Pitching Patriotism: Baseball in American World War II Propaganda Posters

Since the end of the nineteenth century Americans have classed themselves as a sports-minded people. Baseball, in particular, was very much “on the brain” and considered as the embodiment of American national spirit, characteristics, systems, and beliefs. It was widely regarded as “our National Game,” and appropriated special significance during World War II. By the time of US entry into the conflict in 1941 baseball jargon had become common parlance within the United States and both the language, imagery and essence of the sport were employed to encourage home front Americans. It was used in campaigns to increase production, to combat absenteeism and to encourage healthy eating, as well as promoting physical fitness generally. Many claims were made for baseball: it promoted Allied goodwill, it helped make “Good Neighbors,” it raised funds for war relief charities, and it persuaded the public to buy war bonds. Not surprisingly, it was also said to be a favorite pastime of Allied Supreme Commander General Dwight D. Eisenhower. This paper will focus on the medium of posters as through easy, wide dissemination posters had the ability to attract, inform, inspire, persuade, garner support, urge action, and boost morale. These pictorial representations also act as testimonials of home front wartime psychology and provide evidence of the connections between sport and war in the American mind.