to keep baseball going, too. The major leagues lost over one half of the men to the military, the new leagues were the answer. Wrigley wanted to control every aspect of the looks and the behavior of the players. The uniforms were feminine and designed after the figure skaters' outfits.
Betty: We wore a one piece dress with 3/4 length flared skirt and satin briefs. They were far from practical and we all got huge strawberries, however, we had to remain poised at all times.
The girls had to attend night school and work on charm. It was directed by the Helena Rubenstein Salon and Ruth Tiffany School. The players learned to walk, sit, put on make-up correctly, and had a handbook which asserted that, "A healthy mind and a healthy body are the true attributes of the All American Girl," Betty emphasized.
Betty played until she was 27 years old. She explained that all of the players were able to be proud of their athletic talent and service. The League's success needed patriotic spirit. While the Star Spangled Banner played, the teams would stand in two straight lines meeting at home plate forming a V for Victory. There was a personal commitment to the troops. Betty's brothers and brother in laws were in the war, and she and the other teammates visited army camps and hospitals. They wrote letters to the servicemen, also. Betty considered this her duty and was very committed to providing entertainment to men wounded and apprised soldiers of what was going on at home. The women players developed fans and the league's major teams attracted 450,313 people at 74cents per adult and 25 cents per child to watch the Daisies, Chicks, Peaches, Belles, Comets and Blue Sox. The games were exciting and baseball lived on.
Eventually, during the 50's, interest peaked. Now television was the new diversion and attendance suffered at games. Major League games were telecasted. The All American Girls Professional Baseball did not have the money or leadership to find new players or train rookies after Wrigley sold out to his advertising director, Arthur Meyerhoff. The League folded in 1954 when the competition from major league games proved to be too great.
Betty: I was sad to see baseball end. It was my passion. I was making over $125 a week, and that was a great deal of money . I returned to softball, but it isn't the same. I missed the crowds and excitement. I kept my uniform and it is on display at Cooperstown. The experience of being a pro gave me and others the confidence to strive for better lives and do what we felt we wanted to do. I had goals, and knew what I wanted.
Meanwhile, after the war ended, male jobs were encouraged to be given back to the men. Betty explained that most of her friends and according to surveys at the time, wanted to keep working. However, the government had campaigns to suggest strongly to women that if they wanted their marriages to stay healthy, they should relinquish their jobs. Let the man be the head of the household where he belongs. For Betty, she had no intentions of stopping work. The League was a unique experience for her, and she felt that she made a unique mark with the other women in American history.
In the 1970's there began a concerted effort to celebrate women's contributions. By 1980 many of the teammates wanted to gather together and put together a lifetime roster and received national attention. In 1988 there was the permanent "Women in Baseball" exhibit. A movie, A League of Our Own, followed in 1992. Betty contributed and did guest speaking engagements. She still does this today. She rarely takes money.
However, after baseball and softball were professionally over for Betty, embroidery work was becoming almost obsolete. The work was less and less and the world was changing, including styles. Betty had continued to do this work , but she realized that white collar workers were making better salaries, trade lines were going out, and she wanted a change, too.
Betty took an office job as an IBM Key Puncher. It was a very popular occupation, and Betty went to a private school to become better. In 1953, she worked for the Associated Transport for eight years. Then, she interviewed for Pfizer Pharmaceutical Company. She continued working there for the next 25 years because it was challenging and she quickly moved up from assistant supervisor to supervisor. The working conditions were excellent, and many bonuses were given to her. The offices were cleaner than the factories she worked in, but she felt that she just happened to be at the right place during the right time again. Each year she was awarded raises, and was treated with respect and equality. She states that she has never had any sexual harassment and has never been made to feel inferior in any way. Her plaques meant so much to her, too.
