Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-07-02
WIN, LOSE OR
GNAV By FRANCIS STANN
Once and for All

NOT BY A LONG SHOT is Calvin Griffith thinking of
moving the Washington ball club to another city That
at least is his theme July 1857 Actually
close to moving Cal The whole story has been
distorted"
H. Gabriel Murphy, largest single stakeholder in the
Senators with 40 per cent viewed the situation different
light and prepared to court last october in order
to restrain the Griffith Robertson interests from shifting
the franchise
Murphy was all wet" Cal was saying today LET me
tell the story and for all
Last 1 went to California. 1t was purely
scouting trip but out in the newspapers that
shopping for city to the franchise. Believe me-
wasn't went to San Francisco and to Los Angeles but
never talked to single city official anybody about
moving
Il three balplayers thought could help us-Bob
Usher Russ Kemmerer and Art Schulz. And we got all
of them
CAL is TROTTING BACK and forth these days from
Griffith Stadium to Capitol Hill where Senate committee
discussing the site of municipal stadium I'm interested
In where it's going to be located" Grif says IF it's way
the hell and gone stadium won't be of any the ball
club If it's down in the Mall area, fine.
Let's face it," he adds I'VE don't our customers
from the North We draw from the South"
The heir to the late Clark Grfiths throne sorry,
that citizens of Washington confused as to
his intentions
having dinner at Toots Shor's Ney York reporter
came to the table and said:
81 hear you're moving the Senators to Los Angeles
ITS news to me- told him. haven't talked to any,
body about moving
I'm printing the story anyway he said and so he
did. But honestly it wasn't until after the story was
printed that was approached by anybody from Angeles
or any other city"
THE ONE SOLID OFFER he received, Cal says was
from Louisville not Los Angeles This October of
last year after the papers had been full reports that we
were going to California" he dscloses Louisville offered
to underwre attendance of million for three years. give
us ball park at very low rental see that we got
Substantial radio-TV guarantee"
How louisville do it?" Cal was asked "That town
threw down its own American Association team"
Il wouldn't know" Grf admits Il never was in the
city Once passed through Louisville a train 1
think I'm only telling what know.
They made the best offer Los Angeles didn't make
real one and that than Minneapolis at that"
Earlier this season, Cal quoted saying that his
club would have to draw $4,000 paying customers as
against 43lOOo in 56-to stay in Washington
Reminded of this remark, Cal now says
i don't think quite said it that way. What meant
is that eventually we'll have to draw $4,000 fans"
1T is ALL VERY CONFUSING From time to time the
baseball writing boys have noted that despite the Save
the Senators" program. attendance has dropped off
Il have different OF figures" Cal saws Mine show
that we're $4,000 ahead of last year"
But don't the guys in the press box get their attendance
figures from your Officer" he was asked
guess they do" Cal but the press goes by dates
ana go by the number of games There's difference Now
getting back to the required attendance we need
that much support to have working capital"
AS OF the moment Cal Co have thought of moving
washington mas Deen good TO the Griffith family
ne was saying but it hasn't always been gravy I'll tell YOU
something that nobody knows except me . not even my
sister Thelma."
WHAT CAL HAS TO SAY is that his late foster father
Clark Griffith, wasn't always paid off,
During lot of lean years., Cal says "Unk never took
ncKe except for living Just before he died he
told me that the Washington Baseball Club owed him $3.50
IN never collect it, he said, and don't want IL
Then he told me-
you'll be in the same category some day"
deck circle? " - -