1932 Sunday sports referendum

The 1932 Sunday sports referendum was a city-wide vote held in Birmingham on a proposal spearheaded by sports announcer Bull Connor to permit the playing of baseball games and other spectator sports in the city on Sundays in contravention to the city's "Blue Laws" that limited pursuits on what was held by most protestants to be the "Lord's Day".

Connor promoted a petition, which garnered more than 8,000 signatures from qualified voters, to put the proposal to a vote. In addition to sports fans, the proposal had support from the business community and from the Birmingham Board of Education. Populists noted that golf and tennis, favored by the wealthy, were already allowed on Sundays, and that the wealthy also had access to automobiles which allowed them to visit baseball games held outside the city limits.

Opponents to the proposal mostly came from mainline protestant churches who feared that the change would be a stepping stone to fully open business on Sundays. They also noted that the city had greater needs for scarce funds during the Great Depression than the expense of holding an election. Joining them in opposition were labor unions who valued a day away from management influence which would follow with the Industrial League play.

The referendum was held on July 13, and the result was an overwhelming vote of support for Sunday sports. Just over 13,000 yes votes were recorded against around 5,000 no votes.

The first Sunday game at Rickwood Field was scheduled for July 31. Connor was invited to throw out the first pitch.

References

• "Sunday Ball Given Big Majority" (July 13, 1932) The Birmingham Age-Herald
• Brasher, Jusin (2006) "The New South and the Sandlot: Company-Sponsored Baseball in Birmingham, AL." The Vulcan Historical Review, Vol. 10, pp. 20–32