The globe-independent. (Hagerstown, Md.) 1943-19??, 1949-01-13


ager of the Owls, baseball fans all
over the city land l have talked to
hundreds of them) have been unan-
imous in their approval of Mr.. Ster-
hng's action.
The appointment of Woody" is
to me just another proof that Mr..
Sterling is going all out this year
to give Hagerstown winning ball
club, and it is my sincere hope that
ALL OF US get behind the Owls
100 per cent. For no matter how
good a ball club you put in the
field, it takes the wholehearted sup
port of all the fans, as well as the
press and radio, to really make 1t
a success.
There's no getting around the fact
that, in the past year particularly,
the criticism of Mr.. Sterling and the
club was widespread, and while
some Of it was justified, great
deal of it was not, and this year
will show very definitely whether
Hagerstown wants organized base
ball or not.
The club is off to a good start. 1t
has a fine manager. Apparently the
tie-in with the Washington Sena-
tors will be much more effective
than the disastrous tie-in of last
wear with the Detroit Tigers, and
now all that is necessary on the part
of the fans, the press and the radio,
is to forget the past and give both
Mr.. Sterling and the Owls real sup
port right from the opening game
of the season. l for one love base
ball. and I would certainly hate to
see the day come when HagerstoWn
would be without organized ball
But on the other hand l couldn't
blame Mr.. Sterling, or anybody else
for that matter, for pulling up stakes
if they fail to get the home town
support.
It doesn't take Philadelphia law
yer to figure out that Mr.. Sterling
really lost money in 1948, and none
of us can continue to operate our
businesses at a loss. So again / am
pleading with you all to back up
your ball club, and when you have
a complaint to make, don't make 1t
on The street corner, but go right
to the man who owns the ball club
and tell him about it - know
from experience that's just what Mr.
Sterling would appreciate.
*##
| was glad to receive from Mr..
Sterling early in the week COM
plete record of Woody from 1886,
when he played with Williamsport,
Pa, down to last year, when he
managed the Welch Club in the APP
palachian League.
During those IL years WOODY"
batted over 300 in every year ex-
cept 1887, 1941, 1912 and 1916, but
only once did he hit lower than 275'
Woody" as you know, pitched and
also played the outfield, and the
year he managed Lancaster 1943)
he won 10 and lost 3, and had
batting average of 326.
Woody" by the way, was mana
ger of the All-Star Team in the In
terstate League in 1943 and was
also manager of the All-Star Team
in the Appalachian League in 1948
The annual meeting of the Field
Athletic Association, at which Oren
E. Sterling, president of the Hag-
erstown Baseball Club, was pres
ent, was held on Tuesday afternoon
in the office of the president, ]. V.
Jamison, Jr.
Following the election of officers,
which resulted in the present Of
ficers being elected to serve another
year, the association renewed the
contract renting the stadium to MIR.
Sterling for the duration of the 1949
baseball season.
Plans were discussed looking to-
ward improving the stadium, and it
is hoped that better lighting will be
provided in the outfeld, concerning
which lighting engineer will be
consulted.
On Tuesday evening / spent an
hour with Mr.. Sterling and during
the course of our conversation he
told me that he expects to train
away from Hagerstown this year,
coming to the stadium for pre-sea-
son exhibition games. Sunbury
will come in for game on Sunday,
April II, and Williamsport, of the
Eastern League, will play here on
April % and "a.
Mr.. Sterling also gave ME the
names of several young players who
will report to Woody Wheaton when
fhn training season ODnnc on AnriI |