The globe-independent. (Hagerstown, Md.) 1943-19??, 1952-12-04

ball team, for not being able to ac-
cept the clubs invitation to their
Tuesday luncheon meeting, at which
the football team and their coach
were guests of honor.
Unfortunately, while the meeting
was going on, was on the long dis
lance phone, trying to get some IN
formation regarding the chances of
the Interstate Baseball League OPP
Grating in 1858.
While l was unable to get any
thing definite, I can tell you that,
thanks to the fighting heart of Gene
Ranev, owner of the HagerstoWn
Braves, plus the hundred per cent
cooperation of Mr.. Quinn, general
manager of the Boston Braves, there
is a good chance of the league being
able to operate next year, even If
they have to go as siX-club league
Both Raney and his general mana
ger. Rufus Edwards, ever since the
Minor League meeting opened at
Phoenix, Arizona, on Monday, have
kept closely in touch by phone with
Mr.. Nugent, president of the Inter
State League, Mr.. Quinn, of the Bos-
ton Braves, Don Dix, general mana
ger of the Allentown Club, and
George Smith, president of the Sails
bury Club.
In his talks to Mr.. Nugent and Mr..
Quinn, Raney told both of them, in
no uncertain terms, that he wasn't in
the habit of quitting without fight
and that he was in the battle to keep
the Interstate league alive, right
down to the last ditch.
Despite the fact that Bob Car
penter, president of the Phillies, has
pulled the Blue Rocks out of Will
mington and has refused to give Mr..
Kirschner and his associates a work.
ing agreement, even though he
transferred his Interstate League
franchise to them; despite the fact
that the St. Louis Cards have given
up their Inter- State League fran
chise in Allentown; despite the fact
that the New York Giants have an
nounced that they were giving up
their franchise in Sunbury; despite
the fact that Harrisburg has sur
rendered its franchise to the league;
and despite the fact that the Detroit
Tigers have refused to give the Sails
bury club a working agreement,
Gene Raney refused TO quit.
In a telephone conference with Mr..
Quinn on Monday night, Gene told
him that he wanted to keep his con-
nection with the Boston Club, but
that even if they also wanted to pull
out, he would do everything in his
power to keep his ball club in Hag-
erstown, even if he had to buy play
ers outright from the Boston Club.
Mr.. Quinn told Raney, however,
that not only was he going to stay
with the HagerstoWn Club, but that
he would do everything he could to
get some of the other Major League
clubs, before the Phoenix meeting
closed, to see to it that the Inter
State League was kept alive.
During the course of the CONVEX
sation, Quinn told Raney that base
ball couldn't afford to lose men like
him and that he would back him to
the limits of his power.
Word was also received from Don
Dix, of Allentown, that group of
Allentown men, headed by a Mr..
Butts who at one time ran the AL
lentown club, had agreed to the St.
Louis Cardinals terms to take over
the Allentown franchise, rent the
ball park and enter into a working
agreement with st. Louis.
George Smith, of Salisbury, also
told Raney that though the Detroit
Tigers had refused to give him a
working agreement, the club would
operate next year, even if they had
to buy players in the open market.
While great deal will depend on
MIR. Quinn's talks with other major
league clubs in Phoenix this week,
it looks right now as if, Hagerstown,
York, Lancaster, Allentown, Hazel
ton and Salisbury will be ready to
go = and they will if Gene Raney
has his way about it. AS he told me
on Tuesday: 1 have been blessed with
fair share of worldly goods; base
ball is my hobby; and I'm going to
put, not only my energy, but, if
necessary, my money also, to keep
organized baseball in Hagerstown,
even if it means the combining of
the Interstate and the Eastern
Leagues.
Since the filing of Paul Ottinger,
for Councilman from Ward 5 and
Lionel Sellman, for Councilman from
Ward 3, both on the Republican
ticket, things have been particularly