The Representation of American Society in Baseball
How has baseball reflected American society over the course of the first half of the th century? 20
Well--it's our game; that's the chief fact in connection with it: America's game; it has the snap, go, fling of the American atmosphere; it belongs as much to our institutions, fits into them as significantly as our Constitution's laws; is just as important in the sum total of our historic life. Walt Whitman
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US History
Progressive Era th When Teddy Roosevelt became the 26 president of the United States, his goal was to change what had become of his beloved nation Roosevelt entered office at a time in which the U. S. was already undergoing a slight transformation The Progressive Era, as it became known, was a period of reform that lasted from the 1890 s through the 1920 s
Progressive Era Movements This era helped influence movements such as: § § § § Conservationism Workers Rights Social Justice Temperance Suffragettes Muckrackers Settlement Houses § § § Social Gospel advocates Education reform Trustbusters Banking reform Goo-Goo’s Populists
Key Aspects of the Progressive Era Hepburn Act of 1906 § Gave the ICC the power to set maximum railroad rates Anthracite Coal Strike of 1902 § § Lasted 163 days § Organized labor celebrated the outcome as a victory for all unions Workers given a 10% pay increase and awarded a nine-hour day Square Deal § Program that curbed “bad” trusts and encouraged “good” trusts
Immigration in the 1900 s During the 1900 s many Jews, Italians, Asians (first 1/2 of the decade), and Russians entered America
The Role of Women in the Progressive Era Jane Addams Ida Tarbell Leader in both the women’s suffrage and the pacifist movement One of the leading muckrakers and the author of The History of the Standard Oil Company
Baseball
Players Protective Association is founded in 1900 § § § Originated from the Brotherhood of Professional Baseball players (1885) One of the first unions created by players who objected the reserve clause v Forced players to stay with one team at the owners disposal Players had no say as to where they were traded/sold
Byron Bancroft Johnson Created the American League in 1901, which offered higher salaries and better contract options § Players like Cy Young, John Mc. Graw, and Nap Lajoie jumped from the National League Cracked down on dirty play and banned liquor from ballparks Baseball was becoming a more acceptable activity
Immigration and Baseball was becoming a reflection of the changing ethnic composition of America. Many European immigrants became club owners due to limited entrepreneurial opportunities in a less risky environment. Olaf Henriksen Denmark A number of Northern and Eastern European immigrants played on teams as a means for social mobility.
Alta Weiss 1907 First Woman to Play Professional Baseball
Take Me Out to the Ball Game "Take me out to the ball game, Take me out with the crowd. Buy me some peanuts and cracker jack, I don't care if I never get back, Let me root, root for the home team, If they don't win it's a shame. For it's one, two, three strikes, you're out, At the old ball game. " Jack Norworth 1907
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US History
A New World Power The 1910 s were a period of great change for the United States Thanks to Teddy Roosevelt’s progressive mindset, the US was finally known as a ‘world power’ Many of the same issues found in the 1900 s were still present, including: § § § Escalation of immigration and poverty Labor and monopoly battles Work safety and child labor problems Unfortunately, this seemingly positive decade ended with the US involved in the first world war
Woodrow Wilson In 1914, Wilson created the federal trade commission § The purpose of the FTC was to stop unfair trade practices In addition, President Wilson passed the Clayton Antitrust Act in 1914 § According to Samuel Gompers, leader of the American Federation of Labor, this act was the Magna Carta of labor § This act made certain business practices illegal and made individual company officers liable if their company violated the law § It also ended union liability antitrust laws
Labor Unions During the 1910 s, labor unions continued to grow as the middle classes became increasingly unhappy Unsafe working conditions were highlighted by the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory § In this disaster 146 female workers were killed, spurring the growth of the International Ladies Garment Workers Union Children were hired to work in factories, mills, and mines in unsafe conditions for many hours By the middle of the decade every state had passed a minimum age law
Industrial Workers of the Worl The IWW was the most militant working class organization at the time This union was formed from a mixture of unions fighting for better conditions in the west’s mining industry They felt that all workers should be united within a single union as well as the wage system abolished The organization helped improve conditions for migratory farm workers by using direct action at the point of production and striking “on the job” By 1912, the organization had around 50, 000 members and was involved in over 150 strikes
Wobblies “The working class and the employing class have nothing in common. There can be no peace so long as hunger and want are found among millions of the working people and the few, who make up the employing class, have all the good things of life. Between these two classes a struggle must go on until the workers of the world organize as a class, take possession of the means of production, abolish the wage system, and live in harmony with the Earth. ”
Lawrence Textile Strike This strike was led by the IWW after the mill owner decided to lower wages This strike was ground-breaking in two ways: § The strike was primarily led by women § It was the first strike in America that brought working people together from over 25 different nations The slogan “Bread and Roses” was first originated in this strike In the end, the workers won pay increases, time-and-aquarter pay for overtimes, and no discrimination against strikers The strikers are also credited with inventing the moving picket line
Baseball
The First, First Pitch William Howard Taft establishes the tradition of throwing out the first pitch on April 14, 1910
Player-Owner Relationships Players were becoming increasingly frustrated with poor conditions on and off the field 1912 -Players Fraternity created § Attempted to negotiate better conditions, but quickly fell apart 1912 -First players strike § Detroit Tigers players struck over Ty Cobb’s suspension after fighting with a fan § Tigers President, Frank J. Navin, hired scabs off the street to replace his striking players § This and numerous other problems helped to increase the sense of injustice within baseball, eventually leading to the Black Sox Scandal
The Black Sox Charles Comiskey, Owner of the Chicago White Sox, paid extremely low wages and treated his players poorly Due to their poor treatment, players leaped at any opportunity to earn more money A group of players including: Joe Jackson and Eddie Cicotte, accepted money to throw the 1919 World Series against the Cincinnati Reds Charles Comiskey
The Scandal Multiple rumors and accusations led to the investigation of eight players, and their eventual trials During the investigation, both Cicotte and Jackson confessed, although shortly after their confessions went missing Now, with no evidence, all eight players were acquitted Because of the evident problems, Federal Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis was brought in as the sport’s first commissioner Unfortunately for the players, Landis was not as forgiving and banned all eight players for life
Federal Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis “Regardless of the verdict of the juries, no player who throws a ball game, no player who undertakes or promises to throw a ball game, no player who sits in confidence with a bunch of crooked players and does not promptly tell his club about it, will ever play professional baseball. ”
World War One and Baseball Ban Johnson ordered his teams to learn closeorder drills John K. Tener, President of the National League, stated “This is a war of democracy against bureaucracy. And I tell you that baseball is the very watchword of democracy. ” With baseball now one of the leaders in the entertainment industry, owners felt no reason to stop playing § This decision sparked a great deal of criticism across the nation along with a drastic decline in attendance
Players or Soldiers? Owners argued that baseball be considered an essential industry so that players could not be drafted Secretary of War Newton D. Baker disagreed with this statement, leading to the drafting of 227 MLB players Three professional players were killed in combat, one of whom was Eddie Grant, former captain of the Giants Eddie Grant
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US History
Isolationism, The New American Ideal Disillusioned by the failure of the war to achieve high ideals promised by President Woodrow Wilson, Americans chose isolationism § Isolationism led to the reliance of homegrown ideals This renewed sense of nationalism created the need for a hometown hero § Charles Lindbergh § Babe Ruth
The Roaring Twenties The 1920 s were given the nickname the Roaring Twenties, due to the immense array of new consumer goods Although it took time to convert from a wartime economy to a peacetime economy, the decade saw the US become the richest country in the world America’s newfound wealth led to an increased interest in the many aspects of the entertainment industry, such as: sports, movies, and music Langston Hughes Al Jolson
The Unfortunate Few In spite of America’s numerous advancements, African Americans, once again, did not benefit, along with the many other “ 2 nd Class Citizens” § 70 million people lived below the poverty level of $2000 a year per family After the US entrance in WWI, in which African Americans were put into segregated units run by whites, the belief that blacks were “sub-human” remained in the back of everyone’s mind Three months later, in the city of Chicago, 38 people were killed, 537 were injured, and ~1000 were left homeless after the Chicago Race Riot of 1919 This constant disrespect for Blacks resulted in a new sense of black pride, which led not only to the famed Harlem Renaissance, but to the creation of a handful of “black-only” baseball leagues, known as the “Negro Leagues”
Baseball
The End of the Dead-Ball Era In 1920, Major League Baseball instituted a new set of rules which reduced the pitcher’s arsenal and improved the hitter’s chance at making solid contact The extent to which offense dominated the 1920 s is even difficult to comprehend today § From 1921 -1930, each league neither league batted under. 280 This new, exciting style of play coupled with America's economic boom led to an increase in baseball’s attendance and popularity Nobody exhibited this shift towards offensive production more than Babe Ruth
The Great Bambino His towering home runs and mammoth swings helped counter the negative effects of the Black Sox scandal and WWI He exemplified the average American due to his rise from lowly origins and his enthusiasm for the game
Great Ballplayers of the 1920 s “What the fans saw, during the 1920 s, were many of the most colorful and distinctive players in the history of the game. Babe Ruth was the era’s great personality, of course, but there were many others who remain nearly as vivid in our memories. ” - Joseph Wallace Dizzy Dean Dazzy Vance Lefty Gomez
The Radio With the creation of the radio, a new industry was developed that broadcasted play-by -play descriptions of baseball games On August 5, 1921 Westinghouse station’s Harold Arlin broadcasted the first game from Forbes Field
The Negro Leagues In 1920, Rube Foster, a former ballplayer, founded the Negro National League A second league, the Eastern Colored League, was established in 1923 § The ECL folded in 1928 and led to the creation of the American Negro league in 1929 The NNL did well until Foster passed away in 1930 Unfortunately, this came at a time in which not only baseball was suffering, but America was as well Without a strong leader the NNL entered into the Great Depression and fell apart
Who is the Greatest Hitter of All-Time? Josh Gibson ~800. 350 You Decide Babe Ruth Batting Average . 342 714 Home Runs
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US History
The Great Depression Due to underconsumption and obvious social inequalities, the United States found itself spiraling downwards as it entered a state of depression in 1929 Although the stock market crash didn’t instantly plunge all Americans into debt, it left 1/3 of all the country’s population in serious need of help by 1932 America’s other 2/3 suffered from reductions in job security, money income, and hours of work A large part of why the depression was so damaging was because of the US’ laissez-faire president Herbert Hoover Fortunately, in the election of 1932, the US chose a man fit for the presidency, Franklin D. Roosevelt
FDR and the New Deal After entering office, FDR almost immediately took action in an attempt to fix what his predecessor chose not to Roosevelt’s New Deal had three components: direct relief, economic recovery, and financial reform Although a couple of FDR’s agencies were unsuccessful, a great number helped to recover a struggling nation § CCC, PWA, WPA, FSA, SEC, FDIC, TVA § In 1938, he also created the FSLA, establishing minimum wage
Baseball
The Depression and Baseball The Depression hit baseball almost as hard as it hit the nation Young men came to spring training not looking for stardom but simply looking for a job Attendance dropped drastically as fans could no longer afford the cost to get into a game Others, unwilling to give up baseball, made the ballpark hot dog their meal of the day Many people felt that baseball should be suspended, but a slightly prominent figure in American society believed that it should continue. . .
Franklin Delano Roosevelt FDR realized the importance of social outlets in the midst of the depression and emphasized baseball’s continuation In the President’s mind, politics and baseball were intertwined, and both were useful in supporting society’s morale and confidence Baseball, like the New Deal, battled public apathy, resignation, defeat, and despair During his speeches, Roosevelt compared baseball to his New Deal to instill understanding and boost the public’s confidence
Franklin Delano Roosevelt FDR labeled owners and players as examples of American spirit and dedication Historian Marc Okkoken said, “He [FDR] presented a vigorous image and energetically supported baseball throughout his presidential years. ” In 1932, Roosevelt stated “Baseball as a sport has done as much as anything to keep up the spirits of people when they were losing their jobs and were in the midst of the depression. ”
Fireside Chats Throughout FDR’s famed fireside chats, he often used Baseball metaphors in hope that they would simplify his complex ideas On May 7, 1933, in his second fireside chat, Roosevelt spoke of “making a hit” and “winning for the team” “I know that the people of this country will understand this and will also understand the spirit in which we are undertaking thispolicy. I do not deny that we may make mistakes of procedure as carry we out the policy. I have no expectation of making a hit every time I come to bat. What I seek is the highest possible batting average, not only for myself but for theteam. Theodore Roosevelt once said to me: If I can be right 75 percent of the time, I shall come up to the fullest measure of my hopes. ”
The Annual First Pitch FDR threw out the first pitch of the season every April at Griffith stadium in Washington DC FDR threw out more first pitches than any other president in history despite his physical ailments from polio
American Sports Heroes Baseball was not only popular but it was critical during the depression. Baseball was the cure that many people needed by providing heroes and symbols that Americans cherished. Joe Di. Maggio Lou Gehrig Hank Greenberg
Baseball's New Deal Baseball, like the New Deal, created new attractions in hopes of stimulating attendance and popularity 1933~All-Star Game at Comiskey Park, Chicago 1935~The first night game is played in Cincinnati
Cooperstown The Baseball Hall of Fame is opened on June 12, 1939 The first players inducted were Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner, Christy Mathewson, and Walter Johnson in 1936
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US History
“Neutral” After triumphing the greatest depression in US history only a couple of years prior, the last thing the American people wanted was a war This belief was represented by the country’s four Neutrality Acts over the course of the 1930 s, the most recent in 1939 § This act amended the earlier legislation by supplying the UK and France on a “cash and carry” basis § However, US vessels were forbidden to enter combat zones and citizens continued to be barred from sailing on belligerent ships Realizing that they could no longer stand idly by, the US signed the Lend-Lease Act on March 11, 1941 Regrettably, the US could only remain neutral for so long
A Date Which Will Live in Infamy On December 7, 1941, the US was attacked by the Japanese on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and immediately declared war on her attacker Four days later, the remaining Axis powers, Germany and Italy, declared war on the US A Day Of Infamy!
African-Americans and World War II In the summer of 1941, A. Philip Randolph, president of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, began to insist that companies receiving defense contracts should integrate their forces Randolph planned a march on Washington that he promised would bring almost 100, 000 This concept led FDR to cancel the march, but in return he established the Fair Employment Practices Committee In 1942, the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) was created In Detroit in 1943, a series of racial altercations led to two days of violence in which 34 people died, 25 of them black Over time, military leader made racial adjustments when they realized that they were wasting manpower By the end of the war, there were more than 700, 000 black servicemen
Women and World War II The number of women in the work force increased by about 60% and they also accounted for a third of paid workers in 1945 Through domestic analogies, male employers believed that women would find jobs such as cutting airplane wings (making a dress pattern) and mixing chemicals (making a cake) easy A large number of women worked for the government and became known as “government girls” A substantial amount of women were employed by the military, as both WAACs (Army) and Waves (Navy)
Wrongful Internment Following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the 127, 000 Japanese Americans (mainly located out west) were treated terribly and even accused of aiding Japan Although there was no evidence, according to Earl Warren, the apparent passivity of both the Issei and the Nisei was another example of the danger they posed In February 1942, FDR created the War Relocation Authority and placed more than 100, 000 Japanese Americans in “Relocation Centers” Two years later, the Supreme Court backed the government in the case Korematsu vs. US, stating that the relocation was constitutional
Baseball
World War II´s Affect on Baseball During a game at the Polo Grounds, in May of 1941, play stopped so that both fans and players could hear the president declare an unlimited emergency That summer, fans alarmed by the front pages found a more reassuring kind of excitement in one of the best seasons in baseball history This season was highlighted by: § Joe Di. Maggio’s 56 game hitting streak § Ted Williams. 406 batting average § Both records still stand today
Baseball in Japan The Japanese government denounced the game of baseball as a bad American influence Terms such as: strike, out, and safe were outlawed Japanese soldiers, in an attempt to anger GI’s into revealing their position, cursed Babe Ruth Even young Japanese Americans played inside their internment camps
The Commissioner to the President
The President to the Commissioner
Players in the War In all, some 340 MLB players went into uniform in WWII American GI’s played baseball everywhere they fought, teaching it to anyone they had come in contact with Ted Williams Jackie Robinson Warren Spahn Bob Feller
Players in the War Although some players saw combat, most stars found themselves playing baseball for the Army and Navy to raise funds for the war and to boost the morale of fellow soldiers Joe Di. Maggio Pee Wee Reese
All American Girls Pro Baseball League Philip Wrigley, chewing-gum king and owner of the Chicago Cubs, hoped to keep up interest in baseball during the war There were already 40, 000 women playing semi-pro softball across the country and Wrigley wanted to convert the best of them to hardball Hundreds turned up in Chicago for tryouts in may of 1932 and four teams were formed: § Rockford Peaches, Racine Belles, Kenosha Comets, and South Bend Blue Sox
All American Girls
The Beauty of Baseball Not only did players have to be good, but they also had to be irreproachably feminine Wrigley felt that Femininity was the keynote of his league. § “No pants-wearing, tough talking, female softballer will play on any of our four teams. ” Wrigley signed up the Helena Robinson cosmetics firm to run a charm school to help the players learn grace and elegance Girls were required to wear skirts, high heels, and makeup off the field, otherwise they were fined Reflecting the post-war trend towards at home diversions and the return to a more restrictive conception of femininity, the league folded in 1954
The Gradual Integration of Baseball repeatedly Even though Commissioner Landis stated that there was no rule against the integration of baseball, there had yet to be a black player in the Major Leagues as the first half of the 20 th century came to a close The hypocrisy of fighting racism abroad while ignoring it at home grew more self evident African American picketers appeared at Yankee Stadium with signs stating “If we are able to stop bullets, why not balls? ” Landis refused to budge and club owners continued to prohibit integrating the playing field
The Beginning of a New Era In the Fall of 1944, Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis passed away His replacement was, Kentucky politician, Albert Benjamin “Happy” Chandler Benjamin, unlike Landis, was pro-integration and felt “If a black boy can make it in Okinawa and Guadal Canal, hell, he can make it in baseball!”
The Man Who Forever Changed the Game At UCLA, Jackie Robinson excelled in track, basketball, football, and his least favorite of them all, baseball In 1944, he accepted a $400 a month contract to play with the Kansas City Monarchs On October 23, 1945, Branch Rickey, President, GM, and Co-Owner of the Brooklyn Dodgers signed Jackie Robinson On April 15, 1947, 26, 623 fans (14, 000 of them black) attended Ebbets Field on opening day to see Robinson play for the first time
No Respect Although Robinson was loved by the Black population and Dodgers Fans, he endured an immense amount of abuse from the rest of the baseball’s audience At first, his own teammates, many of them southerners, didn’t want to play with him and signed a petition that said they’d rather be traded Some examples of the abuse endured: § Threats towards him and his family § Pitches thrown at his head § Base runners tried to cut him with their cleats
Seven Years Ahead of its Time For all the hardships that Robinson and other black players tolerated, and despite the slow pace of integration that followed, the MLB was well ahead of the US A year after Robinson’s first game, the complete integration of American Armed Forces finally occurred It would be seven years before the US Supreme Court rejected the notion that separate could truly be equal It was not until 1965 that Congress enacted meaningful legislation to protect the basic right of black citizens to vote
The End
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