{"id":146,"date":"2025-10-28T22:23:30","date_gmt":"2025-10-28T22:23:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tinytalesbytara.com\/?p=146"},"modified":"2025-10-28T22:25:36","modified_gmt":"2025-10-28T22:25:36","slug":"when-women-stepped-up-to-the-plate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tinytalesbytara.com\/?p=146","title":{"rendered":"When Women Stepped Up to the Plate"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\u201cThey weren\u2019t just keeping baseball alive \u2014
they were keeping America\u2019s spirit alive.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The year was 1943.<\/strong>
Across America, factories roared, ration books filled kitchen drawers, and baseball diamonds grew quiet. The men who once played under summer lights were now halfway across the world. But then came a new sound \u2014 the thud of a ball in a woman\u2019s glove.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Philip K. Wrigley, owner of the Chicago Cubs, refused to let America\u2019s pastime fade away. His idea? Create a league of women players to keep baseball \u2014 and morale \u2014 alive. He thought it would be as temporary as women working in factories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In May\u2019s Long Wait<\/em> (pages 21\u201322), I wrote about the many jobs women took on during the war. But I left out one of the most exciting ones \u2014 the women who kept America\u2019s favorite game alive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beyond the factories and offices, another kind of teamwork was forming \u2014 one that took place under summer skies and stadium lights. Four teams were actually formed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 At the beginning of each game, during World War II, the players would line up in a \u201cV\u201d for victory before the Star-Spangled Banner<\/em> was sung. They also had their own Victory Song<\/em>, which appears below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Victory Song<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Co-written by LaVonne Paire-Davis and Nalda Phillips<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Batter up! Hear that call!<\/em>
The time has come for one and all to play ball.<\/em>
For we’re the members of the All-American League,<\/em>
We come from cities near and far.<\/em>
We’ve got Canadians, Irishmen, and Swedes \u2014<\/em>
We’re all for one, we’re one for all,<\/em>
We’re All-American!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Each girl stands, her head so proudly high,<\/em>
Her motto: Do or Die.<\/em>
She’s not the one to use or need an alibi.<\/em>
Our chaperones are not too soft,<\/em>
They’re not too tough,<\/em>
Our managers are on the ball.<\/em>
We’ve got a president who really knows his stuff \u2014<\/em>
We’re all for one, we’re one for all,<\/em>
We’re All-Americans!<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

On and off the field, the women were expected to live by a strict Code of Conduct<\/strong> \u2014 and even attend Charm School<\/em>! If a player broke a rule, she faced fines: five dollars for the first offense, ten for the second, and suspension for the third.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are a few of the rules that guided their behavior, courtesy of the Northern Indiana Historical Society:<\/p>\n\n\n\n