A quick escape: The popularity of baseball during the Second World War

 

John Eilermann. In the US, the Second World War greatly affected the lives of the people. As many of the able, young men went off to war, the absence of loved ones caused loneliness and anxiety to those who remained home. While baseball was already famous before the war, it even gained more popular during the wartime years. Even if some of the sport's biggest stars like Joe DiMaggio and Yogi Berra had to serve during this time, people still found ways to enjoy the sport. 

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The endorsement of President Roosevelt to continue the sport sealed its popularity. Though there were less players, the stadiums were still filled with spectators. Major League Baseball helped people forget that the war existed even for a short time. John Eilermann.

Aside from the Major League, the minor league also suffered a significant loss of members. University teams also experienced the same, with their up-and-coming players being drafted to defend their country. During this time, however, baseball welcomed female athletes. The All-American Girls Professional Ball League became popular with 14 teams playing in the Midwest. Despite its start as a softball league, multiple name changes, and rule modifications, the league became popular among spectators recording almost 900,000 audiences in their biggest game. However, as the men's leagues got their players back and with poor promotions of the games, the AAGPBL ended in 1955. John Eilermann. 

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During the wartime years, the rise of various leagues and the popularity of baseball games even among the young have proven the sport's status as America's favorite pastime. In the time of rationing, warfare, economic turmoil, and other uncertainties, people turned to the sport for a good time. John Eilermann.

All the good reasons to read every day

 

With the world in shambles, picking up a book and reading it for sheer pleasure seems counterintuitive. Over the past few years, reading books has been replaced with other hobbies and activities that offer less opportunities for individuals to learn. But reading offers a ton of benefits one should never miss out on. John Eilermann St. Louis. 

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Reading develops the brain. The activity requires the involvement of a complex network of signals and circuits in the brain. While reading offers mental stimulation, getting better at the activity requires exercise and discipline. Daily reading reduces stress. Reading takes one to places they’ve never been, offering a sweet escape from the stressful realities of life. John Eilermann St. Louis.

Each individual has their own vocabulary. The only way to enrich it is by reading every day and giving the brain the exercise it needs. When something isn’t made richer, it will become poorer, something the “Matthew Effect” suggests. Be sure to read daily for a rich vocabulary. Depression symptoms can be alleviated through reading regularly. People who suffer from depression often believe they have nothing in common with other individuals and have nobody to turn to. Reading can become their way to escape their own world and feel a sense of belongingness with the characters. John Eilermann St. Louis. 

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Individuals who read daily have an appreciation for knowledge and are intrigued by topics they know nothing about. Instead of leaving topics untouched, readers dive deep, giving themselves the chance to keep on learning. A person who is well-read maintains an appreciation and respect for education, qualities that are often overlooked these days. John Eilermann St. Louis.