Edo Signed

Vanni Named Braves Manager
Selection Eliminates Outfielder Problem; Gets Season's Pact
[Tri-City Herald, Jan. 27, 1953]
The selection of Edo Vanni, former manager of the Vancouver Capilanos, as new manager of the Tri-City Braves was confirmed today by Len Monheimer, general manager.
Monheimer received word Monday night that Vanni was given his release by Vancouver. He will be signed to a full season contract soon.
Vanni will go to work immediately lining up a team. The greatest need is pitchers. It was hoped that Vanni could get two from Vancouver but the deal fell through.
The selection of Vanni eliminates one major problem — finding a hard-hitting outfielder. The new playing manager hit .297 last season for Vancouver. He was 18th in the league among players who played 50 games or more.
Monheimer said the full-season's contract expresses the “confidence of myself and the board” in Vanni.
The majority of the board have leaned toward Vanni's selection for some time. However, they wanted first to hear Eddie Fernandez, catcher-manager for Pocatello in the Pioneer league. Pocatello was a St. Louis Brown farm club and there was a possibility of reaching a working agreement with the Browns through Fernandez.
However, two things ruled in Vanni's favor. First of all, the selection of Fernandez would mean the sale of Nick Pesut, popular catcher for the Braves. Second was Vanni's knowledge of the league.
Monheimer will leave for Las Vegas today to clean up his business there.
He was formerly manager of Las Vegas in the Southwest International League.
He is expected to return to either the Tri-Cities or Seattle to confer with Vanni.
Meanwhile, at a meeting of the Tri-City Athletic association, all members of the board of directors were re-elected. They are Harold Matheson, president; Steve Johnson, vice president; Howard Beste, secretary - treasurer; Bob Philip, Harry Owens, Kit Campbell and Hazy Hayes.
At the suggestion of Phillip, Matheson was awarded a season box seat in appreciation of his work in retaining the club here. Matheson also announced at the meeting that the various drives
netted a total of $33,000. Of this sum $8,150 has been spent for various fees and the balance left is the exact price of the club—$25,000.
He pointed out that the Braves have “in effect" six players plus recently signed from Vancouver and now Vanni.
“We will need $10,000 to $15,000 more,” he said, “to purchase players and especially pitchers.”
He urged everyone present to sell someone $50-$100 worth of stock.