In 1942 many young men who played in minor league baseball teams were being drafted to war. For fear that Major League Baseball parks would collapse, Philip K. Wrigley advised the idea to have an all girls softball league.
With the financial support of Wrigley and help from a group of Midwestern Businessmen they came up with the All-American Girls Softball League,a non-profit organization, that started in spring of 1943. During the first season of play the board of trustees changed the name to All-American Girls Baseball League (AAGBL) for a distinction between the Softball League and because the rules of play were that of Major League Baseball. Wrigley sent his scouts all over The United States and Canada to find feminine women who could play ball. Women around the world were ecstatic about the tryouts. In addition to being paid $55-150 a week, which is far more than the $40 they earned back home in the kitchen, they got to do what they loved. If the girls performed well enough at the tryouts they were selected to play on one of four teams. The teams were The Kenosha Comets and Racine Belles from Wisconsin, The Rockford Peaches from Illinois and The South Bend Blue Sox from Indiana. 
The public's first impression of the girls was crucial. The games were a form of entertainment and something for people to come home and relax to. Therefore, much thought went into not only making the uniforms, but also presenting the girls as All-American sweet hearts. Wrigley had the girls attending Charm School at night and assigned each team a chaperone to make sure they were in by curfew. Many had their doubts about the league and thought when the war was over, men would take over again. However, the women proved them wrong and eventually ended up with ten teams in the league. Even after the men came home, the girls endured grueling seasons with 6-7 games a week. This had no affect on the girls, however, since they were so passionate about the game. By the end of the second season the league was gaining enormous popularity. Photos of the girls and articles were displayed in magazines across the country. The articles often referred to the girls as "Babette Ruths" and the league as "Baseball-with a twist". At first fans would come to see the girls, but the players won them over with skilled baseball. Some argued that the women were just as good as the men. The girls received presents and numerous letters from fans saying how much they appreciated them and how they wanted their daughters to grow up to be just like them. Some fans even considered the women as part of the family and would invite them over for dinner. In 1948 the teams were at their peaks in attendance and held strong until the mid 1950's. All in all this is definately a unique aspect in baseball history that is demonstrated in the movie A League of their Own. This movie documents a time in American history when women proved themselves to be equal athletes to men. They provided our country with entertainment and gave the people a new view on women and sports. The popularity of this league contributed to the development of strong, athletic women proving themselves to our country. Without this league it is possible Women's Atheltics would have take much longer to get established. In the early season of 1944 it was apparent that major league baseball would not fall apart because of the war. Wrigley became bored witht the girl's league thinking it would be less interesting to people and would decrease in attendance at games. As a result he sold the league to Arthur Meyerhoff, his Chicago advertising executive. When Meyerhoff took charge the league's publicity and expansion was at it's highest. Meyerhoff defidentaly proved Wrigley wrong that the girls would not lose the public's interest just because the men were back from war.
With the financial support of Wrigley and help from a group of Midwestern Businessmen they came up with the All-American Girls Softball League,a non-profit organization, that started in spring of 1943. During the first season of play the board of trustees changed the name to All-American Girls Baseball League (AAGBL) for a distinction between the Softball League and because the rules of play were that of Major League Baseball. Wrigley sent his scouts all over The United States and Canada to find feminine women who could play ball. Women around the world were ecstatic about the tryouts. In addition to being paid $55-150 a week, which is far more than the $40 they earned back home in the kitchen, they got to do what they loved. If the girls performed well enough at the tryouts they were selected to play on one of four teams. The teams were The Kenosha Comets and Racine Belles from Wisconsin, The Rockford Peaches from Illinois and The South Bend Blue Sox from Indiana. 
The public's first impression of the girls was crucial. The games were a form of entertainment and something for people to come home and relax to. Therefore, much thought went into not only making the uniforms, but also presenting the girls as All-American sweet hearts. Wrigley had the girls attending Charm School at night and assigned each team a chaperone to make sure they were in by curfew. Many had their doubts about the league and thought when the war was over, men would take over again. However, the women proved them wrong and eventually ended up with ten teams in the league. Even after the men came home, the girls endured grueling seasons with 6-7 games a week. This had no affect on the girls, however, since they were so passionate about the game. By the end of the second season the league was gaining enormous popularity. Photos of the girls and articles were displayed in magazines across the country. The articles often referred to the girls as "Babette Ruths" and the league as "Baseball-with a twist". At first fans would come to see the girls, but the players won them over with skilled baseball. Some argued that the women were just as good as the men. The girls received presents and numerous letters from fans saying how much they appreciated them and how they wanted their daughters to grow up to be just like them. Some fans even considered the women as part of the family and would invite them over for dinner. In 1948 the teams were at their peaks in attendance and held strong until the mid 1950's. All in all this is definately a unique aspect in baseball history that is demonstrated in the movie A League of their Own. This movie documents a time in American history when women proved themselves to be equal athletes to men. They provided our country with entertainment and gave the people a new view on women and sports. The popularity of this league contributed to the development of strong, athletic women proving themselves to our country. Without this league it is possible Women's Atheltics would have take much longer to get established. In the early season of 1944 it was apparent that major league baseball would not fall apart because of the war. Wrigley became bored witht the girl's league thinking it would be less interesting to people and would decrease in attendance at games. As a result he sold the league to Arthur Meyerhoff, his Chicago advertising executive. When Meyerhoff took charge the league's publicity and expansion was at it's highest. Meyerhoff defidentaly proved Wrigley wrong that the girls would not lose the public's interest just because the men were back from war.