By the 1940s America and baseball were slowly recovering from the Great Depression that stretched over the American people for most of the 1930s.  In the 1940s America and baseball had much optimism coming into the new decade.  Things were looking up for America and it’s game.  The people that did not attend games in the 1930’s ended finding their way back to the seats to watch the game that they loved, Baseball. 

However, this did not last long, because on December 7, 1941 America endured a surprise air attack at Pearl Harbor by the Japanese.  This attack forced America to go into immediate war with Japan.  War time meant a draft was coming for America and it’s men, this draft also meant that some of baseballs’ players had to serve as well. 

Baseball lost more than 500 of its’ players to the war.  Baseball did lose some of its’ greats during this time as well.  Baseball lost the likes of Joe DiMaggio, Ted Williams and Stan Musial who are now all in baseball’s Hall of Fame.  Joe DiMaggio enlisted into the Air Force on February 17, 1943 two years before the war ended in “45.”  DiMaggio was stationed mainly in California, New Jersey and in Hawaii during his time.  On the other hand, Ted Williams got drafted into the military in 1942.  However, Williams received deferment because he was the only one who took care of his sick mother, but later that same year Williams enlisted into the Navy Reserve and later that year he would go into active duty.  Finally, Stan Musial was the latest of the three great men to serve.  Musial was drafted into the military in 1945 and served fourteen months.  As you can see, the 1940’s was a very hard and shocking time for baseball and America.

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