The All American Girls Professional Baseball League Before we told our daughters that they could be anyone, or anything they wanted to be, we told them that they could only be what was acceptable for women to be, and that they could only do things that were considered "ladylike." It was at this time, when the nation was frenzied with the business of war, that the women of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League decided that they could do and be whatever it was that they chose. These women broke free of the limitations that their family and society had set for them, and publicly broke into what had been an exclusively male sport up until that time. To understand the significance of the league (which will further be referred to as the AAGPBL) you must first have an understanding of the role of women in society at this time. Post World War II, women had a very slight role in anything not concerning domestic issues. Public figures and decision-makers were male, and very few women were involved in anything having to with business or politics. Women were expected to be ladylike and well mannered at all times. Because of these factors it was rare to find a woman involved in any type of sport, especially those dominated by males. The start of the war era came on the heels of a decade when women had seemingly taken a step backward in social and economic progress. The depression of the 1930's had devastated the American economy. Women, especially married women, had bore the largest share of the burden. To help male workers get back on the job, national leaders called for married women in two-income families to give up their jobs. Several states had passed laws barring women from holding state jobs. ... ... middle of paper ... ...omically, while also liberating some of their fans by their example. These women laid the groundwork for future women's sports and professional women's teams. They displayed an independence unheard of at that time, and they served as role models to their fans. For all of these reasons the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League was a significant part of women's history. Bibliography: |Works Cited Browne, Lois. Girls of Summer. Toronto: HarperCollins Publishers Ltd., 1992. Fincher, Jack. "Belles of the Ball Game." Smithsonian. 20 (July, 1989):88-97. Gregorich, Barbara. Women at Play. Orlando: Harcourt Brace & Company, 1993. Johnson, Susan E. When Women Played Hardball. Seattle: Seal Press, 1994. Macy, Sue. A Whole New Ball Game. New York: Henry Holt and Company Inc., 1993.
In May 1932, Fanny noticed that there was no actual league for softball, unlike her male counterparts. So she helped to create the Provincial Women’s Softball Union of Québec, she served as the president. This league is a huge deal, currently many softball players in Quebec and Ontario alike have played under them, either on a team or a tournament. This league was revolutionary at its time, it allowed many girls from all over Quebec to finally participate in softball. The PWSUQ was one way Fanny established herself in the community of sport. Another way was her journalism career for the globe and mail through her column “Sports Reel” she was able to defend women’s sports. It wasn’t uncommon for male writers to write in and express negative opinions of women in sport. Fanny was witty and always had something to say back to them. As insignificant this may seem it was actually a very important event. Through her column Bobbie was able to change the perspectives of many men and women alike of women in
girls baseball league. Talent scouts, are sent off to find the best female ball players from all over
Hult explains that in the era between 1890-1920, women physical educators were a tightly knit, dedicated group committed to a tradition of restricted competition, self-governance, and a feminine approach to individual and team sports. They believed that all girls and women should have the opportunity to participate and enjoy sport, not only the talented elite as in the competition-driven male philosophical structure (87). Play-days and sport-days with emphasis on team building games were a means of perpetuating an image of an ideal American female athlete: feminine, beautiful, strong, yet always 'aware of her delicate reproductive system' (89).
Later in the century, the first women’s softball team was formed in 1895 at Chicago’s West Division High School. The team did not receive a coach for competitive play until 1899. At that time it was very difficult to develop interest among fans. About five years later women’s softball received more attention when “The Spalding Indoor Baseball Guide devoted a large section of the guide to the game of women’s softball (Cohen 52).” In 1933, the Chicago National Tournament also advanced the sport. At this competition, the male and female champions were honored equally. Also in 1933, “the Amateur Softball Association (ASA) was founded to govern and promote softball in the United States (World Book).” The ASA set up a committee that established one set of rules now used by teams in all parts of the world.
A person that would like to play professional ball will choose baseball because there is a professional big league, such as the St. Louis Cardinals, but in softball that opportunity is not available. Baseball is played on more levels than softball. It is played on the professional, international, Olympic, college, high school, and little league levels. If a player is fortunate enough to make it to the professional level, he can make millions of dollars.
In a more focused sense, the Negro Leagues were an alternative league all in its own. It was primarily established for African Americans so they could play baseball, since they were prohibited from experiencing any type or activity with whites. The reason this league was separate was because of the Jim Crow laws that had been enacted during the early 1900's, but in an opinionated note, I feel that whites simply didn't want to be outdone by their counterparts - African Americans. They basically stated that African Americans could not participate in any activity with whites, whether it is of public or unsocial nature. These laws displayed the mentality of the time, which inevitably filtered into the realm of baseball; at this point, segregation had gone so far as to prohibit any blacks from merely playing baseball with whites. It was not until 1933, when "a former pitcher, Andrew 'Rube' Foster, formed the first black league, called the Negro National League, which contained such teams as the St. Louis Stars, Pittsburgh Crawfords, Philadelphia Stars, New York Lincoln Giants, and the Newark Eagles." Then, "in 1937, the Negro American League was formed to rival the opposing Negro National League that consisted of the Memphis Red Sox, Kansas City Monarchs, Cleveland Buckeyes, Detroit Stars, and the Hilldale Daisies." (What Are…Leagues: Internet) The two leagues "continued to go strong until the color line was broken in 1947, when the great Jackie Robinson signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers." Because of this, "…the Negro National League folded following the 1948 season and the Negro American League [folded]…in 1960." (What Are…Leagues: Internet) Moreover, just...
In 1970 only 1 in 27 girls participated in high school sports, today that ratio is 1 in 3. Sports are a very important part of the American society. Within sports heroes are made, goals are set and dreams are lived. The media makes all these things possible by creating publicity for the rising stars of today. Within society today, the media has downplayed the role of the woman within sports. When the American people think of women in sports, they think of ice skating, field hockey and diving. People don’t recognize that women have the potential to play any sport that a Man can play, with equal skill, if not better.
...hey played in that until Jackie Robertson played in the Major League in the 40’s. It was not just baseball that had special leagues for blacks, almost every sport had them. Women and girls also had limited opportunities for sports in the 1920s. Most schools had physical education classes for girls only; they did not play any kind of sports like they do now. Some educators thought that running and jumping were not very ladylike. They opposed athletic competition for women. Women had to fight for the right to compete. The most likely sport of girls was to compete in sports such as golf, tennis, or swimming. Now women can take part in basketball and volleyball.
“Four bases, three strikes, two teams, one winner” (Four). Each year thousands of female athletes lace up their cleats, pull on a glove, and slide through dirt to play the sport that has become known as softball. Title IX makes it a girls right to play sports such as softball, but before chants were made up, skills perfected, and teams were formed, the game had to be invented and Title IX created. Even so, the creation of softball was actually an interesting one.
The women’s baseball league, also known as the All-American Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL), was created by Chicago Cubs team owner, Phillip K. Wrigley. As the league went through its years, only lasting from 1943 until 1954, it went through different ownerships besides Wrigley, such as Arthur Meyerhoff. During the final couple years of the league’s existence, they were individually owned. This league took place around World War II, and with these women playing baseball, it kept the public eye’s attention in order while the majority of men were away fighting. However, even before this league came about, something else stirred up decades after the Civil War happened. This professional league did more than just give women baseball; it helped
Professional women's sports haven't been around too long, although it does have an extensive history and root system. In 1865, Vasser became one of the first women colleges in the United States. Within the safe boundaries of campus and away from the curious eyes of men, w...
In the beginning, there were originally six teams that was formed in the professional league. This would later change and have the National Basketball Association form in 1946. The team that was popular to many people back in the early stages of the formation of the NBA was the Boston Celtics and they wanted to immediately sign players. In 1950, Earl Lloyd would be the first African American to play in the NBA. “Mr. Lloyd was the first of the three to play in a game, when the Capitols opened the season on Oct. 31, 1950, in Rochester, N.Y., against the Rochester Royals”(Washingtonpost.com). The first African American women did not play until 1985 since there wasn’t a professinal league until the 80s and 90s hit. “In 1985, Lynette Woodard became the first woman to play for the Globetrotters”(aaregistry.org). Although there were other leagues that women play back in the early ages of the 1900s but professionally Lynette Woodard would be the first African American to play in a professional league. We can all look back and see that Earl Lloyd and Lynette Woodard showed history in it’s making that he is one of the reason on showing people that discrimination in race doesn’t matter in
Lesko, J. (2005). League History. All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Players Association. Retrieved for this paper Mar 20, 2014 from, http://www.aagpbl.org/index.cfm/pages/league/12/league-history
When speck of whether women should plat men sports such as baseball, we most forget there was a time when females ruled the dimond. During world war two team owners started a league for women, to provent losing season profits. Women who played just as good as or better the men were brought in from all over the country and givin a chance tobe paid for playing the game they love. Although the league was adventully ended in 1954 due to the end of the war and growing lack of intrestest in the luegue .
Women are being allowed to participate now, including professional leagues such as the Women’s National Basketball Association, and the Ladies Professional Golf Association. Women in sports, especially softball and basketball, have become a big-time business. World War II is when the basis of women’s professional sports began. While the men were overseas fighting the war against the Nazis and Germans, the women entertained the people who stayed back by playing baseball.