A great question Jeff! Black men were subject to conscription under the Selective Service Act of 1917, and some 2.2 million men were registered under the law, almost 10% of the total headcount. The Army had a few combat units for Black soldiers, but the majority were used for more "labor"-like jobs, including building infrastructure and logistics, and always in segregated units.
My limited research tells me that prior to World War I, some of the first all-Black traveling baseball teams were forming and playing, and it is entirely possible that some players from those clubs were drafted (most were probably registered), but I have no examples to cite. I did see that due to the manpower needs in the industrial north, many Black Americans living in the south moved northward for jobs, jobs which left them with more money to spend on amusements like baseball. With the war over and the audience growing, the Negro National League was officially established in 1920.
“Unless there is some change in the situation which now seems impossible, there is no reason known to us why the great national game should not be continued next year as usual. The wholesome effect of a clean and honest game like baseball is very much, and its discontinuance would be a real misfortune.” Thank you General Peyton March for the good news. But I don’t think he ever was clobbered by a seat cushion! I never knew a lot about WWI so, Paul, this post was very informative. I also had a chuckle about Connie Mack’s eyebrows 😂. Handsome guy.
In truth, I didn't know much either, particularly about the sociopolitical context of that time. Crowder was the story's featured "character," of course, but the more I read about Peyton March the more I wanted to do on him. After he retired from the Army he continued as a fixture at Senators/Nationals home games. March saw baseball as the next best thing to military strategy and he would sit up there and field-manage the games in his head. It seems like baseball was the general's equivalent of nicotine gum when he had to give up real war. He also married a woman more than thirty years younger than he was. In that case, I think it was the beard.
A great read, Paul.
I don’t think blacks were drafted at that time so I’m assuming this had no impact on the Negro League?
Another interesting read. Thank you Paul.
A great question Jeff! Black men were subject to conscription under the Selective Service Act of 1917, and some 2.2 million men were registered under the law, almost 10% of the total headcount. The Army had a few combat units for Black soldiers, but the majority were used for more "labor"-like jobs, including building infrastructure and logistics, and always in segregated units.
My limited research tells me that prior to World War I, some of the first all-Black traveling baseball teams were forming and playing, and it is entirely possible that some players from those clubs were drafted (most were probably registered), but I have no examples to cite. I did see that due to the manpower needs in the industrial north, many Black Americans living in the south moved northward for jobs, jobs which left them with more money to spend on amusements like baseball. With the war over and the audience growing, the Negro National League was officially established in 1920.
Whew! Thanks Paul. My Monday is complete. I can go back to bed until next Monday.
That's probably for the best!
“Unless there is some change in the situation which now seems impossible, there is no reason known to us why the great national game should not be continued next year as usual. The wholesome effect of a clean and honest game like baseball is very much, and its discontinuance would be a real misfortune.” Thank you General Peyton March for the good news. But I don’t think he ever was clobbered by a seat cushion! I never knew a lot about WWI so, Paul, this post was very informative. I also had a chuckle about Connie Mack’s eyebrows 😂. Handsome guy.
In truth, I didn't know much either, particularly about the sociopolitical context of that time. Crowder was the story's featured "character," of course, but the more I read about Peyton March the more I wanted to do on him. After he retired from the Army he continued as a fixture at Senators/Nationals home games. March saw baseball as the next best thing to military strategy and he would sit up there and field-manage the games in his head. It seems like baseball was the general's equivalent of nicotine gum when he had to give up real war. He also married a woman more than thirty years younger than he was. In that case, I think it was the beard.
I was referring to Connie Mack as handsome but Peyton March has a quality as well. Meg
I tried to copy and paste a photo of March but was unsuccessful.
I was referring to Connie Mack as handsome but Peyton March has a quality as well. Meg