Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-08-26
THE BASEBALL
BEA 7
Weiqhinq the Facts
BY BURTON HAWKINS

THERE is HOPE should Cal Griffith get around to
requesting romping from his fellow owners that
consideration will be given by basebals brass to
bordering the point of whether Washington is dead
baseball city, or if fans here weary of Grths timd
tactics his lack of imagination his repeated threats to
retreat from reality.
Outstanding business and sports figures would be
prepared to pour tons of money into obtaining franchise
here At moments notice, at least 10 syndicates could
be formed to risk heavy money baseball in Washington
This is not speculation. Responsible eager to
back baseball in the Capital but there's lever to give
them access.
deficiencies in Grfths inadequate operation Some base
ball officials have been quick point out that Washington
is highly desirable major league baseball territory
LEST GRIFFITH GET the idea that writer's here are
isolated in their criticism of deplorablyrun team listen
to Bob Cooke, sports editor of the New York Herald
Tribune:
"The announcement that the washington Senators
plan to leave their bed board head for Minneapolis
has created apprehension in both cities" Cooke wrote
recently Folks in Minneapolis alarmed because the
Senators may be serious about bringing their derect
to the Midwest The fans in Washington on the other
hand reluctant to celebrate for fear the Senators
change their minds and decide to stay.
ITS inconcevable that baseball is going to get away
with this sort of thing for very long Cooke continued
you can't operate franchise if it floating crap
game Baseball is kicking itself in its heritage
ION close examination there isn't anything wrong
with Washington baseball town. The frailteS stem
from the front Office which has shown desire
be listed up there with the big spenders
CONSIDER WHAT CALVIN Grifith has asked his
fans to endure through the He has provided them
with useless attraction from to the next
and now he's leaving because there is lack of interest
the part of the customers Griffith has had many
chance to buy decent ballpayer, but always he has
SHE'D away the theory he might get hernia lifting the
price tag.
They will tell you in Washington that more attention
paid to selling soda pop than acquiring talent for the
team. The incoming dollar is the important item AS to
improving the ball club let's be thrifty Haven't we got
Roy Sievers? Why not let him carry the load again this
year and let the defeats when they may.
In contrast to Grifhth's view on Washington as a
sports town. there is another team down there which isn't
thinking of leaving The Washington Redskins in the
National Football League have been operating their
chise relatively successfully And the Redskins like the
Senator'S haven't been in serious contention for the
few years Yet fans have been coming out because they
feel Redskin officials at least trying.
THE top brass the baseball club didn't try. They
settled for pachedup roster of minor league bapayerS
then sat in their box behind the ugout in the vain hope
that few paying customers would show up for the game
If the good citizens from Minneapolis are waiting
oreathesSy for the package that headed their way
from Washington, they naive than have been
led to believe"
TOM WILLIAMS, A WASHINGTON fan, sends clip
ping from the New York World kilograms Joe Williams
Speaking Of the Senator'S Williams wrote IN no other
form of show business would the entrepreneur, upon
opening his box office publicly admit the nferiory
production and still be certain of prosperous run. .
No particular enterprise, ingenuity risk is involved
That the league, the sport itself must inevitably suffer
no one seems to It's heck of way to run
a railroad or, for that matter tafy pull"
This could and with clippings from coastto-
coast but that's sufficient to provide idea of what
seasoned writers think of the Senators methods of pro-
cedure.
The fans write, too Says Felix winston Upon coming
here in 1886 became faithful Senator fan That is
attended at least is games year But had
more than take of the Itch, tch Mr. Wnstent who
calls himself president of the ball club Now root
for Senator defeats hoping that each will bring
closer to the end of Griffith. What bright day it will
be for baseball when he is forced to step down"
And writes Edith Bransdor Il know many people who
love baseball but long Cal Griffith is they
wouldn't go to game. Mr.. Griffith has lost respect and
confidence, and sincerely hope he sells out because
he's cooked his goose in Washington"
These are mere samples. There's more, much more,
but the feeling Is the Same-bitter.
There's hope that other major league owners will
measure up to their responsibilities that if and when
they get around 10 voting upon Washington as baseball
city that they previously hFe weighed the operation