Free Mickey & Me by Dan Gutman Page A

thought we were here to win ball games.”
    â€œYou are,” Tommy agreed. “But let me set you straight. You are entertainers first and ballplayerssecond. Don’t forget that.”
    â€œWell, as long as we have our priorities straight,” Tiby snorted.
    â€œJust in case some of you didn’t read our league’s rules of conduct, Mr. Wrigley requested that I post them for all to see.” Tommy pulled a sheet of paper out of his briefcase and tacked it up on the bulletin board.
    Â 
    RULES OF CONDUCT
    1. ALWAYS appear in feminine attire. AT NO TIME MAY A PLAYER APPEAR IN THE STANDS IN HER UNIFORM OR WEAR SLACKS OR SHORTS IN PUBLIC.
    2. Boyish bobs are not permissible, and your hair should be well groomed at all times with longer hair preferable to short haircuts. Lipstick should always be worn.
    3. Smoking or drinking is not permissible in public places. Obscene language will not be allowed at any time.
    4. All public social engagements must be approved.
    5. All living quarters and eating facilities must be approved. No player shall change her residence without permission.
    6. All players must be in their rooms two hours after the finish of each game.
    7. Baseball uniform skirts shall not be shorter than six inches above the kneecap.
    8. The members of different teams must not socialize at any time during the season.
    9. Players are not allowed to drive their cars past the city limits without the special permission of their manager.
    FINES OF FIVE DOLLARS FOR THE FIRST OFFENSE, TEN DOLLARS FOR SECOND, AND SUSPENSION FOR THIRD WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE IMPOSED FOR BREAKING ANY OF THE ABOVE RULES.
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    â€œWhat?”
    â€œYou’ve got to be kidding!”
    â€œTen bucks?”
    â€œYou’re going to tell us where we’re allowed to eat?”
    â€œYou’re going to tell us where we’re allowed to drive?”
    The Chicks were in open rebellion. I was afraid they were going to take the rules of conduct list right off the bulletin board and rip it up.
    â€œGirls! Girls!” Tommy shouted, raising his voice and his hands to get their attention. “Simmer down. If attendance doesn’t go up, Mr. Wrigley is going to move the Chicks away from Milwaukee next season.”
    â€œWe’ve only played thirteen games!” Mickey said. “Give us a chance.”
    â€œWe like it here,” insisted Ziggy.
    Tommy the geek pulled a handkerchief out of hispocket and wiped his forehead with it. He gathered up his suit jacket and hat.
    â€œLook,” he said, “if the truth be known, Mr. Wrigley started the AAGPBL last year because he thought the war would mean the collapse of major-league baseball. Now we’re winning the war. It won’t be long until the DiMaggios and Williamses and Fellers and Greenbergs and all the rest will be coming home. When that happens, Mr. Wrigley just might shut down your whole league. I didn’t want to tell you this, but that is a fact.”
    â€œHe can’t do that!” Ziggy exclaimed.
    â€œSure he can,” Tommy said. “He owns the league. He shelled out two hundred thousand dollars of his own money for it already. He pays your salaries. And need I remind you that the average American worker earns ten or twenty dollars a week? The rookies among you get paid fifty dollars a week, and some of you are getting a lot more.”
    â€œThis stinks,” somebody in the back mumbled.
    â€œIf you don’t like the way Mr. Wrigley is running things, you are free to leave and go join some other professional baseball league for girls. Good evening!”
    With that, Tommy put on his hat and left. Something told me there were no other professional baseball leagues for girls.

12
First Date
    THERE WAS A SOMBER MOOD IN THE LOCKER ROOM AFTER Tommy the geek left. Some of the players were angry about what he’d said. Others felt that getting paid for playing baseball was the chance of a lifetime, and they