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Patriots and Dodgers: World War I and Sports |
1. World War I Affected Sports. After the United States entered World War I, the War Department mandated that able-bodied, draft-age men either report for military service or find employment in an occupation essential to the war effort. The "work or fight" order depleted the ranks of professional and amateur athletics since even major sports were not considered essential industries. Consequently, collegiate, amateur, semi-professional, or professional, sporting events suffered from a lack of capable athletes for the duration of the war. The government also discouraged events such as auto races to conserve gasoline. The Secretary of War even considered canceling the 1918 World Series.
2. Sports Benefited the War Effort. As professional, collegiate, and amateur sports came under the scrutiny of the War Department, government officials recognized that sporting events could be used to support the war effort. Professional and amateur athletes and teams staged sporting events with the proceeds donated to organizations such as the Red Cross. Across the country, Y.M.C.A.s raised money to purchase sporting events for servicemen. Increasingly, the government also recognized that sports boosted the morale of servicemen. During the war, local teams often scheduled games with military teams stationed at nearby camps.
3. Patriots. As a wave of patriotism swept the nation in 1917, professional athletes from all venues enlisted in the armed services or lent their names to fundraising and volunteer efforts. By July of 1917, one-half of Milwaukee's professional boxers enlisted for service. By the fall, twenty-eight members of the University of California football team had joined the army. Local papers, such as The Lake County Times, paid special notice to the intentions of famous athletes, including Ty Cobb. Professionals who did not enlist, such as Chicago golfer Chick Evans played exhibitions to raise money for the armed services or entertain military personnel. Military recruiters took advantage of the opportunities offered at sporting events. They attended professional and semi-professional sporting events in search of potential recruits.
4. Dodgers. Few athletes openly opposed the war even when the war jeopardized their careers or the success of their teams. The few athletes and teams who resisted became targets for criticism by politicians and the general public. Local newspapers ridiculed athletes considered unpatriotic. Famous athletes were attacked nationally. The governor of New York identified boxer Les Darcy as a slacker. Subsequently, four states barred Darcy from competing within their borders. A few professional teams refused to participate in military training. The Brooklyn Dodgers were labeled pacifist champions when they refused to allow army drills in their training program. However, most teams and coaches did not tolerate slackers. One Yale coach refused to allow any athlete to participate unless he had registered with the military.