Changes

When in 1918 the US government reversed its draft exemption for married workers and required all men to work in essential occupations or serve in the military, professional baseball players either enlisted or joined industrial baseball leagues. Company leagues included those of Bethlehem Steel, which had recreational leagues on both coasts that by 1918 represented a major-league level of competition. Sparrows Point, Maryland, a Bethlehem Steel company town, had a Steel League team, whose results Baltimore baseball fans followed closely. At the same time, fans also followed the draft status and 1918 season of Baltimore native [[Babe Ruth]], then playing with the Boston Red Sox and considering his own options, including joining an industrial league team. In September Bethlehem Steel, fearing competition with other leagues over professional talent, disbanded the Steel League. When the war ended in November, players such as Ruth were free to re-sign with their major league teams.<ref>Peter T. Dalleo, and J. Vincent Watchorn, III, "Baltimore, the 'Babe,' and the Bethlehem Steel League, 1918," ''Maryland Historical Magazine'' 1998 93(1): 88-106,</ref>

When in 1918 the US government reversed its draft exemption for married workers and required all men to work in essential occupations or serve in the military, professional baseball players either enlisted or joined industrial baseball leagues. Company leagues included those of Bethlehem Steel, which had recreational leagues on both coasts that by 1918 represented a major-league level of competition. Sparrows Point, Maryland, a Bethlehem Steel company town, had a Steel League team, whose results Baltimore baseball fans followed closely. At the same time, fans also followed the draft status and 1918 season of Baltimore native [[Babe Ruth]], then playing with the Boston Red Sox and considering his own options, including joining an industrial league team. In September Bethlehem Steel, fearing competition with other leagues over professional talent, disbanded the Steel League. When the war ended in November, players such as Ruth were free to re-sign with their major league teams.<ref>Peter T. Dalleo, and J. Vincent Watchorn, III, "Baltimore, the 'Babe,' and the Bethlehem Steel League, 1918," ''Maryland Historical Magazine'' 1998 93(1): 88-106,</ref>

===Depression and War: 1929-1950===

===Depression and War: 1929-1950===

Argersinger (1988) describes the loss of power by traditional Democratic leaders and organizations in Baltimore under the [[New Deal]]. The old-line Democrats operated in the spirit of traditional political bosses who dispensed the patronage. They were, at best, lukewarm Roosevelt supporters because the New Deal threatened their monopoly on patronage. Blacks, other ethnic groups, labor, and other former supporters turned from their patrons to other leadership. Baltimore Mayor Howard W. Jackson's support gradually eroded until he was defeated in a gubernatorial primary election to choose an opponent for a Republican who earlier defeated conservative Governor Albert C. Richie. Conservative Senator Millard Tydings retained office because a Roosevelt move to purge him in 1938 backfired.<ref>Argersinger, Jo Ann E. ''Toward a New Deal in Baltimore: People and Government in the Great Depression'' (1988)</ref>  

Argersinger (1988) describes the loss of power by traditional Democratic leaders and organizations in Baltimore under the [[New Deal]]. The old-line Democrats operated in the spirit of traditional political bosses who dispensed the patronage. They were, at best, lukewarm Roosevelt supporters because the New Deal threatened their monopoly on patronage. Blacks, other ethnic groups, labor, and other former supporters turned from their patrons to other leadership. Baltimore Mayor Howard W. Jackson's support gradually eroded until he was defeated in a gubernatorial primary election to choose an opponent for a Republican who earlier defeated conservative Governor Albert C. Richie. Conservative Senator [[Millard Tydings]] retained office because a Roosevelt move to purge him in 1938 backfired.<ref>Argersinger, Jo Ann E. ''Toward a New Deal in Baltimore: People and Government in the Great Depression'' (1988)</ref>  

Baltimore was a major war production center in World War II. The biggest operations were Bethlehem Steel's Fairfield Yard, on the southeastern edge of the harbor, which built Liberty ships; its work force peaked at 46,700 in late 1943.  Even larger was Glenn Martin, an aircraft plant located 10 miles northeast of downtown.  By late 1943 about 150,000 to 200,000 migrant war workers had arrived. They were predominantly poor white southerners; most came from the hills of Virginia, North Carolina, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, South Carolina, and Tennessee. War mobilization brought federal pressure to unionize the work force, and by 1941 the leftist [[CIO]] had organized most of Baltimore's large industries, while the more conservative [[AFL]] also gained many new members.  By 1945, labor unions and ethnics had taken over local politics and liberal mayors enjoyed black as well as white support. The machine was led by Italian Catholic politicians such as  [[Nancy Pelosi]]'s father, Thomas D'Alesandro, Jr., who was mayor in 1947–59;  her brother, Thomas D'Alesandro III, was mayor from 1967 to 1971.<ref>Pelosi married and moved to San Francisco in the late 1960s.</ref>  On the day Pelosi's father dedicated Baltimore's monument to [[Confederate]] generals [[Stonewall Jackson]] and [[Robert E. Lee]], Nancy Pelosi joined in the celebrations together with the grandchildren of Lee and Jackson.<ref>https://dailycaller.com/2017/08/19/pelosis-dad-once-praised-the-lives-of-robert-e-lee-and-stonewall-jackson-at-statue-dedication/</ref>   

Baltimore was a major war production center in World War II. The biggest operations were Bethlehem Steel's Fairfield Yard, on the southeastern edge of the harbor, which built Liberty ships; its work force peaked at 46,700 in late 1943.  Even larger was Glenn Martin, an aircraft plant located 10 miles northeast of downtown.  By late 1943 about 150,000 to 200,000 migrant war workers had arrived. They were predominantly poor white southerners; most came from the hills of Virginia, North Carolina, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, South Carolina, and Tennessee. War mobilization brought federal pressure to unionize the work force, and by 1941 the leftist [[CIO]] had organized most of Baltimore's large industries, while the more conservative [[AFL]] also gained many new members.  By 1945, labor unions and ethnics had taken over local politics and liberal mayors enjoyed black as well as white support. The machine was led by Italian Catholic politicians such as  [[Nancy Pelosi]]'s father, Thomas D'Alesandro, Jr., who was mayor in 1947–59;  her brother, Thomas D'Alesandro III, was mayor from 1967 to 1971.<ref>Pelosi married and moved to San Francisco in the late 1960s.</ref>  On the day Pelosi's father dedicated Baltimore's monument to [[Confederate]] generals [[Stonewall Jackson]] and [[Robert E. Lee]], Nancy Pelosi joined in the celebrations together with the grandchildren of Lee and Jackson.<ref>https://dailycaller.com/2017/08/19/pelosis-dad-once-praised-the-lives-of-robert-e-lee-and-stonewall-jackson-at-statue-dedication/</ref>