The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-11-13
A BIG LEAGUE TEAM
MAY TRAIN IN OCAI4A

Mr. Leon D. Brooks of st. Angus
tine, was in the city yesterday on
business for some of the big hotels
which he represents. He met Secre-
tary Rooney of the Marion County
Board of Trade and told Mr.. Rooney
that he was on the lookout, as he
made his rounds over the state, for a
good place for the ST Louis National
League baseball team to train next
spring. Together the two men look
ed UP Manager C. w. Hunter of the
Ocala Athletic Association and talked
the matter over They took Mr..
Brooks out to the baseball park and
he was more than pleased with the
looks of the park and was frank
enough to say that he thought it the
best in the state, as far as the
grounds themselves were concerned.
M. Rooney and Mr.. Hunter talked
proper effort, the team could be Sc
cured for OcaIa, and it would prob
ably mean a permanent thing for the
city Mr. Rooney called a meeting
of the board of governors and as
many others as could attend, for the
Board of Trade rooms at $50 to talk
over the matter. Quite a few gather
ed and all seemed of the opinion
that it would be big thing in an adj
yertising way to secure the st. Louis
team for Ocala.
1T was estimated that it would take
$3.50 to pay the transportation of the
! team from st. Louis to Ocala. Of
this amount Manager Long of the
Ocala House said he would give $3.50
and it was thought THAT the balance
could easily be raised by the sale Of
So season tickets, which tickets
would admit the bearer to all of the
practice and exhibition games while
the club is here.
Mr.. Brooks is a special friend OF
the Nationals and a personal friend
of many years of the manager of the
club, who had written Mr. Brooks to
be on the lookout for a good place
2 for the team to train. The club was
3 at St. Augustine last season, but for
j a number of reasons did not like 1t
: there, principally on account of the
: ball grounds. They expected to go to
f Orlando this year, but another team
t beat them to that location. The per
: sonnet of the men is of the higthest
e order and they will be a credit tc
any city. The presence of the mer
/, here, the games that would be played
o and the advertising value of tht
, same would bring a great many Wis
r itors to Ocala. Those cities who hav,
e had the big league teams practicin:
If with them of late have reaped grea
n benefits from 1t.
Il Mr.. Rooney and Mr.. Hunter ar
re to go further into the matter, but il
h the meantime have wired the man
d ager that we can and will tende
lie them the use of the grounds. put i
first class condition. with hot an
cold showers, and other conven
l. fences they would require, thei
Is transportation to Ocala, etc. Some
n thing had to be done at once as the
lie must soon decide where they are t
r train A1r. Brooks has no interest i
Il. the matter, except that of a friendl
D. nature, and only stayed over unde
IN urgent invitation from Mr.. Rooney.
" Since writing the above we lear
Id that Mr.. Brooks came to Ocala to Sc
r, Mr.. Long of the Ocala House to a
o. range a contract with him. M
t. Brooks represents a chain of hote
is and has made valuable connectio
e. with Ocala and the Ocala House thu
Mr.. Long Should the st. Lou
team come to Ocala, Louis Lon
n should have his full share Of I'll
tn credit. not only for bringing the
ne here, but for Offering the Undue
is, ments he has in monetary way.