World War II (1939–45) disrupted professional sports events. After the entrance of American troops into the war in 1941, following the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor, many of the finest athletes joined the military. Some teams disbanded when their players went off to war. Most continued with a limited number of players and tight budgets. Even with these wartime cutbacks, sports remained a favorite pastime for Americans. When the war ended, talented players returned, money again poured into sports organizations, and television enlarged the audiences, professional sports again became a dominant entertainment moneymaker in America.

The war did offer women more opportunities in sports. With so many male athletes fighting for the country, women athletes were encouraged to join the All-American Girls Baseball League, which was popular during the war. Women also attracted attention in golf and tennis.

One of the most important events in sports...