The globe-independent. (Hagerstown, Md.) 1943-19??, 1953-02-12
AROUND TgsNN
WITH THE EDITOR

IIdCtlNdily GNGly OllG IldS ledIu ny
now that the Interstate League fold
ed last week and that the Hagers-
town Club has been offered a fran
chise in the Glass B Piedmont
League.
But what probably few have
learned is, that the offer of the fran
chise carries with it a stipulation
that Gene Raney, owner of the Ha-
gerstown Club, must pay the Pied
mont League the sum of $4,000 for
the franchise and that this amount
must be paid not later than today
(Thursday). Here is another finan-
cial fact that perhaps few of you
are familiar with:
In addition to the outright pay
ment of $4,000 for the franchise, Mr..
Raney will have to pay into the Pied
mont League treasury another $4,000,
which will represent the Hagers-
town Clubs proportion of the work
ing expenses Of the League for the
1858 season.
Finally, the Piedmont League OPP
crates entirely differently than the
now defunct Interstate League.
In the Interstate League all visit
ing clubs received a percentage of
the home teams gate receipts, the
amount varying, of course, according
to the home clubs attendance.
But there is nothing like that in
the Piedmont League. Each team
in the league retains all of its gate
receipts and they receive absolutely
nothing when they are on the road.
So, under this rule, when Hagers-
town goes to Richmond or Roanoke
1.-TWO of the biggest cities in the Pied
mont League) it won't make any diff
ference to the Hagerstown Club
whether there are 600 or 5000 pres
ent, since it won't get anything any
way.
You can see, therefore, that the
only revenue that Mr.. Raney will
get from the ball club in 1853 will
be: the gate receipts of the Braves
home games; the sale of advertising
from the billboards and programs;
the sale of programs, and the con-
cession rentals.
1t is plain to see, therefore, that
unless the attendance at the Braves
games at home this year is very
much better than it was last year,
Mr. Raney is going to take it on the
chin again.
You all remember that back in the
winter of 1949, Gene Raney paid
Oren Sterling $4,000 for the Ball
Club = and he didn't buy much
more than name - in order to save
organized baseball for Hagerstown,
and there was tremendous amount
of ballyhoo and excitement. But you
will also remember that after the
big 1850 season, attendance started
to drop off. until last year it barely
reached the $4,000 mark. Then to
cap this, the league folded and near
ly half of Gene Raney's $4,000 in
vestment went down the drain.
Since / was not at the meeting
held in Virginia on Sunday, I have
contacted both Rufus Edwards and
Gene Raney and verified the facts
that have given you above I talk
ed to Mr.. Raney on the phone at his
home, as late as Tuesday night and
he told me then that, while he didn't
expect any organization or group to
underwrite his ball club, he felt that
he had the right to ask the fullest
cooperation of all organizations,
from the Chamber of Commerce on
down, in really getting behind the
advance sale of tickets, and I think
you will agree with me that that is
reasonable request.
During our conversation I asked
him to let me know as soon as the
deal for the franchise had been Of
ficially completed by the payment of
the $4,000 and he said that he might
call me at the printing plant on We'd
nesday. So, if hear from him be-
fore the paper is printed, I will let
you know what he said.
Although my active Scouting days
are over, still try to keep in con-
tact with the former members of
Troop 5, with whom spent so many
happy years.
| have watched many of them
grow to young manhood, become
happily married and start the big Job
of carving out career for them
selves = yet all the time keeping in
touch with me so l was particu-
larly happy when received word
that Eddie Raskin, son of Mr.. and
Mrs. Nat Raskin, last week passed
one of the most difficult professional
examinations - that of certified
public accountant.
Y