The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1960-02-05
Score Card
Might be Useful
BY Lou Fabro
Times Sports Editor

The war" which has developed in the pro foot
ball and baseball ranks is about an confused as Napo-
Icons hasty retreat from Moscow some $50 years ago.
JUST I'M CASE you've been staying IN Moscow
for the past year or so. the war we're talking about
concerns the organization of new leagues IN both
pro football and baseball.
Into the fray have marched miIIionaires, Con-
cressmen and biu-wiqs from established pro teams.
These are supported by huge forces of lawyers. A few
afhIetes-pro and about TO become pro-have fired
off q few rounds.
SPORT WRITERS have developed into pretty
good "war correspondents since they've done an ex-
cellent lob in covering the many battles and Skin
mishes. Fans have done a lot of talking about the
'war' but most of them aren't quite sure what's
happening.
settle in Cuba, Fidel Castro hasn't entered the fray.
At least, he hasn't yet. However, the shaggy-bearded
chieftain did manage to capture a little space-and
without any effort-on the sports pages last week.
1T SEEM THAT some international League Of
ficials are a bit worried about playing games on that
tension-filled island. They still remember the stray
bullets which nicked two Rochester players during a
wild celebration in Cuba last July
But before we stray too lar, let's plunge pack INTO
the major league wars"
Although the smoke of battle is pretty thick,
several things have been settled or have become
quite clear. These include: there will be more major
league teams; there will be a LOT OF happy athletes be-
cause of it; and the lawyers are going to be kept busy
for a long time trying TO untangle a LOT OF difficult
knots.
Major league officials already have conceded
that the country is ready for more big league teams
both baseball and football. Perhaps they've known
this all the time but have been content with the status
quo. At any rate, the new league organizers have
forced this opinion into the open,
WHAT MAKES athletes so happy is that there
will be so many more opportunities. Many border
line players have been ~shuffling around in the minors
because they just couldn't click fast enough to win a
slot on a major league team.
MOREOVER, many t~op-flight players probably
have passed up pro ball because they didn't want to
bump around in the minors until a vacancy occurred
in the majors. 80,
The big, big question to be answered.: will
existing leagues be expanded or will new loops be
formed?
Major league officials, who are supported by
most OF The sports writers, feel that expansion S
The answer. OF course, the new league organizers feel
Just as strongly that theirs is the right plan.
At the moment, the new league hackers have two
strikes against them. After all, they aren't exactly
getting a helping hand from the established clubs.
Also, they have to start from Scratch" in getting
players, building or renting stadiums, and in, the
case of baseball, setting up a farm system.
HOWEVER, they've got a few things going for
them. They've got money and congressional support.
In addition, the selected cities are anxious to get
major league status. And of course, there are plenty
of players hoping that success will come to - new
leagues.
ALTHOUGH it isn't certain which will win the
"war', it's a cinch that players will reap the benefits
of the peace settlement, And so will the lawyers,
who will have to solve the perplexing legal matters
which have developed and which will develop.
Meanwhile, the cry is "back to the barricades."