The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1952-06-04
Future Organized
Baseball In Key
Vest Is At Stake;
LauderdaIe Fights
To Keep Club
BY Jim Cobb
Citizen Sports Editor

~HfASH sports Juror
In a spirited race with baseball
fans in Fort Lauderdale to decide
the future of the now defunct Flo
rida International Baseball League
franchise, local proponents of the
diamond sport worked furiously to-
day to bring the team to this city.
Despite a seeming setback When
the County Commissioners ruled
that they could not legally under.
write the $1,000 obligation asked OF
them, the group is going ahead
with their plans 10 close the deal
which would give Key West it's
first look at organized minor
league ball in years.
Guided by Louis Carbonell and
receiving increasing support from
Key Westers i'm all walks of life,
the campaign to raise the SIS 200
in assets needed to bring the team
to this city is continuing with add.
ed intensity after a mass meeting
held at the City Hall last night
brought the total pledges to up
wards of $4,000.
Meanwhile, fans in Fort Lauder
dale have launched desperate at
tempt to regain the franchise that
was taken over by the league fol-
lowing disastrous period of fl
nancial difficulty early in the sea-
son. According to reports from that
city, soundtrucks have been tour
ing the area asking the Braves
fans to pledge $40. each to put
the club back on its feet. With
time the chief factor in the future
Of the organization, the campaign
in the upstate community is ap.
parently gaining momentum. II
the team is TO be brought to the
Island City the deal must be con.
sumated by Saturday, June 7.
In an impassioned plea for Fl
nancial support before the Monroe
County Commission last night.
Carbonell outlined the plans which
would make ii possible for the 10.
cal group to fulfill the league fl
nancial requirements for obtaining
and operating the franchise. The
City Commissioners had earlier in
Dictated that they would be willing
TO pledge 5000 to the fund contin-
gent on the granting of like sum
from the Monroe County Board of
Commissioners However, at last
nights County Commission meeting
the solons reserved judgement on
the question until they could OBJ
tain an opinion from County At
sorney Paul Sawyer on the legality
Of such move. Sawyer, at spe-
eial meeting of the commission
called at 1i:00 a. m. today said
that the county could not legally
loan the taxpayers money since
that under the state charter, the
substituting of private industry is
forbidden.
However, carhoneli said today
that plans for the purchase of the
bslleIvb are going ahead. Toner.
row he will journey to Miami for
conferences with Joe Ryan, Vice
President Of The Fill and Jerry
Warren, an official Of the Miami
Baseball club,
At last nights meeting, Hank
Day, who has been working in an
effort to bring the franchise to this
city, addressed a stable group Of
diamond fans, outlining the Situa-
lion as II now stands.
According TO Day, only 5000 of
the required $4,000 is needed in
cash and that pledges to date have
far exceeded that amount. He add.
ed that stock would be issued and
and a corporation formed TO pro-
tect investors and that any indeht-
edness against the Fort Lauderdale
team al this time would not be as.
sumed by the local hackers.
In the event that the deal can be
closed. IL would be possible that the
team would be in Key West for it's
initial home stand next week. In
eluded ameng last nights contri.
butorS, who gave from - 20 1000
dollars was a large representation
from among local Navy personnel.
Navy officials have endorsed the
plans which would bring good clean
wholesome entertainment 10 the
city.
A meeting Of all interested par.
ties has been set for Sunday Al
ternoon at pm, in the Elks Club
Annex at which time details Of the
campaign win be discussed,