NL/AL trivia @

www.baseballyarn.com  		The Dream Game
Overview & Menu
a baseballyarn examination of a classic exhibition game
AL/NL trivia @

www.baseballyarn.com 
It was 1942.
Our nation was at war,
and President Roosevelt wanted baseball to keep going to boost civilian morale.

The country was segregated, and baseball was segregated.
Whites played in the major leagues, and blacks played in the Negro leagues.
  • Blacks did meet whites on the diamond
  • . . . at the semi-pro level, and in
  • . . . postseason barnstorming contests
  • Maybe they would meet someday in the majors. . .
  • Sportswriters with black newspapers pressured
  • . . . MLB teams to give tryouts to black ballplayers
  • By 1942, tryouts occurred on an occasional basis
  • . . . with players receiving the inevitable brush-off
    • As the 1942 season got underway major leaguers were in uniform-- and playing ball on army teams.
    An opportunity arose for fans to see the ex-stars play in exhibitions during the regular season.

    Against this background, the "Dream Game" was scheduled.
    Nobody-- fans and players alike-- expected segregation to end as a result of this game.
    And it didn't.
    Top Black Pitcher:

    Satchel Paige

    was in K.C.
  • Leave it to Dizzy Dean to set up a ballgame
  • pitting these two "best" hurlers against each other!
  • Fans wanted to see the legendary gate attractions
  • And the black vs. white aspect also appealed to fans
  • Diz slated the game for a Sunday in May in Chicago!
    • Top White Pitcher:

    Bob Feller

    was in the Navy

            Promotion           Lineups           Results           Attendance           Aftermath           Significance   

    Dream Game Brief Summary 1943 Results Start Features