Evening star., 1960-10-31
WIN, LOSE OR
DRAW By FRANCIS s1AAA
Forever Is q Short Time

NOT EVEN HIS sEvEREST critics think of Calvin
Griffith as malicious person. Rather he's vacillatng
man and the newspaper clips dealing with his ve years
OF stewardship of the Washington ball club seem to prove
1t, to wit:
It Is May, 1885, and Representative Killings Of Cali
forna by means of telegram and press conference has
urged Mayor Norris Poulson of Los Angeles to explore
the possibilities" Of buying the Senators franchise
Grifith'S reply: "The Washington ball club has
considered and does not contemplate transferring its
franchise to Los Angeles any other city Reports to
the contrary baseless the facts that the Wash
ington club faces no crisis whatsoever washington is
a great baseball city. :" .... ., ,-.- =.
Now 1t is early october, 1885, and in staff story out
of New York the young reiterated today that he is
willing to the clubs American League franchise to
Los Angeles. But they have financial problems to
consider and so do we." t
NOW 1T IS TWO days later in October 1855, and
Grifnth has acknowledged proposals from Los Angeles
San Francisco and Louisville "In have to call meeting
Of board Of directors" he said Things status quo
few days later headline read, Griffith Admits
Clubs Shift Is Twentyour hours after
this printed Cal said Were happy to remain here
Washington) and hope stay here the rest of our
lives" The headline Of this gem read, Griffith Happy
Ball Club Will Remain in D. c."
It is a new year now-September 1857, to be
specihc-and Our own column lead after talking to the
man. There will be no 10-cub American League as
far Calvin Griffith is concerned There just aren't
enough players for any 1Ocub major league haven't
got enough real big leaguers to around right now
we're here-the Senator'S mean-and we intend to stay
in Washington"
Now it is 1858 and Cal still is vaciating privately If
not publicly Indeed, publicly he has taken firm stand
In bylined series in the local morning newspaper he
wrote follows: have lived in Washington for about
IS years attended school here and established many
roots here long have any say in the matter,
and expect that shall for long, long time the Wash
ington Senators will stay here too Next year The year
after Forever" ...
VTYrT a%,~s T,,I,f
proceedings when Cal was addressed by Senators
Oahoney and John A. Carroll of the Senate Antitrust
and Monopoly Subcommittee "Are you through explor
ing9" Senator oMahoney asked acdy referring to the
so-called transfers Of the ball club Yes, sir a
Cal replied.
Leave us move now to 1859. It's October agan-Cars
favorite month"; apparently to introduce the move issue
and the Senators have drawn 100000 more customers
with cellar team than in SO. II thought we'd draw
hell of lot more" he was quoted It'd say our
chances of moving $3.50. !"
So far all this is Calvin There is a charming lady
involved, too, meaning Mrs Joe Haynes, who is Calls
sister Thelma. She owns much of the Washington
Odinneapois) club Cal The old man, Clark Griffith,
left these two foster children equal shares of stock tong
So per cent
It was just year ago, give take few days. that
Thema spoke while team Of artisans renovatng her
kitchen 81 still think Calvin could have moved the Wash
ngton club he'd really wanted to- But Calls heart wasn't
in It,"
THE LADY MINCED no words and when this column
appeared airing her views she tephoned congratulations
to accuracy
"As for leaving town." Mrs Haynes said "the news
papers trying to force out We keep hearing that
the Grifths are draining the city of Washington have
my own version say the city is draining the Griths
e.. We had our chance at moving to Los Angeles
well ahead of Mr.. Water) Oaley Some people say we
blew the opportunity Did we? Maybe Just didn't want
to move.
Zone newspaperman wrote that Calvin lives in a
mansion and drives Chryser Imperials Well . we're not
as rich as this thinks don't full time maid
don't own an automatic dshwasher and I'm still driving
the old Packard that Unk (Clark Grifhth) left me-"
Now-and returning to Cal-we come up to last week.
He finally jumped like guy who'd been standing the
ledge Of skyscraper and brushed aside the hands Of
advisers.
succinct explanation: ut was too good an offer to
turn down"