Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-02-04

ANGLE
Who's Bush League Now?
BY LEWIS 8. AIcHIsoN

A FEW YEARS AGO Washington sports fans looked
down their at Baltimore and sneered bush league
1t was true Despite the citys size and wealth, Balti
was bush in sports compared with the Nations Capt.
tai We had the Senators in the American League They
weren't champions, they in the first division
often but they in the major leagues Baltimores
Orioles toed in the international League which bore
minor league label though Of the old Orole
teams could have wiped the floor with the likes of the
Senators and the old ST. Louis Browns
Washington also had the Redskins in the National
Football League. Baltimore had entry in the semipro
Dixie League and later represented by the Colts in
the doomed All-Amerca Conference 1t wasn't much to
cheer about.
Then Baltimore got a modern concrete stadium to re-
place the rckety wooden structure that had been stuck
in muddy excavation Thirtythrd street and opened
in 1922 1t got it through chain of circumstances in
GLIDING the burning of the Orioles bandbox ball park
the night of July 1884, forcing the following days holi-
day doube-header to be postponed Pressure from the
fans forced the city fathers to open the football stadium to
the homeless Orioles much Los Angeles doing for the
Dodgers this year. and the effect almost magical The
Orioles drew record which, in turn paved the
for stadium That did it. Overnight Baltimore
emerged from its minor league into fublown big
league city
NEW STADIUM WON'T make champs out Of chumps
any than fresh scenery will transform theatrical
turkey into smash hit but it helps More seats especially
good seats help attract customers More money in
the till means purchasing in the player mar
Ket How could the orioles bid Tor and win Dave NICHOLSON
the priced ST. Louis bonus baby they had chance
to get the outlay back at the gae How could the Colts
pay their football hands top salaries and top them with
bonuses?
Washington needs stadium now, and needs 1t badly,
not only to escape bush label but for the convenience
Of the citizens The Government has provided art galleries
for art lovers and is planning cultural center
for more culture The symphony has elegant Constitution
Hall for its concerts There parks for pcnickng trails
for nature lovers to wander over marnas for boating
public golfers courts tennis players
But those who like to watch big league baseball and foot
ball must take what offered at archaic Griffith Stadium
The irony of it all is that the Government year
ago had approved funds for So million stadium in Cleve-
land which already has handsome 10000 lakeside
bowl for the Pan-Amercan Games Only outraged cry
from alert citizens stopped that With all the good
will money being spent abroad, it seems that enough
could be spared for the benefit Of own people, Con-
foge perhaps that specatorsat the Senators and
Redskins games aren't all voeless Washingtonians They
from West Virginia, Virginia North Carolina, Mary
land and Pennsylvania 1t is not project for the
few but rather for the Nation
AS FOR THE TWO CLUBS with the biggest stakes,
both the Senators and Redskins could show more CO.
operative spirit in the matter They could begin by sgn
flying their willingness to make Of stadium If 1t
is built rather than hanging back with maybe attitude
depending on the rates.
They could 60 further The Redskins have helped
raise than 81 million to help build boys clubs for the
Angeles Times and have raised thousands of dollars for
other worthy during their preseason tour Why not
game here, with small percentage of the proceeds
going toward stadium fund? 1t might be only drop in
the bucket, but it would be welcome token.
The baseball team has exhibition games scheduled
here this spring. but it could designate stadium day. to
help get the ball rolling 1t wouldn't have to be much,
just enough to show that the club doesn't want to take
everything and give nothing in return
The cost would be we'll worth keeping Washington big
league in all respects, not merely cultural