Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-01-23
Minors Ambassador
Plans 4-Country Trip
For Study Of Sport !.
By Fritz Howell
Associated Pres. Sports Wriisr

In paSeball-lS ABOUT 10 extend into
South America.
That was indicated today when
George M. Trautman, boss Of the
stateside minor loops, said he would
send an official observer next month
to Panama, Venezuela, Puerto Rico
and Colombia to study the situation.
Bob Finch, publicity director for
the National Association of Profess
sional Baseball Leagues, and Traut-
mans right bower, has been named
ambassador, and he's making the
trip at the invitation OF the Latin
American groups.
Finch said he would stop off at
Mexico City for "a chat with Mexican
Baseball Commissioner Alexandra
Aquilar Reyes, who is about to shake
hands with American Commissioner
A. B. (Happy) Chandler, a gesture
expected to put a halt to contro-
versial either-way overtime border
talent raids.
Cuba Wild About Baseball.
Finch also will visit Havana, where
the Cuban League already has the
blessing Of the United States Asso-
citation, and where American minor
leaguers 80 OF them-play
with their clubs permission during
the winter season.
Havana, Finch told delegates to
the associations rules Interpretation
and discussion meeting yesterday,
has the worlds most enthusiastic
baseball fans.
Brooklyn can't hold a candle to
Cuba when it comes to cheering,
enthusiastic baseball supporters"
Finch told the nearly 800 front
Office executives. And they cheer
an outstanding play by the oppo-
sition just as much as If one Of
their home team had contributed it.
They're the greatest fans I've ever
seen and I've seen 'em everywhere. :"
Trautman said the Latin Ameri-
can groups had eliminated ineligible
players from their leagues and de-
sired to gain recognition from the
association. This might lead to
such close relationship that they,
like the Cuban circuit, could use
some lend-lease playing talent from
the American minors during the
winter, he explained.
Havana Conference Planned.
The minor league chief said all
restrictions against American play
ers appearing in Cuba had been
lifted by the association, except that
they must obtain permission Of their
clubs. Most Of those playing In the
island circuit were invited.
Trautman indicated all cour-
tesies now extended to the Cuban
League would be passed on to South
American countries should Finch
find conditions favorable.
AFTER ALL" he said, I'VE have the
finest baseball setup that can be
had, and in the spirit of goodwill
and friendship we'll do all we can to
extend our aid to groups anywhere
who are willing to live up to the
rigid rules which we ourselves OBJ
serve"
Finch said that after observing
conditions in the South American
countries for several weeks, he
planned to call conference OF rep
resentatives of the interested groups
in Havana, sometime in March, to
discuss details Of cooperation and
supervision.
Baldermero (Merito) Acosta, pres
ident of the Havana club of the
Florida international League, prob
ably will accompany Finch on the
tour. Acosta, with Judge Wayne
Allen OF Miami, president of the
Florida international, is attending
the minor league conference.
Acosta managed the Dayton, Ohio,
team in the Central League in 1923,
when Howard Willard of Decatur,
ILL.,, now president of the Illinois
State League, was head of the club.