At the outbreak of World War II in 1939, almost all Americans agreed that the US should stay neutral and not get involved in the war. However, after rising tensions between Japan and the United States, culminating in the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor, America was prepared to defend itself. The first stage in increasing the nation’s fighting force was the Selective Training and Service Act signed by President Roosevelt on September 16, 1940. The act issued that every American male between the ages of 21 and 36 was required to register for 12 months of military service.

The war and this act affected almost every sport, although not each sport was affected in the same way.  Many manufacturers of sporting goods equipment contributed to the war effort by dedicating their time and materials to making military equipment. For example,  Hillerich & Bradsby, makers of the famous Louisville Slugger baseball bats, turned their wood-turning skills to the production of stocks for the M1 carbine rifle. Much of the rubber manufactured in America went to the war, so sporting materials were made differently, which sometimes affected the style of play.  There was also a wood shortage during WWII, so bowling pins and baseball bats were a rarity during this period.  Basketball was one of the sports that remained unchanged because player’s height made them ineligible for the military.

Another sport that wasn’t completely hurt by the war was baseball. In response to numerous sports being canceled during the war, Upper School History and Theory of Knowledge Teacher Javier Ergueta said, “ I think because, in our society, sports are assumed to depend on our aggressive impulses, to fuel achievement on the playing field, and to channel these impulses harmlessly in peacetime. Psychologists call this “sublimation” of the aggressive impulses.  When there was an actual war going on, sublimation was neither desirable (all aggression should be directed against the enemy) or necessary.”

Baseball was one of the most popular sports during the time period, so President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Green Light Letter that signaled baseball to keep going.

Although baseball continued to be played throughout the war, some professional baseball players were still required to fight. For example, in 1941, Major League Baseball had to say goodbye to the first two players to enter military service: Hugh Mulcahy and Hank Greenberg.

Mulcahy, who was a veteran with the Philadelphia Phillies, was drafted on March 8, 1941, and reported to Camp Devens, Massachusetts to get trained for military service. Detroit Slugger Hank Greenberg, a celebrated star of the time and future Hall of Famer, received his draft call on May 7, 1941. Greenberg gave up his $55,000 yearly salary for a $21 per month Army pay and reported to Fort Custer, Michigan. He told The Sporting News, “If there’s any last message to be given to the public, let it be that I’m going to be a good soldier.”

In response to baseball players being drafted to fight in the war, Chris Wallace ‘17 said, “I think it was definitely the right thing for professional sports players like baseball players to be drafted into the war because they have an advantage of already being very in shape and they shouldn’t be treated any differently than any other man who isn’t involved in a professional sport.” Many Americans had the same opinion towards professional sports players being involved in WWII and they were very grateful towards the professional athletes that chose to do so.

Soccer was popular in the 1940s, but not as popular as baseball, or any of the other sports. The FIFA World Cup is held every 4 years, but 2 of the world cups, in 1942 and 1946, were both cancelled due to World War II and its aftermath.

Remy Davis-Tinnell ‘17 shared. “I have learned a lot about World War II and am really familiar with its effects on the world but I was never aware of how big of an impact it had on sports, I think it shows just how much impact wars really have on the world.”

Boxing was another popular sport during World War II.  From 1941 – 1946, 4,000 professional boxers joined the military to go overseas and fight the war. All in all, more than 500 athletes were drafted into World War II and sports manufacturers changed their products from being for sports to being for war, showing just how underrated the effect of WWII was on the US and its sports.