Evening star., 1948-12-18
National Grid League Seen Set to KO A|LAmerica
Old Circuit Would Nab
Browns, Ayers, Shift
boyanks 10 New York
By Lewis 2. Atehison

By Lewis z. Atehison
Although the All-America Foot
ball Conference iS tottering and
awaits only the knockout blow-the
bolt Of two Of its member clubs to
the National Football League and
the demise Of at least two more
numerous details remain to be
worked out before 1t happens.
It Is generally agreed that the
San Francisco '4oers and Cleveland
Browns will come into the National
League. Brooklyn and the Chicago
Rockets will quit for lack Of finan-
cial support. Dan Topping also will
surrender his New York Yankees
franchise and lease the big Bronx
stadium to Ted Collins, who will
move his Boston National League
franchise to New York.
A personal feud between Tim
Mara, owner Of the Giants, and
Topping was one reason no truce
could be declared between the
leagues. Mara, after much wran-
Cling three years ago. agreed to split
National League dates in New York
with Topping when the latter want
ed to move his Brooklyn franchise
to Yankee Stadium. But before the
agreement was consummated, Top.
ping jumped to the All-America.
Change Likely Next Month.
The situation will be discussed
informally at Philadelphia over the
week end during the National
League championship playoff fes-
tivities between the Eagles and
Chicago Cardinals. It is improb-
able, however, that any action to
change the present structure Of the
senior circuit will be taken before
the club owners regular meeting at
Chicago in mid-January.
Mondays session will be strictly
. player-draft affair. Five days
notice must be given club owners
before an executive session can be
called and President George Mar
shall Of the Redskins, for one, has
received no such notice. An execu-
tive session will be necessary to
approve the granting Of National
League franchises to the two new
comers.e
The revision will be In no sense q
merger Of the two leagues. The
All-America Conference simply is
going out Of business. It is re-
ported the circuit would have folded
sooner except for consideration for
the new owners Of the Baltimore
Colts. The report is that they re-
ceived the support Of Mayor Thomas
D'Alesandro in recognizing the
Colts last year by promising the
team would not disband ut the end
Of this year.
Bell to Remain at Helm.
II San Francisco and Cleveland
do come into the National League,
Bert Bell will continue as commits.
sioner under the same two.division
arrangement now in vogue, although
there is some agitation to divide 1t
into National and American Leagues.
Before any Of this happens, how.
ever, there is . matter Of q $4,000
franchise fee for each club. Wheth.
er National League owners will In.
sist on payment Of 1t or be willing
to waive it Is conjectural. As deeply
in debt as most owners are now.
adays, however, 1t probably viii be
waived.
It is probable, too that these clubs.
before being elected TO membership,
will have to drop former National
League players who jumped to the
new circuit. National Leaguers are
in enforcement Of O rule
these players for five years
from the time they quit playing in
the so-called outlaw circuit. At the
end of that period they again would
be eligible in the National League,
but the playing days Of most would
long since be over.
No "World Title' Game Seen.
A report that Alex Thompson
would take the Eastern Champion
Philadelphia Eagles into a world
championship tussle with the ALL
America title winner - probably
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES 26, apparently
Is groundless. League rules prohibit
any post-season games and Thomp-
son would be in danger Of fine and
Jumping to the ALL
America. II 1t Is continued next
year, would not help Thompson, who
lost money even with q winner this
year. The next logical question is,
Would q winner In the other league
be financially profitable? The an
swer seems to be no.
As the situation now stands, the
National Leaguers hold all the aces
in the deck. Unverified attendance
figures have not made the ALL
America o successful business or.
The older leagues guid-
ing heads do not think common
draft and championship playon be-
tween the two leagues would solve
their money ills. They simply think
certain clubs never will click in pro
football and point to Dan Topping's
as National League
owner in Brooklyn as one bit Of
evidence. Within their own loop
they look upon Boston in a similar
light.
II the negotiations now underway
are completed, the National League
next season will line UP with the
Redskins, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia,
two New York clubs and Cleveland
in the Eastern division. The West.
ern alignment will include the Chi
cago Cardinals and Bears, Detroit,
Green Bay, the Los Angeles Rams