Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-11-17

from lCS Longtime owner, Lou
Perrin, a. 59-year-old con
quarters near the Braves old
home in Boston, announced
sale of 80 per cent of the club S
assets for SIS million yester-
day.
Perrin. who startled the base
ball world by moving the Braves
to Milwaukee shortly before the
start of the 1853 season, sur
prised most observers with his
announcement at a hastily
called news conference.
Perrin to Remain
Rather than break away from
the game entirely, however
Perrin said that his corporation
will retain a 10 per cent in
terest in the club and he will
remain as chairman of the
Executive Committee and as a
of the board of di-
rectors.
The syndicate of new owners
is headed by two former direc-
tors of the White Sox, William
c. Bartholomay, "a, of Lake
Forest, H., and Lake Geneva,
Wis, and Thomas A. Reynolds,
jr., "a, of Northfield. Ill. Bar
tholomay is a Chicago insur-
ance broker and Reynolds is a
partner in a Chicago business
firm.
McHale, Al, PERMITS choice to
become general manager in
1859 and then to assume the
additional responsibility OF
president last year, will re-
main in both positions as well
as being a co-owner.
Other members of the new
group are John j. Louis, jr.,
81, of Phoenix, Ariz.. and Cable,
Wis; Daniel C. Searle, So, a
Winnetka, Ill, business execu-
tive; James B. McCahey, jr.,
Al. a fuel company executive
from Evanston, ILL.,, and Delbert
w. Coleman, So, of Winnetka
a prominent investment execu-
tive.
At Lowest Ebb
Bartholomay and Reynolds
said that the success of the
Milwaukee franchise depends
substantially on the loyal sup
port of local organizations" and
I'VE will include in the owner
ship group other civic-minded
fans from Wisconsin whose
names will be announced soon. -
The new owners assume con-
troll at a time when the Braves
fortunes are at their lowest
ebb since their final season in
Boston in 1852. They drew
more than one million fans in
each of their first nine years in
Milwaukee, reaching a high of
2,2l5,504 for 70 home dates in
1857.
The club dropped to fifth
place this past season and at
tendance dipped to 767, 221 de-
spite an expanded schedule in a
10-team league. 1t now is in
the process of negotiating a
new contract for the county
owned stadium, which is not
involved in the sale of the
teams assets.
Perrin said that in some 20
years as owner of the Braves he
had received many offers fol-
the club" He noted that he
had said many times the club
was not for sale, but that he
now feels "a good deal more
can be accomplished by new
ownership"
Negotiate Nine Days
I'VE never expected to SELL"
he added. However, the mem
berS of our corporate family,
particularly myself, have found
it more and more difficult to
participate as fully as we would
like in the affairs of the club
and to give Braves President
John McHale the on-the-spot
backing he deserves.
"The Braves are in good
hands. These are vital, i'm
aginative young men with base
ball ownership experience who
will add much to baseball's
leadership"
Bartholomay said that his
group purchased the Milwaukee
team after only nine days Of
negotiations. 1t was reported
he acted after Perrin had re-
ceived an offer of $4.5 million
dollars from another group.
In Cincinnati, Nationa'
League President Warren Giles
said he is confident that the
sale of the Braves will be q
Stimulant to baseball interest
in Milwaukee"