Today?
Printable View
Today?
I suppose I could start today. I don't have everything set up, but I can start with the stuff I do have...
It will definitely be more than one post. Yeah, I'll start today. :D
EXPANSION: PART 1
JUNE 20
Expansion. Who would’ve thought that baseball would become so big, that the classic 8 teams of the National League would need to add more to their ranks. Perhaps it was driven by the possibility of more money. Perhaps it was driven by the want of millions of fans in distant locales across the country that yearned for a baseball team. The only thing I know, is that I’m going to have to sit through 10 presentations and mull them over in my head until the All-Star Break, when the NL will reconvene and vote upon the two cities that will join us in the coming years.
I got to the meeting room a little early by my standards, but the seats were almost all full. All 7 of the other owners were there, as well as NL President Ford Frick. I must have missed some people though, as there were only 7 faces that I didn’t recognize. I thought there were supposed to be 10 proposals…
“All right, let’s get started.” Ford Frick took control of the meeting room. “Now, we all know why we’re here, so I’m not going to waste much more time. However, before I begin, I’d like to announce that the cities of Milwaukee and Minneapolis have withdrawn their bids, so we will be deciding amongst 8 cities (see what happens when you don’t volunteer for fun stuff? Great people from the upper Midwest won’t get to have a baseball team, thanks to you. I bet you feel awful now). Gentlemen, if I could have you all leave the room, and we can begin with Mr. Kimball.
Oh, who cares about Milwaukee and Minnesota. They like football and hockey (shudder) out there. :D
How's that D-Day invasion going? Think it will turn out alright?
Well, as long as Pittsburgh doesn't have anything happen near it to threaten the Pirates, I couldn't really care who gets the team. But now that I think of it, I wanna guess the three mystery cities...
1-Denver
2-Atlanta
3-Going out on a limb here and I'm going to say...Toronto...yeah. Definetly going to pick Toronto
MY TURN!Quote:
Originally Posted by CDuffy26
1. Montreal
2. Vancouver (I don't know why I guessed them. *Shrug*)
3. Seattle
3Run: Agreed. I used to watch hockey, but they lost me after the lockout. Now I can't stand it. I'd much rather watch the Red Sox and the Celtics than the Bruins anyways! :D
As for D-Day, I'm not really going to change history outside of baseball, so just assume it happened as it did in real life. If I really want to get all godlike and such, I will, but I'll let you guys know beforehand.
CDuffy: Well, if the Pirates can put together a winning team sometime in the near future, then they won't have to go anywhere.
As for your guesses:
1 - No
2 - No
3 - No
Coach:
1 - No
2 - No
3 - I don't think this is fair to everyone else, but I'll allow it. YES.
****
The other prospective candidates filed out of the room. Frederick Kimball and Collis Huntington stood up and walked to the front of the room. Kimball did most of the talking.
“We would like to present to you our belief that the Norfolk, Virginia area is deserving of a National League franchise.
“During this time of war, our region has experienced tremendous growth and change. Norfolk is a major Port of Embarkation for troops. Our shipyard employs 35,000 and the Navy Yard another 43,000. More than 24,000 dwellings have been added to our region to house the influx of people. Norfolk is an important city in this key point in history. Our ball club's ownership and management team is impressive, if I do say so myself. The team will be owned by Mr. Huntington (owner of the massive Newport News Shipbuilding) and myself (owner of Norfolk & Western Railway). We feel as though we have the means to sustain a professional baseball team through any hardship. We are pleased to announce that Brigadier General John Kilpatrick has agreed to be the General Manager of our team after the war. The Brigadier General commands the Hampton Roads Port of Embarkation. Before the war he ran Madison Square Garden.
“There is a long history of professional baseball in Norfolk. Our current team is the Norfolk Tars, a Class B Piedmont League franchise that formerly was the Durham Bulls. The Tars are a Yankee farm team and have been in operation since 1934. High Rock Park was constructed in 1940, but is unsuited for major league ball. If promised a National League team, we will start plans in motion to construct a new stadium immediately following the end of the war. We have already contracted with the architecture firm of Frank Lloyd Wright to design a park that is modern in every respect.
“The population of the immediate area around Norfolk is approximately 500,000. We also expect to attract fans from among the hundreds of thousands who vacation at Virginia Beach every summer. Our new stadium will be located at the Norfolk end of the short Norfolk and Virginia Beach Railroad. We'll offer a quick, free trip from the oceanfront to the ballpark.
“In conclusion, I hope you take the opportunity to consider our fair city as a viable candidate. If approved, the Norfolk Blues will be ready for action come 1947!”
Norfolk ... darkest of horses.
“Thank you, Mr. Kimball.” Frick spoke. “When you step outside, could you send in the representative from New Orleans, please?”
Kimball nodded, then walked out the door. He poked his head back in about a minute later.
“Sir? The New Orleans rep hasn’t arrived yet.”
“Very well, how about Kansas City?”
“I’ll send him in.”
***
Edward Durwood walked through the door.
“Hello everyone. I regret to announce that my son and business partner Stanley is serving overseas, and is unable to be here today. With that said, we are interested in bringing the National League to Kansas City.”
He presented us with a nicely-typed report, as seen below:
City: Kansas City
Proposed Stadium: Municipal Stadium, 17,500. Kansas City realizes that this is insufficient seating at present, but we have presented an architectural plan that would allow the construction of an upper deck that will bring seating capacity to over 30,000.
Financial backing: Edward D. Durwood and Stanley Durwood would become owners. The Durwoods own a chain of indoor and drive-in movie theatres in Kansas City. They would purchase 51 percent of the team and raise the money for the other 49 percent through stock, similar to the financial plan of the St. Louis Browns. Stanley is currently serving in the US military; his father will act for him while he is at war.
Fanbase: We expect Kansas City to support a team. St. Louis already supports two teams, and Kansas City would be the westernmost team, giving fans in Kansas, Nebraska, and Oklahoma of their own to cheer for. There is a direct rail line from St. Louis to Kansas City, so expensive airplane travel would not be necessary.
He thanked us for listening, then left.
The representative from New Orleans still hadn’t shown up, so Dallas was going to present next.
***
Attachment 14990
TRAIN DERAILED NO INJURIES CONTINUING JOURNEY BY AUTOMOBILE
L. GILBERT (NEW ORLEANS)
LOL
Thank you, Mr. Gilbert. We'll save a spot for you.
Meanwhile...
***
Jock Ewing strode into the room. He was the first person I had seen in a long time with a six-shooter at his hip. He took off his 10-gallon hat, and started his presentation.
“Dallas is the second largest city in Texas (295,000 as of the 1940 census) and easily capable of fulfilling the National League's needs. Major roads connect us with Texas' other two major cities (San Antonio and Houston) as well as Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana. As opposed to certain cities on the Gulf of Mexico, we are not a swamp and are confident any stadium we build won't fall into a bog or be invaded by fourteen billion gnats.
“We are willing to build a stadium in nearby Irving that will seat 35,000 - comparable with Forbes Field and larger than many fields in use today.
“Texas is eager for baseball, and as the largest city outside of gnat infested swamps, we see no problem filling the stadium. All franchise fees and team expenses will be met by me, Jock Ewing of Ewing Oil. In 1943 Ewing Oil cleared $200,000 ($2.5m modern), and that little only because of oil being nationalized during time of war.
“Dallas is ready to make the leap from a mid-size western city to a big-time city like y’all got here in New York. By approving my proposal, I guaran-d*mn-tee that the Cowboys will become a model franchise for the National League. YEEEEEEEHAWWW!”
After letting out that wail, he pulled out 2 six-shooters. Everyone flinched, but relaxed has he started dancing around and shooting his pistols off into the air (mind you, we are not on the top floor of the building…). After he had exhausted all 12 shots, he calmly tucked his pistols away, and started walking out the door.
“Well, that was…exciting.” Ford Frick regained composure. “Alright, Seattle is next!”
***
Dallas gets extra points for spirit, and I agree with Ewing about those swampy Gulf Coast cities. The humidity there will rot the skin right off your bones.
I just got caught up (stupid comcast and their stupid internet and stupid modems, and stupid techs). Anyway, talk about bringing your readers into the story! Good stuff, and for the record, my support is with the Norfolk franchise!
Are we going to meet Jock Ewing's daughter, Paris Ewing? :D
--Pet