America and Baseball
How USA History of the Fifties Impacted Baseball
Baseball and America (part II cont.)
While baseball fans enjoyed the exciting seasons of 1950 when the Whiz Kids captured the pennant, and 1951 when “the shot heard around the world” sent the Giants to the World Series, America went to war in Korea. A growing fear of the spread of communism sent USA troops to Korea in 1950 when North Korea, supported by Stalin and Russia, invaded South Korea. 33,688 American troops lost their lives in this undeclared war. Major League Baseball players were drafted into the armed forces, including such greats as Willie Mays, Ted Williams, Whitey Ford, Curt Simmons, and Don Newcombe. An armistice was signed that separated Korea into two countries divided by a demilitarized zone in 1952.
The communism fear led to the Cold War between the Western allies and the USSR, the Union of Soviet Socialists Republics (Russia). By demonstrating that it had created a hydrogen bomb Russia announced its parity with the United States. The possibility of a nuclear war forced air raid drills in public schools and government facilities. A fear of communism spread across the country like wildfire. Senator Joseph McCarthy headed up a Senate Committee to investigate communism's infiltration into government and society. People lost their jobs if there was any suspicion of communist sympathies. Hollywood was considered a breeding ground for communism, which cost many their careers. This went on for three years before being exposed as an unfounded intrusion into private lives. McCarthy was censured in 1954 and driven out of office. Baseball felt its impact in the late fifties, when Castro took control of Cuba, and the road for Cuban ballplayers to the Major Leagues was blocked.
In 1952 America turned to a World War II hero to lead the country. “I Like Ike” buttons were being worn by Republicans in 1952 when General Dwight Eisenhower was elected President. The World War II hero ran as a conservative Republican and handily defeated Democratic Illinois Senator Adlai Stevenson. Richard Nixon was Ike’s choice for Vice President. Ike’s two-term presidency was devoid of military conflicts. However, the Cold War continued, and the civil rights movement gained momentum. In 1954 the United States Supreme Court ruled against segregation in the Brown versus the Board of Education case. The decision forced an end to laws permitting segregation, but the reaction led to massive demonstrations and violence. In 1955, Rosa Parks refused to give up her bus seat in Montgomery, Alabama, and was forcibly removed by police. This set off a boycott by African Americans of the segregated seating bus system in Montgomery, AL. The effective boycott threatened the city’s capacity to continue its transit system. Ultimately the city had to back down and integrate the city buses. Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. emerged as a civil rights leader. He was elected as the President of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and began his crusade for the civil rights of African Americans. His speaking eloquence brought attention to the injustice of segregation and Southern Jim Crow laws. In 1954, the United States Supreme Court ruled that segregation was unconstitutional in the Brown versus the Board of Education Case. In 1957, President Eisenhower had to call in United States National Guardsman to protect black students as they entered Little Rock Central High School to attend classes.
Baseball played an important role in this movement.
“ Jackie Robinson made it possible for me in the first place. Without him I would never been able to do what I did. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Black ballplayers stole the spotlight from the whites. Over a ten-year span starting in 1949, Willie Mays, Hank Aaron , Jackie Robinson, Ernie Banks (2 times), Roy Campanella ( 3 times), and pitcher Don Newcombe of the Dodgers won Most Valuable Player awards in the National League.
The success of baseball’s integration was the demise of the Negro Leagues due to losing their star players. The African American population joined the rest of America in following Major League baseball. However, the interest in baseball continued to grow in Latin American countries. Until Castro took control, Cuba was the number one recruitment base for baseball players and was also the favorite spot for baseball during the winter months for MLB players.
During the fifties, labor unions were very strong, and major strikes threatened the economy. Although President Truman had signed the Taft-Hartley Act in 1948, which diluted some of the powers of the unions, it had little impact. Jimmy Hoffa became well known as President of the Teamsters Union which overlooked the working conditions of the trucking industry. The Teamsters along with the AFL-CIO, a conglomeration of many unions, grew to over 20 million members and became a major political force.
The labor problems of the fifties flowed over into baseball. There was a congressional investigation into major league baseball’s monopoly status and the legality of its reserve clause. The owners escaped any legal action, but it became apparent that change was coming. The Major League Players Association was formed in 1953 to protect its players and ensure its pension plan. It would grow into a powerful union in the next decade. Players were paid on average $10,000 - $25,000 with the exception of five elite stars. Mickey Mantle, Ted Williams, Stan Musial, Joe Dimaggio and Willie Mays had contracts for $100,000.
Technology was moving fast. Televisions became a key factor in the growth of baseball. In 1950, only 9 percent of USA households owned TVs. By 1959, it was 85.9 percent.
Next Week: Part III Around the Major Leagues, 1950s – Who were the best teams ? What players stood out?