Evening star., 1953-09-29
Harridge Predicts
Some Action Today;
veeck on Way Out
BY Burton Howkins
Stcr Stuff coSrespondant

gard to where the st. Louis
Browns franchise will be de-
posted. is expected to muscle
Bill Veeck out of baseball late
today and possibly achieve an
ambition to bring major league
baseball to the Pacific Coast.
Webb. in complete command
of a muddled situation which
has other American League
owners gasping at his steam
roller tactics, seemingly is set
to obtain major league baseball
for Los Angeles in a move that
will have numerous ramifica-
tionS.
The leagues third meeting in
three days is set for 4 o'clock.
The situation is so confused
that Washington officials are
offering three different versions
of what may materialize. but
nobody doubts Veeck is on his
way out The controversial shirt
sleeved figure no longer is
spokesman for the Browns, re-
linquishing negotiation to law
yer representing a Chicago
group which backed Veeck in
his purchase of 79 per cent of
the Browns stock.
Griffith PrOmiSeS Eirht
Clark Griffith, 83-year-old
boss of the Mats, says, 'I'll fight
to the finish any attempt to take
a team to the Pacific Coast. If
they transfer the Browns to the
Pacific Coast I won't permit
my team to go out there to play"
Calvin Griffith, the Mats vice
president. feels the elder Griffith
will adjust those feelings to re-
ality and says the Mats will not
object to Los Angeles obtaining
the Browns franchise.
H. Gabriel Murphy, the Mats
40 per cent stockholder, told a
friend that the Browns will re-
main in st. Louis, with the
league operating the team until
a transfer to more suitable city
can be arranged.
Asked to venture a guess where
the Browns franchise will land.
Calvin Griffith said, Kansas
City or Los Angeles"
Quarter Million Difference.
About $25O,O00 is the differ
ence holding up sale of the
Browns as the league prepares
to meet.
I'VE should have some news
for you late today" Will Har-
ridge. league president, said.
Harridge indicated St. Louis was
out of the picture, a different
slant than Murphy brought out
OF a three-hour meeting last
night.
Frank Lane, general manager
OF the White Sox, says Weeks
hackers are asking $2,500. 900 for
the Browns franchise and that
Webb is acting as a representa-
tive for a syndicate seeking the
club. Clark Griffith, on the other
hand, says the American League
will buy the club.
Webb Standout Figure.
But in st. Louis temporarily.
Kansas City or Los Angeles. the
Browns franchise will land
where Webb wants it. He's the
standout figure in all maneuver-
ing. with other league officials
under his spell.
The American League report
edly is prepared to draft Los
Angeles into the majors over the
objections of Phil Wrigley, Chi
cago Cubs owner who also op-
crates the Los Angeles team. An
arbitration board would deter
mine the amount of damages to
be awarded Wrigley and seven
other Pacific Coast League clubs
if the switch to Los Angeles is
achieved.
Lanes estimate of the damages
Wrigley might ask is SIS million.
with other clubs. in the Pacific
Coast League demanding as
much as 100000 each. De-
stroyed in the move, too, would
be the Hollywood franchise
owned by the Pittsburgh Pi-
rates-since Hollywood is ada
cent to Los Angeles and couldn't
compete against major league
team
Harris RidiculeS Park.
Then there is the matter of
a suitable ball park. Bucky Har-
ris, Mats manager, says. If they
play in Wrigley Field in Los
Angeles they'll make a joke of
the game. Major League hitters
would smack so many home runs
in that park it would be ridicu-
lous." Harris formerly man
aed San Dieo in the Pacific
Coast League.
There is talk of playing games
in the Los Angeles Coliseum. but
Lane says right and left field
stands would be less than 240
feet from home plate.
Webb is believed by some base
ball people to be angling to get
Kansas City into the majors.
The Yankees own the Kansas
(See BROWNS, Page A-19)