Charlie Says But What About Me?

Fletcher Interview Is Set For Monday
Association Leaders Talk With Johnson
[Tri-City Herald, Dec. 23, 1952]
Grumpy Guy Fletcher of Sacramento is next on the list of persons to be interviewed for the job as playing -manager of the Tri-City Braves.
The Tri-City Athletic Association and the Tri-City Booster club officials talked with former Seattle hurler Earl Johnson Monday night about the job. No commitment was made and the association told Johnson they would think it over.
Meanwhile, the same groups plan to meet with Fletcher next Monday. Fletcher will bring with him Mike Radan, also of Sacramento, who is considered top prospect for business manager.
A decision on playing manager is expected after the group meets with Fletcher. Harold Matheson, president of the association, said they do not plan to meet with anyone else.
Both Fletcher and Radan were recommended to the association by catcher Nick Pesut, who incidentally, is a Booster Club member by virtue of having purchased shares of stock. The two men were also recommended by Jojo White who was once considered for the playing manager job.
Meanwhile, the association is sending last season’s manager Charlie Gassaway a letter explaining their position pertaining to his job. The association is not “shutting the door” on Gassaway Matheson said, but “we want him to know others are being considered.”
Through a misunderstanding, Gassaway believed he was to be retained as manager under the new setup. Matheson said he did not learn of this until Monday when Gassaway called and asked authority to purchase some players from Cleveland.
Although, in theory, Gassaway is still being considered, the choice of playing manager is quite certain to be either Fletcher of Johnson.
At the interview Tuesday night, the association and Booster members discussed Johnson's possibilities and his plans. Johnson pointed out he has good connections through organized ball.
Johnson, like Gassaway and Fletcher, is a former Pacific Coast Conference pitcher. Johnson was with the Boston Red Sox before coming to Seattle in 1951.
Those attending the meeting were Matheson, Kit Campbell, Charlie Jenkins, Dwight Hendricks, Fred Huber, Joe Cronan, Elmer Matheson, Mike Cronin, Steve Johnson, Hazy Hayes and Lou Lindler.

Manager Hunt in Tri-City

Johnson, Fletcher Top Choices For Manager
[Tri-City Herald, Dec. 21, 1952]
The choice of playing manager for the Tri-City Braves was believed to have boiled down to a choice between Earl Johnson and Grumpy Guy Fletcher, both former Pacific Coast conference hurlers with Fletcher holding the inside track.
Both men along with others have applied for the job. The selection is expected to be made Monday.
Fletcher is a 42-year-old North Carolinian who started his organized baseball career in 1935 with Beaumont, Tex. He hit his stride 10 years later when he had a 24
won, 14 lost record with Sacramento.
He had another big year in 1949 when he was with Seattle. He had a 23-12 record and tied in the league lead for shutouts and most complete games pitched.
Fletcher came to the coast in 1944 and went to Seattle in 1947. He was traded to San Francisco at the end of the 1950 season. During 1951, he was traded to San Diego and last year he finished there with a 14-16 record.
Johnson is a native of Washington. He was born in Redmond in 1919 and pitched for Ballard and St. Mary's high at Seattle.
He was signed at Seattle by the late Earl Sheely, former boss of the Rainiers,1 who was St. Mary's coach and Boston Red Sox scout at the time.
Johnson first went to Rocky Mount in the Piedmont league in 1940, his first season in organized ball. He moved to the Red Sox later that season after piling up a 12-6 record at Rocky Mount.
He was with Boston until 1950 except for the years from 1942 until 1945 when he was an infantryman in the Army. He saw considerable action including the Battle of the Bulge.
His best year with Boston was 1948 when he had a 10-4 record. In 1947, his record was 12-11 in 45 appearances and he had an earned run average of 2.98.
Johnson started with the Red Sox in 1950 then went to Louisville and to Detroit. He got his outright release in mid-season and came to Seattle where he helped the Rainiers to a pennant with an 8-3 record.
Last1 season a virus infection hampered his start and he never got untracked. He had a 0-2 record at the end of the season.
Johnson, who lives in Seattle, said “his arm is fine” and he thinks he is still a consistent winner.
His brother Chet, also a portsider, pitches for Oakland.