THE TM 911 Franklin Street Weekly Newspaper Michigan City, IN 46360 Volume 37, Number 18 Thursday, May 13, 2021 A League of Her Own by William Halliar Betsy Jochum always bat at Playland Park follow- loved outdoor sports. ing three seasons at Bendix Born in Cincinnati on Feb. Field. Due to COVID-19, 8, 1921, and growing up with however, attendance at the a brother, she learned early ceremony is limited to en- how to swing a stick or bat sure proper pandemic safety to strike rocks or worn-out measures. leather ball, to run bases on America’s love affair with a sandlot with the best and baseball, especially the toughest boys. game’s origin, is shrouded On May 17, 1943, Jochum in some mystery, as befi ts was among 280 women who any good romance. Games showed up at Chicago’s Wrig- with balls struck by sticks ley Field for consideration were played for centuries in the new All-American in Great Britain, Ireland Girls Professional Baseball and across Europe. The League. She was one of the rules varied, but many such 60 original players chosen games included running be- that spring day. From there, tween or around bases. And, she headed to South Bend they were imported to our for a career that defi ned the shores with the waves of im- rest of her life. migrants in the early 19th Now 100, Jochum has century. played a role in a new per- New York in the early manent exhibit honoring the 1800s was a crowded, bus- AAGPBL at South Bend’s tling, dirty, but without a The History Museum, 808 doubt energetic city. Accord- W. Washington. St. And this ing to newspaper publisher month, a historical marker Thurlow Weed, “Though an will be placed near the site of industrious and busy place, the former Playland Park — its citizens found leisure for land now owned by Indiana rational and healthy recre- University-South Bend — to ation.” To feed that leisure mark where the South Bend time, baseball clubs formed Blue Sox played from 1946- among groups of young men. 1954. Museum staff learned Challenges were published of the decision from the In- between neighborhoods and diana Historical Bureau, Di- various athletic associa- vision of the Indiana State tions. Library. The ceremony will Some attribute the inven- commemorate the month Betsy Jochum, photographed in the 1947 season tion of the game to Abner the Blue Sox fi rst went to with the South Bend Blue Sox. Continued on Page 2 THE Page 2 May 13, 2021 THE 911 Franklin Street • Michigan City, IN 46360 219/879-0088 Beacher Company Directory e-mail: News/Articles - [email protected] Don and Tom Montgomery Owners email: Classifieds - [email protected] Andrew Tallackson Editor http://www.thebeacher.com/ Drew White Print Salesman PRINTE ITH Published and Printed by Janet Baines Inside Sales/Customer Service T Becky Wirebaugh Typesetter/Designer T A S A THE BEACHER BUSINESS PRINTERS Randy Kayser Pressman Dora Kayser Bindery Delivered weekly, free of charge to Birch Tree Farms, Duneland Beach, Grand Beach, Hidden Shores, Long Beach, Michiana Shores, Michiana MI and Shoreland Hills. The Beacher is Jacquie Quinlan Production also delivered to public places in Michigan City, New Buffalo, LaPorte and Sheridan Beach. John Baines, Karen Gehr, Tom Montgomery Delivery sional teams. The National Association of Professional Base A League…Continued From Page 1 Ball Players formed in 1871. It eventually was reor- ganized as the National League in 1876, becoming Doubleday, the Civil War general who fi red the fi rst the world’s oldest professional sports league. shot in defense of Fort Sumpter, in 1839 at Cooper- Thus was born professional baseball and the be- stown, N.Y. Whereever the idea originated, it soon ginning of an American love affair with the sport. took hold in the hearts of young men all through- American Professional Baseball grew in popu- out New York. By 1845, the “Knickerbocker Rules” larity. By 1943, there were teams playing in two were codifi ed and offi cial baseball clubs formed. The professional leagues, the American League being game spread across the city and countryside. founded in 1901. During the Civil War, nearly 460,000 men volun- On Sept. 1, 1939, the world changed when Ger- teered or were conscripted into service from New many invaded Poland and Europe was once again York alone. It has been said service during the war faced with war. Americans watched as the struggle was “long periods of bore- raged across far away Eu- dom punctuated by moments rope. Russia, Italy and even- of sheer terror.” To ease the tually Japan joined the fray. terrible burden of boredom, Prescient souls in Ameri- some men gambled with ca understood the United cards or dice, but offi cers States could not stand neu- thinking this would lead to tral for long. moral decline discouraged it. The Selective Training A better solution was sports, and Service Act of 1940 es- especially this new game of tablished the fi rst peacetime baseball introduced into the draft in the United States. camps by recruits from the All American industry was Knickerbocker state. affected by this draining of Baseball clubs began to manpower, and the nation be formed and challenges looked to its women to fi ll issued across camps. When the gap in production. No the war ended, baseball was less affected was the game carried to every corner of the of baseball. As the United United States. Amateur ball States was drawn ever clos- clubs were formed and games er to war, able-bodied men scheduled regularly. In De- either were drafted into the cember 1865, there were ball service or enlisted to serve clubs in Fort Leavenworth, their country. During World St. Louis, Louisville and War II, more than 500 major Chattanooga, Tenn., and nu- league players served in the merous clubs in the north- military. Many who would east United States. Betsy Jochum made South Bend her home become famous laid down Of course, wagers were after her career in baseball. their bats and gloves and place on the games played by these amateur teams, took up arms, including Hall of Famers Ted Wil- so enterprising organizers began to pay wages un- liams, Stan Musial and Joe DiMaggio. der the table to gain the services of certain play- Baseball by this time had woven itself into the ers with outstanding talent. Michigan City had its character of the American people. Those who led the share of such amateur teams in baseball’s early nation realized it was important the game continue years, teams like the Michigan City Cubs and the to keep up moral during the dark days of the war. White Caps, which were considered semi-profes- What could be done to support the continuance of THE May 13, 2021 Page 3 4%* $ 3$ %#0$"),1$"/# (#"* ( %0#!" $")+1 3"#" % $ #,"$#4%""#$" %#- 3 #$"%$ $$$#"#%$#'$ (#, 3" " % "##67%"#&(#'* %' /$$$ !! "$%$(('"#* 3 %"# "" ,"#,## # " $ %"2#%#""# # "" #.5#$%$* " !"" Betsy Jochum (right), photographed with another South Bend Blue Sox player. America’s game? Enter entrepreneur Philip Knight Wrigley, chew- ing gun magnate and owner of the Chicago Cubs. The year was 1943 and Wrigley, who loved base- ball, wanted to ensure the game would stay alive and that stadiums, at least in the Midwest, would be fi lled with fans needing the distraction of an af- ternoon in the bleachers, cheering on their favorite team. Of course, the box offi ce and concession in- take did not hurt either. ART, BOOKS, JEWELRY, CLOTHING AND SHOES THREETHREE OAKS, OAKS, MI MI OPENOPEN EVERY EVERY DAY DAY Philip Knight Wrigley. Continued on Page 4 GOODSANDHEROES.COM THE Page 4 May 13, 2021 to play professional baseball in Wrigley’s league for $50 a week. Jochum packed her bags, said goodbye A League…Continued From Page 3 to her family and headed to South Bend. The AAGPBL began in 1943 with four teams. Women were working in the nation’s factories Jochum signed on to the South Bend Blue Sox, and in farmers’ fi elds. Why shouldn’t they play pro- which was one of two teams, along with the Rock- fessional baseball as well? ford Peaches, to play in every AAGPBL season from Wrigley sent scouts all over the country, and to 1943 to 1954. The importance of the AAGPBL can- Canada and Cuba, to fi nd suitable players. Five not be overestimated, because it was the forerun- hundred were invited to try out. On May 17, 1943, ner of all women’s professional league sports in the 280 women showed up at Wrigley Field to test their United States today. skills. Sixty women were chosen to play on the fi rst “Sockum” Jochum began her career as an outfi eld- four teams of what would become the All-American er since she was able to throw a ball great distances Girls Professional Baseball League, which would for her height and weight. During a competition exist until 1954 and eventually boast 15 teams in Connecticut in 1938, she threw a ball a record fi elding more than 600 women. 276 feet. She later became the team’s pitcher as the Betsy Jochum was one of the 60 original players rules evolved from underhand to side-arm pitching. chosen that spring day in 1943. She pitched and threw right-handed. Betsy “Sockum” Jochum, as she later was called, During Jochum’s rookie season in 1943, she had was 22 in 1943, 5 feet, 7 inches tall and built to com- a .273 batting average. She also led the league with pete at 140 pounds.