Evening star., 1952-01-20
New YorkCIub's S
|0wner Will Get
100000 in Deal
Lien on Ball Park
Settled for $4,000
A Year for 8 Years
By Lewis +. Atchison
Stor Stuff Corrsspondsnt

NEW YORK. Jan. 19.-The Ma
tional Football League late to-
might took over the New York
Yanks' franchise owned by Ted
Collins and sold it to a group Of
Dallas sportsmen. The deal cul-
minated several days of negotia-
tions among Bert Bell. commits
sioner of the league; Collins,
George Marshall. president of the
Washington Redskins who helped
work out the deal, and other club
owners.
Details concerning the transfer
OF the franchise, which will bring
pro league football to Texas for
the first time, remains to be
worked out. The league had to
settle a 10-year contract for the
rental Of Yankee Stadium, which
was one of the stumbling blocks
earlier in the deal. Collins paid
$4,000 a year rent for the stadi-
um, financial burden too heavy
for him to carry with a losing
team. Collins also had an obliga-
ton Of $25. 900 a year to the New
York Giants for permission to
move into the Giants home terri
tory. The Yanks were moved to
New York two years ago after
they failed to click in Boston,
For giving up the Yanks, Col.
Inns gets 100000 for his fran
chise and other interests. The
lease for the stadium was set.
tied with Dan Topping, the owner.
for 100000 payable over a 10
year period.
Negotiator Not Identified.
Bell refused to identify the per-
son with whom he was negotiating
Tor the deal in Dallas, who is be-
lieved to be representing a syndi-
cate. Bell said, however, that If
this particular deal fell through.
there are eight other persons in
Dallas willing to put up the
money.
Can Associated Press report
said one of the club owners
identified the buyer as Giles
Miller Of Dallas, a wealthy tex
tile manufacturero
Collins had asked the league
l1or six home dates to remain in
Yankee Stadium this year. Tha
Giants. however, had their choice
of home dates and already had
picked the ones that appeared
most lucrative. The only alterna-
tive was to extend the season.
which the league refused to do.
or have the Yanks play two
l"home" games in another city.
Baltimore and Buffalo had been
mentioned earlier as possible sites
Tor these games. but Collins re-
fused to go along with this plan.
A delegation of Baltimore busi-
nessmen made overtures to buy
the franchise. but this plan was
defeated by Marshall who consid-
ers Baltimore a part of the Red
skins home territory. When it
was apparent that neither plan
would succeed Collins declared he
would either sell the franchise
outright to Dallas or play again
at Yankee Stadium next season.
Fist Venture in Boston.
Collins operated the Yanks for
eight years and is estimated to
have lost over $1,400,000 during
that time. His first venture was
in Boston and when the team
failed to draw there-the original
home OF the Redskins who also
had to leave-he moved to New
York three years ago. He agreed
to pay Tim Mara, owner Of the
Giants. $250.000 for territorial
rights, payable at $685. a year.
Collins still owed SITS, 900 on that
debt which was cancelled tonight
by agreement between Mara and
the league.
In his first year at New York,
Collins team shared the Polo
Grounds with the Giants. When
the All-America Conference folded.
he moved to Yankee Stadium.
There he was plagued by the
World Series, which last year
forced him to give up his first
two home dates.
Collins, a successful radio and
television producer who also has
owned interests in several Broad
way hits, never could duplicate
as sports figure his success in the
entertainment world.
Jack Mara, part-owner of the
Giants. said: This marks the
end of a two-team situation in
New York. The Giants will re-
main the only club in the city as
long as we have anything to do
with it."
Even before Collins came to New
York. the Giants were not sure the
city would support IL professional
games in one season.
Club Owners Pleased.
Other club owners seemed
pleased that Collins finally had
thrown in the towel and that a
new city. obviously football mind.
ed. had taken the franchise.
George Halas. owner-coach Of the
Chicago Bears. called it "a great
shot in the arm for the league. %
Mickey Mcbride, owner Of the
Cleveland Browns. said the All
America Conference was figuring
on putting a team in Dallas be-
fore the A-AC went out Of busi-
ness. IF they get q good Texas
coach and some good Texas play
ers, Dallas viii go like a house
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