The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1945-12-14
ORGANIZED EFFORT
NEEDED TO BRING
new LEAGUE HERE
Distance Again Biggest
Difficulty To Local
Participation
by EDWARD X. SACHS
Ekar Ennrta Editor

I c. M. Lewe1lyn Of Concord, pres
|ident Of the North Carolina State
League and new director Of the
proposed Glass B Tri-State league
Informed the Star last night that
Wilmington is being considered tor
a franchise In the Tri-State next
season.
Lewellyn said that he would be
glad to come to Wilmington to dis
cuss with local baseball officials
the addition of this city to the pro-
posed league which now numbers
Asheville, Knoxville, Spartanburg
and Anderson, S. G.
To Join the league the first re-
lquirements would be the posting of
. bond by Wilmington franchise
owners Of 5000 to insure this
city's good faith in the venture and
an additional 81 500 with the presi-
dent Of the National Minor League
association, Judge W. G. Bram-
ham.
The league plans to operate a
six-club unit next season. Among
the cities being considered tor the
vacant franchises are Charlotte
and Mountaineering two orphans
Of the Piedmont league.
Lewellyn has informed people
in Charlotte that he is working
with Clark Griffith OF the Wash
ington Senators in an attempt to
bring Charlotte into the league.
He pointed out that the great
distance between Wilmington and
other league cities is a factor that
might keep this city from enter
ing the Tri-State.
However, he said that he was
anxious to come to Wilmington to
discuss the matter. Because Of the
press Of his legal practice, Mr..
Lewellyn would be able to come
here on only = Tuesday, Wednes-
day or a weekend.
Lewellyn has informed Charlotte
baseball officials that II that city
did join the Tri-State league, a
working agreement would be made
with the franchise still remaining
lit would be on a one-year basis
with the franchise still remaining
in Piedmont league territory.
II such an agreement could be
worked out in Wilmington, local
: interest in the venture might be
. increased.
The appointment Of Lewellyn tc
the dictatorship of the Tri-State
J League climaxed another chapter
tn the career Of this popular base
ball official.
He is former University o.
North Carolina and minor league
star pitcher, and has made an out
standing success of his work a
head OF the N. c. State league.
Wilmington civic leaders were
' quick to offer their support to thu
new league venture, when inform
l cd by the Star last night that thu
city had. another chance to entel
organized baseball.
Typical comments:
]. c. Roe. I'm sure that It Viii
! mington could obtain the franchise
in the Tri-State league, this cit,
would support the team"
A. c. Nichols, city manager. "a
baseball organization in a gooc
league that could offer this city .
high caliber class Of baseball
would find support in Wilmington. .
Emmery Switzerland, president
LOT the Kiwanis club. II don't think
any baseball organization which
came to Wilmington would have
any difficulty. This city has shown,
through its support Of the New
Hanover High school teams that it
wants sports and will back
sports"
T. A. Lawther, president OF
Civitan club. I'm as much as we
didn't get the Piedmont league
franchise, the Tri-State seems to
be the next best thing. I'm sure
that the people Of Wilmington and
our organization would support
local team in the Tri-State.''
James Wade, the man who rep
resented this city In negotiations
with the Piedmont league. 1.-THE
distances are quite long in the Tri-
State but I am sure that the same
group which represented Whining
ton in our dealings with the Pied
mont league would be glad to see
Mr.. Lewellyn."
Bob Howard. "Any organization
which will bring good baseball
teams to Wilmington will be sup
ported by the people Of this city
There are a lot Of good baseball
fans living here"
DR.. Guy E. Pigford, president o
1.-The Exchange club. GAS persona
opinion, I'm sure ttaWhilmingtor
would back 100 percent any base
ball venture here
Thomas B. Lilly, president of the
Rotary club. II feel that the Tri
State league if located here woulc
receive the full and wholehearto