Brown Elected WIL President
PHOENIX, Ariz., Dec. 3 — Bob Brown, a Notre Dame halfback back in 1895, was elected president of the Western International League Tuesday. It was the first time the league had a full-time president.
Brown, general manager of the Vancouver, B. C., club since he entered organized baseball, was unanimously named at the suggestion of Bob Abel, Tacoma, Wash., attorney, who has headed the league since 1937. Abel then was elected secretary and legal adviser to the circuit.
Brown came west in 1900 after serving in the Spanish American War. He was with Joe Tinker, former Chicago Cub star, when the Northwestern League, forerunner to the Western International, was formed.
Action on the Tri-City franchise wass postponed until Wednesday to await advice from Orin (Babe) Hollingbery. former Washington State football coach, who has been acting as agent for Dick Richards, majority stockholder, in negotiations for the sale of the club to a fans association.
Bob Brown Named WIL President; Dewey Soriano Capilanos New GM
New Boss Takes Over Here January 1
By CLANCY LORANGER
[Vancouver Province, Dec. 3, 1952]
A storied, colorful chapter in northwest baseball history ended Tuesday when Bob Brown traded in his “Vancouver’s Mr. Baseball” title for a new one: “The WIL’s Mr. Baseball.”
With the announcement from Phoenix, Arizona, currently the scene of the game’s national convention, that Brown had been elected president of the Western International League, a local tradition of more than 40 years was tucked away in the archives.
Brown left his “baby”—which had patches on its pants through many a lean year but grew up to be rich and successful and make its parents proud—in good hands.
Dewey Soriano, no stranger here, is the young man (he’ll be 33 next February 8) who’ll take over as Capilanos’ general manager and try and help local fans reconcile the improbable prospect of Vancouver baseball without Bob Brown.
Not completely without him, of course. In his new job, the old redhead, who’s been on the premises since 1910, no doubt will keep a paternal eye on Dewey’s doing. Bob told The Province today by long-distance phone he will make his headquarters here; he was offered the WIL presidency, now a full-time job, in November but turnedit down because he said he didn’t want to leave Vancouver.
League Means Business
Since that time pressure has been brought to bear on him within the league to accept the position, for it is felt nobody is better qualified to handle it. In fact, Bob has often been accused of running the league from his Capilano office, anyway.
Recent acceptance of Edmonton and Calgary culminated a two-year campaign by Ruby Robert to get them into the WIL, which went up to Class A status last summer and is beginning to feel its post-war oats. Appointment of a full-time president, for the first time, indicates the league means business, too—so Bob’s work is cut out for him. He’ll have ex-president Bob Abel, prexy since 1937, as secretary and legal adviser.
Soriano, like last year’s manager Edo Vanni, first came to Vancouver fans’ attention when he moved up to the Coast League Rainiers from Seattle’s Franklin High School in 1939.
But Dewey is best known here as the president-part owner-relief pitcher of the 1949 Yakima Bears.
Soriano Starts Jan. 1
Soriano was the bane of the bleacherites that year whenever he planted his six-feet-some 220 pounds on the Yakima mound. He won 14, lost two, had the league’s best earned run average—2.30—and was the main reason Yakima won the pennant by seven games over a very good Capilano team.
Dewey spent another year at Yakima, then returned to the Coast League in 1951 as a relief pitcher with San Francisco. He’s been with ‘Frisco before, Pittsburgh Pirates sending him there after his arm trouble had ended his short major league whirl. A four-year tour in the service shortened his playing career, too. He was out of baseball last year, plying his trade as a commercial fisherman.
Soriano will pay an “informal” visit here as soon as the National Association meeting is over, but won’t take over his official duties until Jan. 1.Then he’ll only have 42 years to go to match Bob Brown’s record.
Showing posts with label Bob Brown. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bob Brown. Show all posts
Tuesday, 11 March 2008
WIL Meeting Aftermath
Abel Says No Action Taken On His Job
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]
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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