GEORGIA: Sorry, Jen! Just tryin’ out

my fastball.

JENNIE: Must be Frankie’s mitt. It

gives you special powers.

GEORGIA: Those special powers

won’t protect me if Frankie catches

me using it.

FLORENCE: How did Frankie get Joe

DiMaggio to sign it?

HISTORIAN 1: Joe DiMaggio

was the most famous

SCHOLASTIC.COM/SCOPE • MARCH 21, 2011 11

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Readers Theater Play

A Mix of Fact and Fiction Georgia Baskin, the main character of this story, is fictional, while the setting and major events are based on true events. Think about why the author uses a fictional character to tell this story about a period of history.

CHECK IT OUTAS YOU READ, LOOK FOR:

* NARRATOR 1 (N1) * NARRATOR 2 (N2) * NARRATOR 3 (N3) * GEORGIA BASKIN: a 14-year-old girl who loves baseballFLORENCE: Georgia’s best friendJENNIE: Georgia’s other best friendFRANKIE: Georgia’s old brother

MR. BASKIN: Georgia’s dad MRS. BASKIN: Georgia’s momPHILIP WRIGLEY: president of the William Wrigley Jr. Chewing Gum Company and owner of the Chicago Cubs baseball teamMR. MEYERHOFF: a colleague of Mr. Wrigley’sMR. LARKIN: talent scout

MR. McDONALD: talent scoutSOPHIE KURYS: a player on the Racine BellesHISTORIAN 1HISTORIAN 2 ANNOUNCER 1ANNOUNCER 2

* Large speaking role

CHARACTERS

SCENE 1

SEPTEMBER 1941, A SMALL TOWN IN UPSTATE NEW YORKN1: Georgia, Florence, and Jennie

are playing catch in Georgia’s yard.

FLORENCE: Georgia Baskin is on the

mound! She winds up, and here’s

the pitch!

N2: Georgia pitches the ball to

Jennie.

JENNIE (catching the ball): Youch!

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while the setting and major events while the setting and major events are based on true events. Think are based on true events. Think about why the author uses a about why the author uses a fictional character to tell this story fictional character to tell this story about a period of history.about a period of history.

When

From 1943 to 1954, women played baseball in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL). The league grew to include 10 teams and had nearly 1 million fans. Sophie Kurys (aka “Flint Flash”), pictured here, stole 1,114 bases during her career as a player on the Racine Belles.

10 SCHOLASTIC SCOPE • MARCH 21, 2011

HISTORICAL FICTION

a made-up story about

real historical events

AS MEN WENT OFF TO FIGHT IN WORLD WAR II, WOMEN STEPPED UP

TO THE PLATE

WhenWhenWhenGirls RuledGirls RuledRuled

Baseball

12 SCHOLASTIC SCOPE • MARCH 21, 2011 SCHOLASTIC.COM/SCOPE • MARCH 21, 2011 13

baseball player in America during

the 1940s.

GEORGIA: Dad was visiting his

brother in New York City. He went

to Yankee Stadium and waited in

the rain for Joe to appear.

JENNIE: Frankie is so lucky!

GEORGIA: Dad should have given

the mitt to me. I’m the one who

loves baseball.

HISTORIAN 2: In the 1940s, women

did not have the same opportunities

as men. Women could not play on

professional sports teams, and it was

very difficult for female athletes like

Georgia to be taken seriously.

FLORENCE: Here comes Frankie.

JENNIE: Uh-oh. Let’s scoot, Flo!

N3: Georgia’s friends rush away as

Frankie charges into the yard.

FRANKIE: What did I tell you about

taking my mitt?!

N1: Georgia throws the baseball in

the air so high it seems to disappear

into the clouds. She lines up the mitt

to catch it, but Frankie yanks the

mitt off her hand.

N2: The ball falls to the ground.

FRANKIE: Real girls don’t play in

the dirt.

SCENE 2

THAT NIGHT AT THE BASKINS’ HOUSEN3: As the Baskins sit down to

think of Frankie.

GEORGIA: I don’t have the mitt

anymore. I sent it to Frankie.

I just hope he gets it.

FLORENCE: Frankie won’t have time

to play baseball on a battleship in

the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

GEORGIA: That mitt will bring

him luck.

JENNIE: That’s big of you, Georgia.

N3: Florence and Jennie leave.

Georgia is collecting her gear when

two men walk up to her.

MR. LARKIN: Georgia Baskin, right?

GEORGIA: Yes.

MR. McDONALD: You’ve got quite

an arm.

GEORGIA: Thanks.

MR. LARKIN: I’m Bill Larkin and this

here’s Joe McDonald. We’re talent

scouts for a new ball league—a girls’

league, 100 percent professional.

MR. McDONALD: It’s going to be run

by Mr. Philip Wrigley himself.

MR. LARKIN (handing Georgia a piece

of paper): This paper explains all the

details. Tryouts are in Medford this

weekend, and we would like you to

come. If we like you, we’ll send you

to a final tryout in Chicago.

MR. McDONALD: Think about it.

GEORGIA (elated): I certainly will!

SCENE 5

THE BASKINS’ HOUSE AT DINNERTIMEMRS. BASKIN: I’m sending another

package to Frankie tomorrow. Is

there anything you two want to add?

MR. BASKIN: I picked up a football

magazine for him.

GEORGIA: I want to write a letter to

him about the new baseball league.

MR. BASKIN: A new league?

N1: Georgia takes the paper from

her pocket and smoothes it out.

Mrs. Baskin picks it up.

MRS. BASKIN: A girls’ league!

Isn’t that something! Girls

MR. WRIGLEY: Oh, we’ll

make sure they behave like

ladies. We’ll dress them up

in fetching uniforms. Send them

to charm school if need be.

MR. MEYERHOFF: Brilliant. They’ll

look like ladies—but they’ll play

ball like gentlemen.

MR. WRIGLEY: Mark my words,

Americans will love this.

SCENE 4

A FEW WEEKS LATER, AT A HIGH SCHOOL PLAYING FIELDJENNIE: Georgia, you are a star! Did

you hear your mother screaming for

you in the stands?

GEORGIA: It’s nice to see her smiling.

She’s so worried about Frankie that

she rarely smiles anymore.

N2: Like millions of young men,

Frankie enlisted in the military. He is

fighting overseas.

FLORENCE: At least you have his Joe

DiMaggio mitt. It sure is bringing

you luck!

JENNIE: Flo! What a thing to say.

Georgia doesn’t care about the mitt.

FLORENCE: I meant as a way to

dinner, Frankie complains about

Georgia.

FRANKIE: I’ve told her a million

times not to use my mitt!

MR. BASKIN: Georgia, I’ve told you

that you should be helping your

mother after school.

MRS. BASKIN: Georgia had finished

her chores.

FRANKIE: Take it again and I’ll . . .

MRS. BASKIN: Enough! Don’t we

have more important worries than

some baseball mitt?

N1: The Baskins finish their dinner

in silence. Afterward, Georgia helps

her mother with the dishes.

GEORGIA: I’m sorry.

MRS. BASKIN: They’re not really so

upset with you, dear. They’re just

tense. The news isn’t good over in

Europe.

HISTORIAN 1: World War II had

erupted. Germany had invaded

and conquered much of Europe.

HISTORIAN 2: Any day, America

would go to war with Germany.

GEORGIA (quietly): Will Frankie

have to fight?

MRS. BASKIN: Yes, I believe he will.

SCENE 3

JANUARY 1943, THE OFFICE OF PHILIP WRIGLEY IN CHICAGO, ILLINOISMR. WRIGLEY: Gentlemen, let’s face

the facts. Our country is at war. Our

best men are on the battlefields, not

on the baseball diamonds. All of the

biggest stars have enlisted: Joe

DiMaggio, Hank Greenberg, Ted

Williams . . .

HISTORIAN 1: By 1943, America was

fighting Germany and Japan. More

than 10 million American men were

in the armed forces, including half of

all major-league baseball players.

MR. MEYERHOFF: Sir, President

Roosevelt himself told us baseball is

important for Americans, especially

now. Times are tough, and we need

something to cheer about.

MR. WRIGLEY: Exactly my thinking.

That’s why I want to start a new

league. A girls’ league. We’ll find the

best girl players in the country, make

up a few teams, and let ’em play ball.

MR. MEYERHOFF: You really think

Americans want to see their girls

chewing tobacco and cursing at

umpires?

think of Frankie.

in fetching uniforms. Send them

1. World War II was a frightening time. Each week, thousands of young men left their homes to fight overseas. In 1939, the U.S. Army had 190,000 men. By 1945, it had 10.4 million. 2. Women filled jobs in offices and factories. They built planes, tanks, and supplies that enabled the U.S. and its allies to win the war. After the war, women were expected to give their jobs to the men returning home.

3. From 1936 until his retirement in 1951, New York Yankee Joe DiMaggio was one of America’s most beloved ball players. He joined the Army during World War II.

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SCHOLASTIC.COM/SCOPE • MARCH 21, 2011 1514 SCHOLASTIC SCOPE • MARCH 21, 2011

playing like professionals!

GEORGIA: Two scouts from the league

came to my game today. They said

I had talent and I should try out.

MR. BASKIN (scoffing): Nobody wants

to watch girls try to play baseball.

MRS. BASKIN: They certainly line

up to see Georgia pitch at the high

school games. She’s amazing.

MR. BASKIN: Georgia is 16 years old.

She’s not going to traipse around the

Midwest in some kind of carnival!

GEORGIA: Excuse me. I, uh, I have

a terrible headache.

N2: Georgia gets up and goes to

her room dejectedly.

MR. BASKIN: Girls playing baseball.

If only Frank could hear this. He’d

have a good laugh!

MRS. BASKIN: Women are working

in factories. Women are building

airplanes and ships and guns.

Nobody says that’s nonsense.

MR. BASKIN: That’s different. Those

women are helping us win the war.

MRS. BASKIN: These are dark times.

Every day, the newspapers tell us

just how precarious things are. If our

daughter has a chance to live her

dream, I want her to take it.

MR. BASKIN: But she’s so young.

MRS. BASKIN: So is Frank. And he’s

at war.

MR. BASKIN: If you want to let our

girl go, I won’t stop her.

SCENE 6

MAY 1943, WRIGLEY FIELD, CHICAGO, ILLINOISN3: Georgia aces her tryout in

Medford—she’s a complete natural.

She is invited to Chicago for the final

selection.

N1: In Chicago, Georgia joins more

than 250 girls trying out for just 60

spots among the league’s four teams.

N2: After fielding trials, Georgia sits

on a bench next to another girl.

GEORGIA: Hi, I’m Georgia Baskin.

SOPHIE: I’m Sophie Kurys. Have you

been watching some of these girls?

A few have been to the Olympics.

GEORGIA: From what I saw, you’re

one of the best.

SOPHIE: Thanks. I’ve never wanted

anything more in my entire life.

GEORGIA: Me neither.

N3: Finally, after three grueling days

of tryouts, final selections are made.

N1: Georgia calls home with

some news.

GEORGIA: Mom! I made it! I’m on the

Racine Belles! I’m going to be a

professional baseball player!

MRS. BASKIN: Oh, Georgia . . .

GEORGIA: What’s the matter?

MRS. BASKIN: We got a telegram.

Frank has been injured. There was an

explosion on his ship. Four boys were

killed. He is in a hospital in Hawaii.

They don’t know if he’ll . . .

GEORGIA: I’m coming home.

MRS. BASKIN: No, you won’t. You will

take this opportunity and make the

most of it. Do you understand?

GEORGIA: Yes, Mom. Yes, I think I do.

SCENE 7

THREE MONTHS LATER, AT A PLAYING FIELD IN RACINE, WISCONSINANNOUNCER 1: That’s it, folks—

another electrifying game between

our own Racine Belles and the

Looking at Historical FictionLooking at Historical FictionLooking at Historical FictionLooking at Historical FictionLooking at Historical FictionLooking at Historical FictionWhy do you think the author chose to use Why do you think the author chose to use Why do you think the author chose to use Why do you think the author chose to use Why do you think the author chose to use Why do you think the author chose to use a fictional character to tell the story of the a fictional character to tell the story of the a fictional character to tell the story of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball All-American Girls Professional Baseball All-American Girls Professional Baseball League? In what ways might using a real League? In what ways might using a real League? In what ways might using a real person as the main character have limited person as the main character have limited person as the main character have limited the author’s options? Write a paragraph the author’s options? Write a paragraph the author’s options? Write a paragraph answering these questions, and send it to answering these questions, and send it to answering these questions, and send it to BASEBALL CONTESTBASEBALL CONTESTBASEBALL CONTEST by April 15, 2011. Ten winners will by April 15, 2011. Ten winners will by April 15, 2011. Ten winners will BASEBALL CONTEST by April 15, 2011. Ten winners will BASEBALL CONTESTBASEBALL CONTESTBASEBALL CONTEST by April 15, 2011. Ten winners will BASEBALL CONTEST by April 15, 2011. Ten winners will BASEBALL CONTEST by April 15, 2011. Ten winners will BASEBALL CONTESTBASEBALL CONTESTBASEBALL CONTEST by April 15, 2011. Ten winners will BASEBALL CONTEST

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ferocious Rockford Peaches!

ANNOUNCER 2: We had some

big plays. Sophie Kurys stole

three bases. And we had solid

relief pitching by youngster

Georgia Baskin.

ANNOUNCER 1: Let’s have a big

cheer for the teams.

ANNOUNCER 2: And God bless

America and our troops!

N2: The crowd cheers. Mr. Wrigley

was right: Americans love women’s

baseball.

N3: After the game, Georgia and

her teammates change in the

locker room.

SOPHIE: I’ve never had so much fun!

GEORGIA: When you stole home, my

heart jumped out of my chest!

SOPHIE: They almost nabbed me!

N1: When Georgia leaves the locker

1. Female baseball players had to wear skirts and makeup. They also had to have long hair. But the feminine-looking players were tough and highly skilled. The Racine Belles, above, were one of the league’s original four teams.

2. Philip Wrigley created the women’s league. Many doubted that baseball fans would want to watch women play. However, the league was a huge success from the start. 3. The league had many superstars, including Dottie Collins, an ace pitcher on the Minneapolis Millerettes.

Players like Isabel Álvarez (RIGHT) were talented and competitive. The games thrilled baseball fans during World War II and in the decade after.

SOPHIE: anything more in my entire life.

GEORGIA:N3:of tryouts, final selections are made.

N1:some news.

GEORGIA:Racine Belles! I’m going to be a

professional baseball player!

MRS. BASKIN:GEORGIA:MRS. BASKIN:Frank has been injured. There was an

explosion on his ship. Four boys were

killed. He is in a hospital in Hawaii.

They don’t know if he’ll . . .

GEORGIA:MRS. BASKIN:take this opportunity and make the

most of it. Do you understand?

GEORGIA:

THREE MONTHS LATER, AT A PLAYING FIELD IN RACINE, WISCONSINANNOUNCER 1:another electrifying game between

our own Racine Belles and the

So is Frank. And he’s

Medford—she’s a complete natural.

She is invited to Chicago for the final

In Chicago, Georgia joins more

spots among the league’s four teams.

After fielding trials, Georgia sits

I’m Sophie Kurys. Have you

been watching some of these girls?

From what I saw, you’re

She is invited to Chicago for the final

spots among the league’s four teams.

room, she is shocked to find her

parents waiting outside.

GEORGIA: Mom? Dad? Oh, no! Has

something happened to Frankie?

MRS. BASKIN: No, no, he’s doing

fine. They’ve transferred him to

San Francisco.

MR. BASKIN: You were wonderful

out there, Georgia.

N2: Mr. Baskin reaches into his bag.

MR. BASKIN: Frank sent something

home for you. He asked me to

deliver it myself.

GEORGIA: The DiMaggio mitt!

I knew it would bring him luck.

MRS. BASKIN: Look at it, Georgia.

Do you notice anything different

about it?

N3: Georgia studies the mitt intently.

Then her face lights up.

MR. BASKIN: Mr. DiMaggio is in the

Army too. Turns out he is stationed

in San Francisco. He paid a visit to

Frank’s hospital, and Frank got him

to sign the mitt—again. For you.

GEORGIA (reading): “To Georgia

Baskin, a fellow pro. Keep playing

in the dirt. Joe DiMaggio.” •

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