Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-10-20
THE BASEBALL
BE A T
BY BURTON HAWKINS

WAsHINGToNS BASEBALL situation is shambles
1t must rise from the ruins of shattered fronofce faith
in the city and conversely, an antagonsc attitude of
fans toward those in charge.
This is the aftermath of Calvin Grfth'S decision
yesterday to abandon the idea of moving to Minneapolis
at least for year. following word from other club
that they would block any effort by him to desert
the Nations Capital.
The city still has the Senator's but not through the
desire of President Griffith any member of his board
of directors They have been slapped back into town by
other American League cubowner with what appears to
be crystal-clear edict to make go of it sell out.
Griffith declares he will not sell his stock He intends
to remain in baseball but he gives that the
intent is to stay here His repeated efforts to to
Minneapolis have been thwarted and there likely to be
less running room for him in the future.
THE CONTINENTAL LEAGUE will struggle to get off
the ground by 1851. Minneapolis founding member of
that circuit now placed in the position of gambling
about on the Continental League or continuing its irta-
ton with Griffith Illustration could kill the latter
romance.
other desirable locations may be staked out by the
Continental League before Griffith make another
annual attempt to play hopscotch with the franchise
And Griffith now must approach any future fnaging with
acute that he virtually is certain to be
rebuffed
Griffith thus has been plopped into the midst of
public relations mans nightmare. He is remaining among
his customers only because by his words he has been
unable to leave them The only thing functoning for him
at this point would be that he has the only
in town.
THE NOBLE THING for Washington fans may be to
forgive forget and start 1t may be noble but any
prediction that it will happen also could be unreastc
The fans have turned the other cheek frequently they're
a bit punchdrunk from being slapped.
Griffith has practced moving again and again. but he
hasn't learned to crate the package There may be
additional opportunities.
Up to and including yesterday, Griffith still was sriv
ing to rum but he learned from other that 1t
wouldn't be allowed His financial adviser Leo Dorsey
cautioned him to canvass owners before making the
attempt to travel What appeared to be certain approval
two weeks previously had turned to formidable front
which spelled rejection.
Disclosure of Grf1ths latest effort to move revealed
by The Sporting during the World Series gave oppo
son forces time to organize and swing into action Com
missioner Ford Tricks quick and outspoken objection
slowed what seemed to be steamroller. Then owners
individually tossed obstacles into Grihth's path
THERE WAS PRECEDENT for the action Bill
Veeck tried to shift the ST. Louis Browns to Baltimore
March 49, 1885, at American League meeting in Tampa
He beaten So while he out of the room, and the
official "the short period of time before the
opening of the season."
The real reason that the aggressive colorfu
Veeck had antagonized other American League
and some of them an opportunity to squeeze him
out of the game Weeks attempt to regarded
mere formality' when the walked into the
room, but he emerged loser, virtually invited to sell
and get out.
Veeck was tipped back into untenabe situation in
ST. Louis, where his competition provided by the
Cardinals, backed by the AnheuserBusch beer millions
by April Veeck sold the Browns stadium the Cardi
nails Later in the he sold several players and his
Arizona ranch to meet bills In September the Browns
finally were shifted to Baltimore but veeck had been
musced out. Now he is back boss of the White Sox
American League champions
GRIFFITH CAN'T SELL his stock until july 1. 1860.
See BASEBALL BEAT, Page Az