Evening star., 1960-08-03
EXPANSION

4 age
broken down into three eight
league teams.
O'Malley. acting as spokes-
man for both the American and
National Leagues, said he ex-
pected the two leagues to meet
jointly within month to iron
out necessary details of expan-
sion.
So ended a three-year war
initiated by Shea after OMal-
ley had spearheaded a drive
which moved the Brooklyn
Dodgers and New York Giants
to- Los Angeles and San Fran
cisco, respectively, in 1857.
This move left New York
without a National League
club, and Shea, heading a COM
mittee to regain a second major
league team for New York,
confronted the majors with a
proposal to expand. 1t was
turned down.
Hickey Lauds Shea
Left no other alternative
Shea began working on a third
league. and the Continental
came into official being June 81,
1859. The end came yesterday
when O'Malley finished making
his announcement.
Hickey went up to Shea after
the meeting, threw his arms
around the younger man, and
said: II may never see you
again. but you did a great job"
Shea appeared to be the only
real winner in the group, al
though Hickey finally had made
the major leagues bow to his
wishes of expansion.
Shea admitted the Conti-
mental League entered yester-
days meeting knowing the
majors were opposed to a third
league, and because of legal
ramif1cations we decided it was
no use to continue fighting"
I'VE accomplished the job l
started" Shea said, "and be-
iieve my city will be one of the
first to get a team" Obviously
referring to the birth of the
American League at the turn
Of the century. Shea called the
result of the meeting "the
greatest event in baseball in so
years"
Hickey said: Il am delighted
that I have the unanimous vote
of the Continental League that
it is at least happy at what
finally has happened. l will
watch the National and Amer
lean Leagues with their expan-
sion in the next years, and
when the decision is made that
a third league is necessary, l
will apply for a job with it."
Lost in the shuttle was the
nine-page application which
the Continental League had
prepared to present to the
majors expansion committees.
The big problem-which no
longer will affect the Conti-
mental League-was the set
tling of indemnity claims sought
by minor league cities in which
the new league was to operate.
Yesterdays quick turn of
events may throw a new light on
territorial indemnities sought
by the minor leagues which
must give way to the incoming
major league teams.
Frick Halls Action
In New York. Commissioner
Ford Frick expressed pleasure
in the manner in which the ex-
pansion problem has been
solved.
Il always have been in favor
Of expansion" Frick said. land
l am happy that the move has
been made peacefully.
Il believe expansion should
be a step at a time. first with
two teams for each league, and
maybe eventually with four
making two l2-team leagues. II
that doesn't work out, then per-
haps three eight-club leagues
could be lined up.
Naturally I cannot comment
more until I have the full de-
tails, but I see the move as a
step in the right direction"
Amid rumors that Perrin was
eyeing the National franchise
in New York, O'Malley SAID
"All expansion business will be
done under Continental League
franchise holders"
The New York franchise
ownership-according to a bill
of particulars which the Con-
tinental apparently never got
to present yesterday-are Mrs
Charles S. Payson, Dwight F
Davis, jr.; G. Herbert Walker