Evening star., 1961-02-12
WIN, LOSE OR
DRAW ;, FRANCE, ,rAuu
Where the Boys Are


PONPANO BEACH FLA FEB 1I-When a Florida
community begins to eat high off the hog it's apt to
banker for big league ball club to show off, Pompano
Beach is living 1t up. And it has the ball club-the
Washington Senators
Less than IA years ago this was whistle stop for
the Florida East Coast Railroad 1t didn't even become
the City of Pompano it was Incorporated with
the Town Of Pompano in 1947. The natives were few,
although out of the sand muck they claimed to have
raised more winter vegetables than place in the world
Pompano Beach Is smack dab in the middle of the Gold
Coast extending from Palm Beach to Miami Beach There
strip Of highly decorative hotels otelS sweater
Tor mady in the window of shopping center store is
priced at $17795 There two daily newspapers both
morning; harness racing track but legalized betting
two golf courses, superb climate and wind which will
cause many catcher chasing high pop gnash his teeth
Pompano Beach is named the delicate fish Isl per
pound wholesale) but it is rarely found menu The
expensive eating places and night spots feature IS mixed
drinks with strange exotic Names but they four
persons If they're not thirsty, that is There is
segregation.
TOM MILLER IT WAS, who had the original idea Of
trying for big league club Miller is the cty's
ona director When he read that the American League
had granted Washington new franchise he telephoned
Ed Doherty, general manager Of the Senators.
ed knew the town." Miller says I'VE had the Dallas
Club here and Doherty then president of the American
Association stopped off his training inspection tour
"I called Ed heard of his appointment
and told him we felt ready to train big league club
couple of days later he called back and set the wheels
in motion"
Pompano Beach is guaranteeing the Senators $4,000
for the training The city keeps half the gate
receipts from the 3 home exhibition games and hands
over the other SO per cent net to the visiting club The
training camp contract is for year. with option
to extend it for four seasons.
Not everybody here Miller that big
league ball club great asset, especially of the
nnkeepers. The rate at the hoste where Senators
will stop is $22 per day. SINGLE and European pan Burt
Hawkins travelling secretary Of the ball club suggested
q
rado-TV guy
you CAN'T BUY the kind of publicity one of these
fellows will give" it was argued "This Tv man have
in mind plans making poolside interviews film
show in Washington"
IT your point" the manager conceded "An right
I'll give him rate. Twenty dollars day"
The inhabitants now there are l55O5 of them,
or slightly less than half the winter populationappar
emily are going to throw their business to the Senators
The wash man, for instance smiled when he asked
If he thought the ball club would be supported.
"It will be by me-" he said II played for spell with
Atlanta. An outfielder, Baseball and fishin, that's
all live for. Besides always did like the Athletics"
"The Senators training here" he corrected
He shrugged. Whats the dfference?" he asked
"I'm for all underdogs."
THE BALL FIELD is just off U. S. Highway No. l.
the right side driving south. The infeld Is like
putting green and the foul lines $40 feet long each way
Ten days ago there was no home team clubhouse but
now Is almost ready 1t doesn't take long to slap up
a mess Of concrete blocks in Southern Florida.
Most OF the seats are portable bleachers. new
permanent grandstand just begun, will hold 7O0 Total
capacity $500 15-minue drive down the road to Fort
Lauderdale bigger and better park being built Next
year it is widely suspected-and hoped-the Yankees
will train at Lauderdale instead of their Richmond farm
club.
Nobody seems to know what Dallas was doing In
Pompano Beach the last two winters The Texans brought
no followers spent little and according to the telephone
company, delinquent on the matter of tolls But
Buffalo prior to Dallas good for the town." Miller
says. The Bisons conduct their calisthenics at
Dunedin close by the Clearwater camp of the parent
Phillies.
The Senators without family will live in one of the
gaudies of the hotels, which features bar with
space motif Thus customer put in an orbitaI mood
before he's even served The other players and officials
will be scattered although not widely Pompano Beach
isn't very big, just prosperous.