Letter from William F. Anhut to Creighton J. Hale
5/17/1973
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This document comes from the court case
Carolyn King, by Gerald King, her Next Friend, Ypsilanti Community American Little League, and the City of Ypsilanti v.
Little League Baseball, Inc.It is a letter, entered as an exhibit in the case, in which the president of the Ypsilanti league asked the executive vice president of Little League Baseball: “does it mean that our charter is revoked?”
Carolyn King, a twelve-year-old girl, could play baseball better than neighborhood boys. After receiving permission from the Ypsilanti Michigan American League Little League president to try out, Carolyn beat 15 boys and a couple of girls for a spot on the Orioles team in 1973. The national Little League Baseball organization prohibited girls at that time, and issued a warning that unless Carolyn stopped playing, the Ypsilanti American League would lose its charter.
King and her supporters brought their desire for equal opportunity to Federal court invoking violation of the 14th Amendment. Judge Ralph Freeman dismissed the case for lack of jurisdiction, a decision upheld by the Appelate Court. Between 1972 and 1974, 22 cases, including King’s, were filed against Little League Baseball, Inc. and its boys-only policy. The national Little League organization eventually petitioned Congress to amend its Federal charter to eliminate the boys-only rule when it lost the New Jersey state case
National Organization for Women vs.
Little League Baseball, Inc. in spring 1974. On December 26, 1974, President Ford signed into law a bill that formally opened Little League Baseball to girls. By this time, King was 13 and too old, yet thousands of other girls would play.
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May 17, 1973
Mr. Creidhton J. Hale
Executive Vice President
Chairman, Charter Committee
Little League Baseball, Inc.
Williamsport, Pennsylvania
Dear Mr. Hale:
I have your letter of May 14, 1973, in front of me. I hereby request a clarification of your letter. Does the action taken by your committee mean we are suspended? Or, does it mean that our charter is revoked? I am concerned about the question of the insurance that we have taken out with Little League, as well as the questions of inter-league play, All-Star selection and tournament play. If not suspended or revoked, what does your letter mean?
In accordance with item number two on the reverse of the Certificate of Charter, I hereby request a review by the Executive Committee of the Charter Committee's action. I do this in light of the apparent discrimination toward girls, which is in violation of the U. S. Constitution and Amendments thereto, particularly in light of the fact that Little League is chartered by Congress and enjoys tax exempt benefits; and, further, in light of the recent Court decisions concerning discrimination toward girls in athletics. I request that a delegation from the Ypsilanti American Little League be allowed to present its position before the Executive Committee of the National Little League.
Looking forward to hearing from you, I am,
Very cordially,
William F. Anhut, President
Ypsilanti American Little
LeagueThis primary source comes from the Records of District Courts of the United States.
National Archives Identifier:
7329704Full Citation: Letter from William F. Anhut to Creighton J. Hale; 5/17/1973; Civil Case 40304; Carolyn King, by Gerald King, her Next Friend, Ypsilanti Community American Little League, and the City of Ypsilanti v. Little League Baseball, Inc.; Civil Case Files, 1938 - 1998; Records of District Courts of the United States, Record Group 21; National Archives at Chicago, Chicago, IL. [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/letter-anhut-hale, April 30, 2024]