The impact of World War II on baseball had many different effects as it impacted not only baseball at the current time, but the future of baseball as well. Players with the likings of Ted Williams, Bob Feller, Joe DiMaggio, Hank Greenberg, and many more traded in the bat and ball for a pair of boots and a rifle. While the names previously listed were said to not have been put on the front lines, they still joined the forces and went to fight for this country when they could have been playing the game that they lived and loved for. Baseball did take a slight jolt when these players decided to leave the league, but what President Roosevelt did within his Green Light letter played a role greater than anything else that could have been done at
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The approval for baseball to be played by President Roosevelt and Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis proved to be a monumental decision for not only baseball, but the American peoples’ morale and outlook. Although it will not go down in history books, baseball ultimately helped America remain stable and strong through one of the country’s most difficult times. The impact of World War II on baseball during the actual wartime was somewhat surprising. The talent of the league dropped as many players left the league for duty, many minor-league systems were completely shut down, attendance skyrocketed towards the latter years of the war, and a whole new league of baseball was created. The All-American Girls Professional Baseball League was a league founded by Philip Wrigley in 1943 that was designed to keep baseball in the eyes of the public as the main faces of Major League Baseball were in duty. The women that were pushed into factories building tanks and war equipment were now being pushed onto the ball field to ensure that baseball did not crumble. While the All-American Girls Professional …show more content…
Whether it be the breaking of the color barrier, shift of teams to the west, or just the rapid improvement of the game from the World War II era, the game was improved beyond many people’s beliefs. From a historical standpoint, the breaking of the color barrier by Jackie Robinson is possibly one of baseball’s greatest feats. Breaking into the big leagues in 1947, Jackie Robinson broke down the barriers and paved the way for black athletes in not only baseball, but other sports as well. With the death of Kenesaw Mountain Landis and the pressing race relations brought on by World War II, the signing of Jackie Robinson was made possible. Prior to making it to the big leagues, Jackie played for the Kansas City Monarchs in the Negro Baseball League for a little under a year then met Branch Rickey who at the time was the president and manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers. Rickey offered Robinson a contract to play with the Montreal Royals for $600 monthly and a signing bonus of $3,500. In under a year of signing this minor-league deal, Jackie was put on to the big-league roster and made his Major-League debut on April 15 at Ebbets Field. While Robinson was in the league, not everything was smooth sailing. Robinson faced extreme racism, death threats, hate mail, physical abuse, and much more. Robinson, however, never cracked under the prejudice which takes me back to Branch
The approval for baseball to be played by President Roosevelt and Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis proved to be a monumental decision for not only baseball, but the American peoples’ morale and outlook. Although it will not go down in history books, baseball ultimately helped America remain stable and strong through one of the country’s most difficult times. The impact of World War II on baseball during the actual wartime was somewhat surprising. The talent of the league dropped as many players left the league for duty, many minor-league systems were completely shut down, attendance skyrocketed towards the latter years of the war, and a whole new league of baseball was created. The All-American Girls Professional Baseball League was a league founded by Philip Wrigley in 1943 that was designed to keep baseball in the eyes of the public as the main faces of Major League Baseball were in duty. The women that were pushed into factories building tanks and war equipment were now being pushed onto the ball field to ensure that baseball did not crumble. While the All-American Girls Professional …show more content…
Whether it be the breaking of the color barrier, shift of teams to the west, or just the rapid improvement of the game from the World War II era, the game was improved beyond many people’s beliefs. From a historical standpoint, the breaking of the color barrier by Jackie Robinson is possibly one of baseball’s greatest feats. Breaking into the big leagues in 1947, Jackie Robinson broke down the barriers and paved the way for black athletes in not only baseball, but other sports as well. With the death of Kenesaw Mountain Landis and the pressing race relations brought on by World War II, the signing of Jackie Robinson was made possible. Prior to making it to the big leagues, Jackie played for the Kansas City Monarchs in the Negro Baseball League for a little under a year then met Branch Rickey who at the time was the president and manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers. Rickey offered Robinson a contract to play with the Montreal Royals for $600 monthly and a signing bonus of $3,500. In under a year of signing this minor-league deal, Jackie was put on to the big-league roster and made his Major-League debut on April 15 at Ebbets Field. While Robinson was in the league, not everything was smooth sailing. Robinson faced extreme racism, death threats, hate mail, physical abuse, and much more. Robinson, however, never cracked under the prejudice which takes me back to Branch