Evening star., 1955-01-31
Race 10 West Coast
Ruled Out by Majors
Caution on Expansion
ax ihs A,.oelatsd Pre.s

BY The Assoesotsd Press
NEW YORK, Jan. 31.-What
once promised to develop into a
bitter, down-to-the-wire race
between the major leagues for
the West Coast territory has
slowed to a crawl. Both the
American and National Leagues
appear determined that the other
must make the first move to ex-
pand.
Expansion would seem to be
two or three years away, from
what we have learned so far"
said Frank Lane Of the White
Sox, chairman Of a four-man
American League group which
has been exploring the possibility
Of realignment.
This was more definite than
the National League statement
Saturday which ruled out any
expansion for the present. The
American League group finished
its business yesterday and Lane.
acting as spokesman. said the
league had an "open mind"
Were not saying we won't |
expand" he explained. because
we can't speak for the leagues
owners. We're just a committee
trying to find out whether ex-
pansion is feasible. Our report
will go to Will Harridge Qeague
president) and he in turn will
bring the matter up before the
club owners"
Overtures by Several Cities.
Lane said at least six or
seven" cities had made over
lures, with four showing distinct
possibilities. San Francisco and
Los Angeles obviously were
among those discussed. Lane
said the committee examined a
sample 10-club schedule includ-
ing the West Coast.
The schedule involving the
two California cities would add
132.012 miles of travel for the
league--69, ,031 by the new clubs |
and the additional 62,981 among |
the other eight. At $1.25 per mile. |
which Lane figured. it would add |
$4,000 or $4,000 to transporta- |
ton costs for each team.
Other cities under discus
sion were st. PAUL. Minneapolis,
Dallas-Fort Worth, Montreal and |
Toronto. Schedules including |
combinations of these teams also
were discussed.
Severe Concentration.
"I'm not against expansion,
Lane said. Don't get me wrong. !
After all, right now 13 major
league clubs are located within |
q 400-mile radius of Charleston.
w. Va. and that's severe con-
centration. When you consider
that the trend Of population is
to the West. you've got to think |
Of expansion.
I'VE have many more reports
to sift and we are making no
recommendations until we do.
The American League--and am |
not speaking for Harridge now !
lis not seeking new members. |
We're studying expansion to see
II 1t would be practical. We
haven't yet arrived at decision
Asked if a report which Bill |
Veeck made to the National
League. and which was made
available to the American
League, indicated that the ma
jors might be working hand-in-
hand, Lane replied:
"No, I can't speak for the
National League. Their presi-
dent. Warren Giles. speaks very
well for those fellows. We're not
working with them on this thing. /
We just used some OF their Coast
information which they made
available to us. Also, they took
their action at an official league
meeting"
Veeck. former owner of the |
Cleveland Indians and st. Louis
Browns. has been exploring the
West Coast situation for Phil
Wrigley, owner of the Chicago
Cubs.
Minimum Requirements.
Another thing we're trying to |
do" Lane said, "is make public
some minimum requirements. /
Also we're trying to eliminate
unauthorized mouthing from /
unauthorized persons claiming to
be In quest of major league (
franchise"
Among the requirements he i
listed were a stadium seating !
$4,000 or more, substantial finan-
cial backing, intelligent baseball |
men in the picture, no legal en- /
tanglements involving a city's |
own league. adequate population. |
and practicability from a trans |
portation and scheduling stand |
point.
With Lane on the committee |
were Clarence Miles of Balti- |
more. George Medinger of Cleve- |
land and Calvin Griffith Of |
WASHINGTON