TACOMA, Nov. 12— Attorney Robert Abel, re-elected president of the Western International Baseball League at a directors meeting in Yakima this week, says the loop leaders discussed hiring a full - time president but took no definite action.
Roy E. Hotchkiss, owner of the
Spokane Indians said after the meeting Tuesday the directors had decided the league needed a fulltime president and Abel had indicated he could not accept the job on that basis.
Abel told a reporter Wednesday: “This question has been discussed many times over a period of many years and it was discussed again at the Yakima meeting. That's all there is to it.”
Abel said the directors voted to end the first half of the split season scheduled for next year on July 4.
W.I.L. Seeking Full-Time President; Player Salary, Veteran Limits Raised
[Victoria Colonist, Nov. 13, 1952]
W.I.L. owners would like to know who authorized the Monday night release from Associated Press which stated that all officials, including president Bob Abel, had been re-elected at a league meeting in Yakima.
Reg Patterson, business manager of the Victoria Tyees, stated yesterday that the report was erroneous and that a new president will not be named until the annual meeting in January.
Decision over the president was lengthy and acrimonious but it was finally decided that the league needed and would have a full-time head. The job was then offered to Abel on that basis but the Tacoma barrister stated his unwillingness to accept a full-time job. This made it almost certain that the league will have a new president next season. All clubs will be represented at the annual meeting of baseball’s minor league in Phoenix early next month and it is expected that representatives will be on the lookout for a suitable man.
Monday’s meeting, from the standpoint of accomplishment, was one of the best ever held by the W.I.L. In addition to the drawn-out presidential issue, the league decided to increase its player and salary limits and to do away with the drastic restrictions on player personal imposed last season. In 1953 the W.I.L. will be a class “A” league in fact as well as name.
The player limit was increased from 17 to 18 and the salary limit from $5,200 per month to $5,700. Each club will be permitted to have 14 veterans, the balance of the roster to be limited service and rookie players. Six of the veterans must be “class” men—players who have had less than 45 games in leagues of higher classification and, in the case of pitchers, less than 45 innings of action.
However, there still remains some doubt about whether or not the “class” limitation is possible. The matter will be cleared up at the minor-league meeting.
It was also decided to increase the league transportation pool. Previously, only receipts from all Labor Day games went into the pool. Next season there will be an additional levy of one cent per each admission.
April 24 was set as the opening date and Labor day will ring down the regular schedule, which will be approximately 144 games. The split season was ratified and the winners of the first and second halves will meet in a best-of-seven post-season series for the league championship. If one team wins both halves it automatically becomes the pennant winner.
The drawing up of a schedule for the far-flung 10-team circuit is proving difficult and no definite action will be taken on a schedule until the January meeting.
The meeting also brought out the almost near certainty that all 10m clubs will start next season. Wenatchee has met with considerable success in refinancing and it is expected that the Tri-City situation will eventually be cleared up.
And, finally, the meeting brought out that the W.I.L. is now a completely-independent circuit, except for Vancouver, controlled by the Seattle Rainiers. The Yakima franchise, which was 75 per cent owned by the San Francisco Seals, is now owned outright by Fred “Junior” Mercy, former minority stockholder, who purchased the San Francisco interest. It is reported that the Bears received more good players from the Seals in the deal, among them first baseman Len Noren, shortstop Don Alfano, who was with the 1950 Victoria club for a few weeks, and Dario Lodigiani, who managed the club last season.
New WIL Prexy Won’t R.P. Brown
[Vancouver Province, Nov. 13, 1952]
The Western International Baseball League will probably have a new president next January, but it won’t be Bob Brown.
The Vancouver Capilanos general manager said today he’d been nominated for the position at the recent meeting by Fred Mercy, Jr., of Yakima, but “declined the honor.” It would mean moving away from Vancouver, he said, and after 42 years in a town you get somewhat attached to it.
Sports Notes
By Gil Gilmore
[Tri-City Herald, Nov. 13, 1952]
If there was ever a time, the Tri-Cities should go all out to keep the franchise it is now. The 10-team league promises to make things about 10 times more interesting.
Salary increases as well as the higher limits on the number of veterans eligible to play should improve the caliber of ball.
The playoffs alone should add zest to the league play. It was pretty well taken for granted that the ghost owners of the Tri-City Braves Braves would want to move the franchise to Eugene but another person backing the move is Hugh Luby of the Salem Senators.
Hugh was pretty disgusted with the small take here when his team played the final game of the season at Sanders. Like so many others, he got the 200 minimum.
He also has another reason for wanting the Tri-City franchise to move to Eugene. It not only cuts the traveling some but a red-hot rivalry between Salem and Eugene certainly wouldn't hurt the take at the Salem gate.
With a low more fans they could make money. Salem lost a little over 5,000 this season.
SCHEDULE
Apparently, the WIL bigwigs told Luby if you don't like our schedule, draw up one of your own and we will take a look at it. Anyhow, Luby's schedule will get the once-over from the league at the Phoenix meeting.
Luby has voiced some objections to the idea of playing all the games away from home during the summer months. That's the big drawing time in Salem.
With Calgary and Edmonton in the league, it's necessary that the two Canadian cities play away because of unfavorable weather there.
Salary increases as well as the higher limits on the number of veterans eligible to play should improve the caliber of ball.
The playoffs alone should add zest to the league play. It was pretty well taken for granted that the ghost owners of the Tri-City Braves Braves would want to move the franchise to Eugene but another person backing the move is Hugh Luby of the Salem Senators.
Hugh was pretty disgusted with the small take here when his team played the final game of the season at Sanders. Like so many others, he got the 200 minimum.
He also has another reason for wanting the Tri-City franchise to move to Eugene. It not only cuts the traveling some but a red-hot rivalry between Salem and Eugene certainly wouldn't hurt the take at the Salem gate.
With a low more fans they could make money. Salem lost a little over 5,000 this season.
SCHEDULE
Apparently, the WIL bigwigs told Luby if you don't like our schedule, draw up one of your own and we will take a look at it. Anyhow, Luby's schedule will get the once-over from the league at the Phoenix meeting.
Luby has voiced some objections to the idea of playing all the games away from home during the summer months. That's the big drawing time in Salem.
With Calgary and Edmonton in the league, it's necessary that the two Canadian cities play away because of unfavorable weather there.
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