McGraw©Hill/Focus/Babe p. 361////R7N22/ ***** The huge Evanston,Illinois, stadium was packed with cheering
spectators. Overhead the sun shone bright in a near©cloudless
sky. Bands played and banners waved in a light breeze. It was
July 16, 1932, and a perfect day for the Women's National
Championship. Teams from all over the country had to compete.
Excitement ran high. "The Illinois Women's Athletic Team!" The annoucement
blared from the loudspeakers. Applause swelled, One by one,
twenty©two girl athletes advanced to center field as their names
were called. The crowd went wild. These were the favorites. Together they made their exit, and they looked invinicible. Another fanfare sounded. "The team from Dallas, Texas!' People
leaned forward, eagar to see these new competitors who would
challenge their favorites. And then they stared. A single teen©aged girl marched alone to midfield, head
high, short©cropped dark hair ruffeld in the breeze, face lifted
to recieve her welcome from the audience. "Mildred (Babe) Didrikson!" the announcer called. There was a moment of dead silence. Then high up in the
stands laughter began. It was picked up by others until the
whole stadium rocked with it. One girl! One thin, gangly girl
was the whole "team" from Texas! The laughter swelled higher. It was like a slap in the face, that laughter. The girl's
shoulders hunched for just one moment in bewildered reaction.
She had never anticipated a greeting like this. She knew why she
was alone: the Dallas club she belonged to couldn't afford to
send more than one representative,