Historical Context
THE GREAT DEPRESSION
Before World War II, The Great Depression was taking its toll on the United States. The Great Depression began in the year 1929 after the stock market crashed. Wages dropped, jobs were lost, and many people became homeless. The economic tragedy ended when Franklin D. Roosevelt became the President of the United States.
After the stock market crash, people crowded on Wall Street, New York. Source: Fox Photos. “Wall Street Crowd.” Great Depression Timeline, The Balance, https://www.thebalance.com/great-depression-timeline-1929-1941-4048064.
WORLD WAR II
America's involvement in the second world war began when Japan bombed Pearl Harbor. President Roosevelt knew that he must declare war on Germany. The war brought about lots of jobs for Americans. The government needed all hands on deck to prepare for the war, and to fight in the war. Since we were in need of so many troops, the United Stated imposed the draft in 1940. The war ended in 1945.
THE DRAFT
The draft was enforced by the Burke-Wadsworth Act on September 16, 1940. 20 million men ages 21-36 were eligible to be drafted. By 1942 the age to be drafted changed from 18-37 years old. A majority of the men who played Major League Baseball fit into this category and had to go off to war. The MLB wasn't just fun and games, it was a money-making business. With a majority of the men going off to war, Major League Baseball could have collapsed. Phillip Wrigley, the owner of the Chicago Cubs, knew something had to be done.
Uncle Sam was put on posters to persuade men to sign up to serve in the war. Source: “Uncle Sam.” Flagg, James Montgomery. “Wikimedia Commons.” Wikimedia Commons, 1917, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Uncle_Sam_(pointing_finger).jpg.
ROLE OF WOMEN
Women had started participating in the Olympics in 1900, but overall there were little opportunities for females to professionally compete in sports. Sports like golf, tennis, track and field, and figure skating were open mostly to the upper-class women.
A draft registration card from 1942.“WWII Draft Registration Card.” ThoughtCo., Dotdash, 1942, https://www.thoughtco.com/wwii-draft-registration-records-1422331.
"Before I was ever in my teens, I knew exactly what I wanted to be when I grew up. My goal was to be the greatest athlete that ever lived."
~Babe Didrikson (track olympian in the 1930s and 40s)