Introduction

1. Introduction This activity would be done with my special education U.S. history students when talking about World War II from the homefront. Students will have already studied Pearl Harbor and viewed some examples of propaganda that were used to encourage Americans to support the war effort. For this activity, students would use computers with the slideshow loaded onto the desktop for easy access. They would work in pre-assigned groups of four with random levels of ability. Some of the questions may seem very easy, but would be challenging for some of my students with very low abilities.

2. BASEBALL America’s Pastime

3. Baseball during World War II • With your group, view the following slide show about baseball, sometimes referred to as “our nation’s pastime.” • Choose a team name. Use one of your favorite baseball teams or make one up. • Choose a manager to be the group leader. This person is responsible for making sure everyone on the team is doing what they are supposed to. • Next, choose your pitcher. This person will control the pace, as they are the ONLY person that should be touching the computer. They will click forward or go back as needed. • Next, choose your team captain. This person will do any and all communicating with the teacher. (this way the teacher does not have to talk to 30 different students) • Finally, choose the team reporter to record the groups answers. All group members should contribute to answers, but the reporter should be someone with good handwriting to write down answers that will be turned in for a group grade. Be sure to write the names of all your group members and their role in the group.

4. Play Ball!!!!

5. Baseball in America • Major league baseball enjoyed widespread popularity during the early 1900s. • Attendance at games grew, and the World Series became one of the leading annual events in sports. • Outstanding players such as Cy Young, Christy Mathewson, and Ty Cobb emerged as national stars. • Owners responded to the prosperity by building larger, more modern ballparks. Cy Young Ty Cobb

6. Baseball in the 1920s • Babe Ruth, initially a star pitcher for the Boston Red Sox, joined the New York Yankees in 1920 and became one of the greatest home-run hitters of all time. • Many hitters imitated Ruth’s style, and baseball developed into a higher scoring and—to many fans—more exciting game.

7. Baseball in the 1930s • The growth of baseball continued into the 1930s, when radio broadcasts of games became common. • The first major league night games were also held during the 1930s, enabling fans to attend games after work. • In 1939 the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum was opened in Cooperstown, New York, to display baseball memorabilia and honor the game’s greatest players.

8. A trip to the mound… Record your answers to the following questions • What change allowed more fans to attend games in the 1930s? • How did most fans in the 1930s enjoy baseball games if they could not attend them in person?

9. Pearl Harbor-World War II • Japan attacks the U.S. at Pearl Harbor • President Roosevelt immediately asks Congress for a declaration of war • The United States is at war with Germany, Italy and Japan

10. America Stunned… • Baseball commissioner, Kenesaw Landis writes President Roosevelt a letter regarding the state of major league baseball • Your team will examine the letters Landis and Roosevelt wrote each other and answer the questions that follow.

12. Examining the Source…(Go back to the letter if you need) • What is Landis asking Roosevelt about? • Approximately how many teams are involved with major league baseball? (counting minor league teams as well) • Does Landis support the war effort? What in the letter tells you this?

13. Green Letter

14. Examining the Source… • Did President Roosevelt think baseball should continue to be played during the war? • President Roosevelt said that fewer people would be ________ if baseball continued. • What purpose did Roosevelt say baseball could serve during the war?

15. Americans to War • Millions of Americans signed up or were drafted into military service • Many professional athletes served in the military, including baseball players • Although baseball would continue during the war, without many of its players, things would be different…

16. Star Athletes Become Soldiers Ted Williams, Boston Red Sox Joe Louis, heavyweight boxer Joe DiMaggio, New York Yankees Pee Wee Reese, Brooklyn Dodgers

17. Trip to the mound… Do you know of any professional athletes today who have served in the military? Do you think athletes today would risk their careers to serve in their country’s military? Why or why not?

18. Pat Tillman • NFL player, Pat Tillman, walked away from a $3.6 million contract offer to enlist in the U.S. army after the attacks on September 11, 2001. • He was killed in combat in Afghanistan on April 22, 2004.

19. Many Major League baseball players were either drafted or volunteered for military service Teams roster spots were often filled with players who were among the 30% of American men labeled as ‘4 F’ or physically unfit to serve Replacement Players Pete Gray, outfielder, St. Louis Browns

20. Women During the War • Many women moved into jobs that were left behind by American men serving in the military. • In addition to their roles at home, many women worked factory jobs they had previously been denied.

21. Examining the source… • Examine the following picture. Describe everything you see in the picture. Where do you think this picture was taken? What does this picture tell you about the time period? What was happening?

23. All-American Girls Professional Baseball League • By the fall of 1942, many minor league baseball teams were folding because of a lack of players. • Phillip K. Wrigley, owner of Wrigley chewing gum and the Chicago Cubs, created a professional women’s baseball league in the Midwest, the AAGPBL.

24. Rockford Peaches • One team was located right here in Rockford, IL • The Rockford Peaches played the entire existence of the league, 1945-1953. • During that time, the Peaches won four league championships • The movie A League of Their Own is based on the team, although all the characters were fictional

25. Extra Credit • For extra credit, visit the former home of the Rockford Peaches, Beyer Stadium on 15th Avenue in Rockford. • Describe what has changed about the ball park since it was last used for women’s baseball.

26. Compare and contrast the uniforms of the players from the 1940s and today.

27. Expectations for Women • Although women were filling roles that were traditionally limited to men only, they were still expected to maintain a feminine appearance • Players were given specific guidelines to follow regarding their “beauty” • On the following slides, you will see actual excerpts from a Charm School Guide that was distributed to all players. As a group, scan the guidelines listed. Write down four things that you thought were interesting or surprised you. Why did you find them interesting and/or why did they surprise you?

28. BEAUTY ROUTINES Your ALL-AMERICAN GIRLS BASEBALL LEAGUE BEAUTY KIT Should always contain the following: • Cleansing Cream • Lipstick • Rouge ­ Medium • Cream Deodorant • Mild Astringent • Face powder for Brunette • Hand Lotion • Hair Remover You should be the best judge of your own beauty requirements. Keep your own kit replenished with the things you need for your own toilette and your beauty culture and care. Remember the skin, the hair, the teeth and the eyes. It is most desirable in your own interests, that of your teammates and fellow players, as well as from the standpoint of the public relations of the league, that each girl be at all times presentable and attractive, whether on the playing field or at leisure. Study your own beauty culture possibilities and without overdoing your beauty treatment at the risk of attaining gaudiness, practice the little measure that will reflect well on your appearance and personality as a real All­American girl.

29. SUGGESTED BEAUTY ROUTINE"After the Game" Remember, the All­American girl is subjected to greater exposure through her activities on the diamond, through exertion in greater body warmth and perspiration, through exposure to dirt, grime and dust and through vigorous play to scratches, cuts, abrasions and sprains. This means extra precaution to assure all the niceties of toilette and personality. Especially "after the game,"the All American girl should take time to observe the necessary beauty ritual, to protect both her health and appearance. Here are a few simple rules that should prove helpful and healthful "after the game.“ • Shower well and soap the skin. • Dry thoroughly to avoid chapping or chafing. • Apply cleansing cream to face and remove with tissue. • 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.

30. Trip to the mound… Do you think major league baseball players were given guidelines about what to do after games? What do you think these guidelines say about the ways women were viewed during this era? Do you think these views have changed? If so, how?

31. Video Clips Watch the following video clips. As a group, describe what you saw in the clip. What did each clip have to do with the war? • http://www.collectorsweekly.com/baseball/overview/videos • http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic-video/15840/19456/Newsreel-footage-highlighting-womens-professional-baseball

32. Bottom of the ninth… • Each group member needs to rate the other members of their group based on their effort throughout this activity. Assign your partners one of the following rankings: All star- Paid attention to what the group was doing and contributed ideas on a regular basis. Starter- Contributed ideas but was sometimes distracted. Minor Leaguer- Sometimes contributed ideas, but was often distracted. Rookie Baller- Contributed minimally and was mostly distracted. That’s the game! Turn your papers into the teacher.

33. Conclusion My goal is for students to take pride in the fact that a really neat part of history took place so close to home. I also would like them to think critically about the roles of women in the 1940s and 1950s and how they began to change during the war. By pointing out some of the differences in the baseball leagues, I hope my students would recognize the inequalities between men and women during the time period.