During World War II, many professional ballplayers were on the battlefield. Baseball was in need of players. Philip K. Wrigley, owner of the Chicago Cubs, knew that many young American women played softball and enjoyed it. He came up with a scheme to find players from all over the country. According to his plan, they would play in a women's league in the Midwest. He started with four teams. Many young women tried out for the few spots on the teams. Just like the men, women had to demonstrate skill on the field. The women worked hard, and the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League became a success. Standard softball rules were changed to make them more like men's professional baseball.

After the war was over and the men returned, many people expected the league to fold, but it only grew stronger. In 1948, ten teams played in the league and almost a million fans filled the stands.

However, by 1954 television was bringing baseball games into people's homes, and attendance at games dropped. As the teams lost their fans, money to advertise games and to bring on new players dried up. All the same, the All-American Girls made their mark on the history of baseball.

7. Why did money for advertising and for hiring new players dry up?

Group of answer choices

Star players demanded large salaries, leaving little money for anything else.

As baseball became less popular, the price of tickets was reduced.

Teams lost their fans to television, and their income from games dropped.

Team owners refused to spend mone for advertising and for new players.