSUMMER GROUPDISTINGUISHABLE CONSUMMER GROUP

WOMEN AND WORLD WAR IIWOMEN AND WORLD WAR II

AS MORE AND MORE AMERICAN YOUNG WOMEN AS MORE AND MORE AMERICAN YOUNG WOMEN REACHED ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE AND SOLID REACHED ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE AND SOLID POSITIONS IN THE NATIONAL ECONOMY, THEY POSITIONS IN THE NATIONAL ECONOMY, THEY ALSO ARTICULATED WAYS TO ORGANIZE LEISURE ALSO ARTICULATED WAYS TO ORGANIZE LEISURE AND ATHLETIC ACTIVITIES IN URBAN AREAS, MORE AND ATHLETIC ACTIVITIES IN URBAN AREAS, MORE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE NEW TIMES. AMERICAN IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE NEW TIMES. AMERICAN WOMEN WERE IN A POSITION TO SUPPORT AND WOMEN WERE IN A POSITION TO SUPPORT AND SPONSOR ORGANIZED SPORTS FOR WOMEN, SPONSOR ORGANIZED SPORTS FOR WOMEN, BOTH AS ATHLETES AND FANS. BOTH AS ATHLETES AND FANS.

TENNIS AND GOLF WERE TWO OF THE MOST TENNIS AND GOLF WERE TWO OF THE MOST POPULAR SPORTS.POPULAR SPORTS.

RISE OF SOFTBALLRISE OF SOFTBALL

SINCE THE 1930s SOFTBALL HAVE BECOME A FAVORITE PAST TIME SINCE THE 1930s SOFTBALL HAVE BECOME A FAVORITE PAST TIME IN INDUSTRIAL, CHRISTIAN, RECREATIONAL AND ETHNIC IN INDUSTRIAL, CHRISTIAN, RECREATIONAL AND ETHNIC LEAGUES. SOFTBALL WAS CONCEIVED LESS AGGRESSIVE THAN LEAGUES. SOFTBALL WAS CONCEIVED LESS AGGRESSIVE THAN BASEBALL, LESS COMPETITIVE AND MORE FRIENDLY.BASEBALL, LESS COMPETITIVE AND MORE FRIENDLY.

1934 AMATEUR SOFTBALL ASSOCIATION CREATED TO ORGANIZE 1934 AMATEUR SOFTBALL ASSOCIATION CREATED TO ORGANIZE LEAGUES AND TOURNAMENTS . THE ASSOCIATION UNDERWENT A LEAGUES AND TOURNAMENTS . THE ASSOCIATION UNDERWENT A HUGE TRANSFORMATION IN ITS NUMBERS: FROM 1 TO 9 MILLION HUGE TRANSFORMATION IN ITS NUMBERS: FROM 1 TO 9 MILLION PLAYERS BOTH MALE AND FEMALE.PLAYERS BOTH MALE AND FEMALE.

IN THE LATE 1930s POPULAR INTEREST IN WOMEN’S SOFTBALL WAS IN THE LATE 1930s POPULAR INTEREST IN WOMEN’S SOFTBALL WAS LARGE ENOUGH TO SUPPORT THE FORMATION OF SOME SEMI LARGE ENOUGH TO SUPPORT THE FORMATION OF SOME SEMI PROFESSIONAL FEMALE TEAMS IN THE UPPER MIDWEST, 4 OF PROFESSIONAL FEMALE TEAMS IN THE UPPER MIDWEST, 4 OF WHICH WERE BASED IN THE CHICAGO AREA. WHICH WERE BASED IN THE CHICAGO AREA.

SOFTBALL FOR WOMEN WAS PERCEIVED AS AN IDEAL TEAM SPORT SOFTBALL FOR WOMEN WAS PERCEIVED AS AN IDEAL TEAM SPORT IN TERMS OF PROVIDING A MODERATE EXERCISE, NON-VIOLENT IN TERMS OF PROVIDING A MODERATE EXERCISE, NON-VIOLENT AND NON-STRENOUS ACTIVITY, IN A WAY SIMILAR TO THE AND NON-STRENOUS ACTIVITY, IN A WAY SIMILAR TO THE BERENSON RULES FOR WOMEN’S BASKETBALL. BERENSON RULES FOR WOMEN’S BASKETBALL.

REACTIONS TO WOMEN’S REACTIONS TO WOMEN’S SOFTBALLSOFTBALL

ALTHOUGH INITIALLY THERE WERE MIX REACTIONS TO ALTHOUGH INITIALLY THERE WERE MIX REACTIONS TO WOMEN’S SOFTBALL, PUBLIC OPINION WAS FOR THE MOST WOMEN’S SOFTBALL, PUBLIC OPINION WAS FOR THE MOST PART FAVORABLE TO THE SPORT.PART FAVORABLE TO THE SPORT.

IT WAS THOUGHT TO HELP WOMEN TO “KEEP FEMININE IT WAS THOUGHT TO HELP WOMEN TO “KEEP FEMININE FIGURE”FIGURE”

IT WAS SEEN NOT AS COMPETITIVE AS BASEBALLIT WAS SEEN NOT AS COMPETITIVE AS BASEBALL FOR SOME CRITICS, HOWEVER, SOME PLAYERS ABANDON FOR SOME CRITICS, HOWEVER, SOME PLAYERS ABANDON

“LADYLIKE” MANNERS AND OCCASIONALLY “PLAY AND LOOK “LADYLIKE” MANNERS AND OCCASIONALLY “PLAY AND LOOK LIKE MEN”LIKE MEN”

THEREFORE SOFTBALL RULES SHOULD BE CONSTANTLY THEREFORE SOFTBALL RULES SHOULD BE CONSTANTLY MODIFIED FOR WOMEN, FOLLOWING BASKETBALL MODEL.MODIFIED FOR WOMEN, FOLLOWING BASKETBALL MODEL.

DESPITE CRITICISM, SOFTBALL FOR WOMEN WAS DESPITE CRITICISM, SOFTBALL FOR WOMEN WAS ENORMOUSLY POPULAR AS A TEAM SPORT FOR MIDDLE ENORMOUSLY POPULAR AS A TEAM SPORT FOR MIDDLE AND LOWER CLASSES IN URBAN AREAS.AND LOWER CLASSES IN URBAN AREAS.

ALL-AMERICAN GIRLS ALL-AMERICAN GIRLS SOFTBALL LEAGUE 1943-1955SOFTBALL LEAGUE 1943-1955

CREATED IN 1943 BY PHILIP K. WRIGLEY AND ARTHUR CREATED IN 1943 BY PHILIP K. WRIGLEY AND ARTHUR MEYERHOFF, AAGSL AS ONE OF THE ALTERNATIVES TO THE MEYERHOFF, AAGSL AS ONE OF THE ALTERNATIVES TO THE MAJORLEAGUE BASEBALL CRISIS DUE TO THE ENROLLMENT MAJORLEAGUE BASEBALL CRISIS DUE TO THE ENROLLMENT OF MOST THE MALE STARS IN THE MILITARY CONFLICT.OF MOST THE MALE STARS IN THE MILITARY CONFLICT.

ORIGINALLY A MERE REACTION TO MALE BASEBALL ORIGINALLY A MERE REACTION TO MALE BASEBALL SOCIOECONOMIC CRISIS, THE AAGL SOON BECAME A VERY SOCIOECONOMIC CRISIS, THE AAGL SOON BECAME A VERY PROSPEROUS LEAGUE AND FORM OF ENTERTAINMENT.PROSPEROUS LEAGUE AND FORM OF ENTERTAINMENT.

1945 MEYERHOFF ONLY OWNER, SWITCHED THE GAMES FROM 1945 MEYERHOFF ONLY OWNER, SWITCHED THE GAMES FROM SOFTBALL TO BASEBALL, MAKING IT THE ALL AMERICAN GIRLS SOFTBALL TO BASEBALL, MAKING IT THE ALL AMERICAN GIRLS BASEBALL LEAGUE (AAGBL) AND THEN NATIONAL GIRLS BASEBALL LEAGUE (AAGBL) AND THEN NATIONAL GIRLS BASEBALL LEAGUE.BASEBALL LEAGUE.

4 TEAMS (KENOSHA, RACINE, SOUTH BEND AND ROCKFORD). 4 TEAMS (KENOSHA, RACINE, SOUTH BEND AND ROCKFORD). IN THE REMAINING YEARS OF THE DECADE THE AAGBL IN THE REMAINING YEARS OF THE DECADE THE AAGBL GENERATED SIGNIFICANT INTEREST IN THE PUBLIC AND GENERATED SIGNIFICANT INTEREST IN THE PUBLIC AND REVENUE IN THE BOX OFFICE.REVENUE IN THE BOX OFFICE.

NATIONAL GIRLS BASEBALL NATIONAL GIRLS BASEBALL LEAGUELEAGUE

LEAGUE’S GREAT ECONOMIC SUCCESS, 10 TEAMS, +1 MILLION LEAGUE’S GREAT ECONOMIC SUCCESS, 10 TEAMS, +1 MILLION ATTENDANCEATTENDANCE

INSPIRED BY THE MODIFICATION PRINCIPLE, THE LEAGUE INSPIRED BY THE MODIFICATION PRINCIPLE, THE LEAGUE CHANGED IN VARIOUS OCCASSIONS THE RULES OF MALE PRO-CHANGED IN VARIOUS OCCASSIONS THE RULES OF MALE PRO-BASEBALL (PITCHING AND BASES-DISTANCE, BALL SIZE, BASEBALL (PITCHING AND BASES-DISTANCE, BALL SIZE, ETCETERA.ETCETERA.

TO THE SURPRISE OF MANY, THE LEAGUE WAS APPEALING TO TO THE SURPRISE OF MANY, THE LEAGUE WAS APPEALING TO MALE AND FEMALE CROWDS AND CREATED A RESPECTABLE MALE AND FEMALE CROWDS AND CREATED A RESPECTABLE INTEREST IN THE MEDIA BY USING MLB ADVERTISING STRATEGIES. INTEREST IN THE MEDIA BY USING MLB ADVERTISING STRATEGIES. THE LEAGUE MADE A CONSISTENT EFFORT TO PITCH WOMEN’S THE LEAGUE MADE A CONSISTENT EFFORT TO PITCH WOMEN’S BASEBALL NOT ONLY AS AN ATHLETIC COMPETITION BUT ALSO AS BASEBALL NOT ONLY AS AN ATHLETIC COMPETITION BUT ALSO AS A FORM OF ENTERTAINMENT THAT HIGHLIGHTED THE PLAYERS’ A FORM OF ENTERTAINMENT THAT HIGHLIGHTED THE PLAYERS’ BEAUTY AND SEX APPEAL.BEAUTY AND SEX APPEAL.

WOMEN’S BASEBALL SUCCESSWOMEN’S BASEBALL SUCCESS

CONTRAST BETWEEN “MASCULINE” CONTRAST BETWEEN “MASCULINE” ATHLETIC SKILLS AND “FEMININE” ATHLETIC SKILLS AND “FEMININE” BEAUTY, “MEN’S GAME PLAYED BY BEAUTY, “MEN’S GAME PLAYED BY NORMAL WOMEN”NORMAL WOMEN”

BASEBALL WILL NOT HARM, CHANGE BASEBALL WILL NOT HARM, CHANGE OR DIMINISH PLAYERS’ FEMININE OR DIMINISH PLAYERS’ FEMININE CHARACTERISTICSCHARACTERISTICS

COACHES FORMER MLB PLAYERSCOACHES FORMER MLB PLAYERS

PLAYERSPLAYERS

““THE MORE FEMININE THE THE MORE FEMININE THE APPEARANCE OF THE PERFORMER, APPEARANCE OF THE PERFORMER, THE MORE DRAMATIC THE THE MORE DRAMATIC THE PERFORMANCE”PERFORMANCE”

BASES FOR RECRUITMENT: BASES FOR RECRUITMENT: FEMININITY WITH SKILLFEMININITY WITH SKILL

NO ATHLETIC TALENT WITHOUT SEX NO ATHLETIC TALENT WITHOUT SEX APPEALAPPEAL

NO WOMEN OF COLORNO WOMEN OF COLOR

APPEARANCE RULESAPPEARANCE RULES

TRAINING INCLUDED “MANDATORY CHARM TRAINING INCLUDED “MANDATORY CHARM SCHOOL” (MAKE UP, TABLE MANNERS, SCHOOL” (MAKE UP, TABLE MANNERS, POSTURE, FASHION) BY BEAUTICIANS POSTURE, FASHION) BY BEAUTICIANS FROM H. RUBINSTEIN SALONFROM H. RUBINSTEIN SALON

ANY IMITATION OF MEN’S STYLE IN HAIR, ANY IMITATION OF MEN’S STYLE IN HAIR, FASHION FORBIDDENFASHION FORBIDDEN

RULES ON NAILS, HAIRDO, MAKE UP, AND RULES ON NAILS, HAIRDO, MAKE UP, AND PUBLIC APPEARANCESPUBLIC APPEARANCES

MEN SHOES, SHORTS, JEANS, T-SHIRTS MEN SHOES, SHORTS, JEANS, T-SHIRTS BANNED.BANNED.

MORAL RULESMORAL RULES

NO DRINKING, NO SMOKING.NO DRINKING, NO SMOKING. SOCIAL ACTIVITIES AND LIVING SOCIAL ACTIVITIES AND LIVING

CONDITIONS ONLY WITH TEAM’S CONDITIONS ONLY WITH TEAM’S APPROVAL. PLAYERS SHOULD “LOOK AND APPROVAL. PLAYERS SHOULD “LOOK AND ACT LIKE WOMEN”ACT LIKE WOMEN”

SAFEGUARDING THE FEMININITY AND SAFEGUARDING THE FEMININITY AND MORAL REPUTATION OF PLAYERSMORAL REPUTATION OF PLAYERS

““NO FREAKS OR AMAZONS”NO FREAKS OR AMAZONS” FEMINIZED TEAM NAMES: BELLES, DAISIES, FEMINIZED TEAM NAMES: BELLES, DAISIES,

PEACHES, LASSIESPEACHES, LASSIES

AAGBL MARKET STRATEGIESAAGBL MARKET STRATEGIES

SPRING TRAINING SPRING TRAINING FILM NEWSFILM NEWS REGULAR MLB PROMOTIONSREGULAR MLB PROMOTIONS SCOUTING AND RECRUITMENT FROM SCOUTING AND RECRUITMENT FROM

INDUSTRIAL AND MUNICIPAL INDUSTRIAL AND MUNICIPAL LEAGUESLEAGUES

ENTERTAINMENT BASED ON SKILLS ENTERTAINMENT BASED ON SKILLS AND SEX APPEALAND SEX APPEAL

WOMEN’S BASEBALL DECLINE WOMEN’S BASEBALL DECLINE IN POST WAR YEARSIN POST WAR YEARS

LITTLE LEAGUE GENDER SEGREGATION LITTLE LEAGUE GENDER SEGREGATION RULES, 1939-1974.RULES, 1939-1974.

DECLINE IN INDUSTRIAL LEAGUES, WOMEN DECLINE IN INDUSTRIAL LEAGUES, WOMEN WORKERS REPLACED BY RETURNING WORKERS REPLACED BY RETURNING VETERANSVETERANS

WOMEN’S RETURN TO “DOMESTIC WOMEN’S RETURN TO “DOMESTIC CHORES” CHORES”

DECLINE IN SPORTS PARTICIPATION, DECLINE IN SPORTS PARTICIPATION, PLAYGROUND, CITY LEAGUESPLAYGROUND, CITY LEAGUES

INCREASE MLB ATTENDANCEINCREASE MLB ATTENDANCE

WOMEN’S BASEBALL LEGACYWOMEN’S BASEBALL LEGACY

FIRST PROFESSIONAL COMPETITIVE FIRST PROFESSIONAL COMPETITIVE TEAM SPORT FOR WOMENTEAM SPORT FOR WOMEN

FIRST W-SPORT WITH FINANCIAL FIRST W-SPORT WITH FINANCIAL SUCCESSSUCCESS

TIES BETWEEN DISCRETIONARY TIES BETWEEN DISCRETIONARY INCOME, FREE TIME AND INCOME, FREE TIME AND PROFESSIONAL SPORTS.PROFESSIONAL SPORTS.

ORGANIZED, CONTROLLED AND ORGANIZED, CONTROLLED AND OWNED BY MEN.OWNED BY MEN.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE AAGBL. LEARN MORE ABOUT THE AAGBL. WATCH “A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN: WATCH “A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN: THE DOCUMENTARY” (1987) OR THE THE DOCUMENTARY” (1987) OR THE 1992 BLOCKBUSTER “A LEAGUE OF 1992 BLOCKBUSTER “A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN” WITH TOM HANKS, THEIR OWN” WITH TOM HANKS, GEENA DAVIS AND MADONNA.GEENA DAVIS AND MADONNA.

CHECK THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE OF CHECK THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE OF THE ALL AMERICAN GIRLS BASEBALL THE ALL AMERICAN GIRLS BASEBALL LEAGE AT LEAGE AT www.aagpbl.org