These women are in the Baseball Hall of Fame. They were in the All American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL). The acronym changed a bit, but we know it most for the first one, for the most part. It began in 1943 and lasted 12 years. Philip K. Wrigley, Chicago Cubs owner, created it to keep baseball in business as men went off to war and less male athletes were around to play. Big names went off to war because men were encouraged to be men and fight Hitler. Thus, these women played at Wrigley Field. Big names in Baseball managed the teams. Hall of Famer Max Carey was president of the league.
Lifestyle Within the League
For all the masculinity that sports brought, the leaders wanted the feminine women in this league and
declared they didn't want tough, pants-wearing women here, according to Carey. No slacks or you use the servant's elevator, and charm school throughout the evenings. Beauty salons and beauty kits were pushed at them. They were taught to be ladies, as well as athletes. This push wouldn't fly now, not with the sportswomen of today.
The rules of conduct were as follows:
1. No slacks/shorts/uniform in the stands
2. lipstick always, groomed hair (preferred long)
3. no language/smoking/drinking
4.chaperones approved social engagements
5.no jewelry
6. chaperone approves living quarters and eating out
7. tell whereabouts and home phone
8.team meal time
9. skirts no shorter then 6 inches above knee
10 - 15 are generally things about equipment, passes, and transportation that probably apply to all of baseball then.
Despite this, fans didn't come to see legs. They came to see talent, and it lasted as long as it did because these were good athletes, not because they wore skirts on the field. It drew bigger and bigger crowds, thus lasting longer than the war itself. It gave 600-some women a chance to play baseball for a living and be more than just homemakers.
Why It Ended
When games began to be televised, it spelled the end of this league. The men returning from war were probably part of it, too. After the war women were supposed to return to the kitchen and the home, so this league met resistance after the war. With more entertainment and money to spend on more than the war effort, people found more sources of fun, thus giving the league competition. Also, the lack of promotion of these games didn't help them stay afloat.
Sources:
Washington Post
Today Show
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