The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1946-01-27
EVENING
MEETING OF FANS
CALLED BY WADE
Will Discuss Latest De.
velopment In Commune
ity's Diamond Plans
BY EDWARD SACHS
Star Sports Editor

Star Sports Editor
Wilmington was offered fran
chlse in the Tobacco State leagu,
last night by the leagues promoter
Sam Allen, of Raleigh.
In a telephone conversation will
the Star-News, the Raleigh mar
said 1--WE definitely want Whining
ton in our league during the 1914
season. I didn't have much of ;
chance to speak to Mr.. Wade q
E. L. Wade) at the meeting las
week in Erwin but 1 want to agar
offer your city this organization
bid for a Wilmington team.
The Raleigh man said that some
doubt may be expressed on the
advisability of city the size o.
Wilmington entering league o:
smaller cit es but he pointed out
''The people in the towns want
baseball and have the money to
support it. Sanford for example
has been in baseball for three years
and has made a success of the ven
ture."
Meantime, a second meeting Of
the Wilmington citizens committee
to bring organized baseball to this
city has been called for Tuesday
night in the New Hanover county
courthouse, by the committee
chairman, ]. E. L. Wade, who will
report on the Erwin meeting.
Yesterday, Wade said that he
was waiting for the meetings Of
the Piedmont and Tri-State leagues
in late January and early February
before making any decision"
However, since publication of the
Wade statements last week follow
ing the meeting local favor has
swung over to the Tobacco league
for two reasons:
First, the Piedmont league has
turned down every application OF
Wilmington and Charlotte to join
that circuit despite pressure by
such baseball executives as Clark
and Cal Griffith.
Second, the Tr;-State league may
be "too rich for our blood" as one
baseball follower said. after he had
learned that in the first week of
sale, baseball stock in the proposed
team had sold only 10 shares at
$100 a share.
The two leagues are also in a
Class B bracket while the Tobacco
State league is a Class D opera
ton. This fact has local ians who
realize that the costs of operating
in the lower class league will be
much lower in comparison with
Piedmont or Tri-State operations.
Lack of definitely concrete plans
has handicapped the sale of stock
in the baseball team, Wade said
yesterday.
To correct this lack Of plans sew
eral avenues are open to Wade and
his committee:
First, through direct application
to major league club to install a
farm club in Wilmington for the
1916 season. If accepted the major
league clubs backing may be the
wedge with which the city could
force itself along with Charlotte
into one of the faster leagues. The
financial aid of major league
team would be great asset in
meeting the cost of baseball opera
tons.
Second, the city could make d.
rect application to the Tobacco
State league as a temporary mem
Der for the 1916 season. If accepted
on a temporary basis, the city
could have organized baseball dur
ing the coming season and still
leave itself in a position to join a
higher-ranked league in 1947. This
plan would give baseball leaders
In Wilmington a chance to see
what type of support baseball can
expect here.
Third, the city, through Wade,
could join the Tobacco State lea
que what no mention OF time. and
hope that the venture would prove
successful, both here and in other
league cities.
Fourth, the city could wait until
after the Tri-5tate meeting and
hope that by that time enough
stock would have been sold to war
rant this c:ty's entering a Class B
league like the Tri-State.
These, and probably other sug-
gestions will be discussed by Wade
and the committee at the Tuesday
meeting.
RUSSO DISCHARGED