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 However, before I begin, I’d like to announce that the cities of Milwaukee and Minneapolis have withdrawn their bids, so we will be deciding amongst 8 cities (see what happens when you don’t volunteer for fun stuff?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
June 21: Two Dead in Bizarre Shooting Incident
Two secretaries for the Universal Insurance Agency were pronounced dead at County Hospital yesterday after a shooting incident in a high-rise downtown. Mr. Jock Ewing was arrested after discharging 12 pistol shots into the ceiling of a 10th floor meeting room. The Insurance Agency is on the 11th floor.
3Run: If only spirit were more heavily weighted. I know from personal experience that Dallas is HOT year round, so the skin would melt rather than rot.
Papi: Thank you, glad you could get caught up! I really like the input, so I devised this to see who was really paying attention. :D Norfolk has a long road to climb, but they have as equal a chance as any other city.
Petrel: Probably not, but you never know ;)
3Run: Should've seen that coming...
***
In came William H. Gates. He gave us a report similar to Kansas City’s.
City: Seattle
Nickname: Fishers
Proposed Stadium: Sick’s Seattle Stadium, 11,000; plans are underway for building a new 47,000 seat stadium in downtown Seattle.
Financial Backing: Airline giant Boeing Corporation will provide a lot of the funding for this new team, as well as the funds for a new stadium.
Fanbase: Yes, a very excited fanbase. Seattle feels that the West Coast has been ignored by the National League. With a team in Seattle, it will offer plenty of new opportunities for the league to expand its influence.
He did advise us that the expansion would have to come after the war, as Boeing was too busy building fighters and bombers for the military to worry about a baseball team.
Gates left quietly and quickly.
“Is New Orleans here yet? No? Okay, send in San Francisco!”
Seattle can't support the largest stadium in the NL! That'd be like trying to fill the Roman Colosseum with a Marbles tournament! :)
You changed the stadium! It was originally William R. King Memorial Stadium!Quote:
Originally Posted by PotatoOfCouch13
CatKnight: Actually, the Polo Grounds can hold 56K, but it's averaging about 45K this year, though the Giants aren't out by a long shot.
Coach: I searched for about 30 minutes, and couldn't find anything about William R. King Stadium. So I just figured it to be unbuilt, and offered Sick's as a temporary home. I should've checked with you first though.
I created WHK Memorial Stadium! Why can't I do that?
That'll be the name of the new permanent stadium then, if Seattle is granted a team.
My bad :o
"If Seattle is granted a team"?! What's that supposed to mean!?Quote:
Originally Posted by PotatoOfCouch13
It's not a guaranteed thing. The National League isn't going from 8 to 16 teams in one season.Quote:
Originally Posted by Coach Owens
Can't you put four in the AL?
Coach: I suppose that if (read: when) the AL expands, they'll consider many of the same cities, especially those high in population. But there will only be 2 teams admitted to the fraternity that is the National League. For now.
***
Bill Veeck walked into the room. A lot of the owners groaned, but I didn’t. I had a lot of respect for the man. He had tried to buy the Phillies back in 1942. The only reason Judge Landis blocked the deal was because Veeck was going to integrate the team by taking the best players from the Negro Leagues and putting them all on the same team. Of course, the other owners forced Landis’ hand, by playing their African-American players anyways, and now integration was a common theme amongst teams like the Dodgers and the Phillies. Veeck was an outsider with lots of new ideas, but was a master promoter, and was a very likeable guy. He often said his last name was “Veeck, as in wreck.”
He presented a report as well:
Stadium: San Francisco Municipal Stadium will be built by 1947 with a cost at just over $1.5 million. It will be able to seat 27,500 spectators, and it will be expandable up to over 40,000.
Financial Backing: I, Bill Veeck, have been looking to bring major league baseball to the west coast for a while, and will be the sole owner of the team if it is given the rights of expansion.
Fanbase: The San Francisco Bay Area has a rich tradition of baseball history, supporting the minor league Seals and Oaks. The fanbase will support a major league team, but they do expect winning within a few years (+5%)
Other: The newly formed All-American Football Conference (AAFC) will be placing a team in San Francisco, and are planning on playing in Kezar Stadium. If the new stadium is built, the 49er's will move to the new stadium sharing dual occupancy in September while controlling it from the months of October to January while the Baseball team controls it from Feburary to August.
***
With New Orleans still nowhere in sight, Baltimore was up next. Clarence Miles and Jerry Hofberger were on hand to represent their group.
“Gentlemen, I will keep this short but sweet. Baltimore has never quite gotten over the fact that the National League ABANDONED [sic] her in 1899, and left her for dead in 1922 (the Supreme Court case giving baseball its anti-trust exemption. Needless to say, Baltimore was angry over the closing of the Federal League, so they sued). However, we are willing to overlook that with a new expansion team in 1948 at the earliest.
“I and my associates are very willing to field a competitive team in Baltimore. We feel as though that our team, henceforth to be called the Orioles, can provide a National League threat to the Senators. I know that the gentleman from Philadelphia (that’s me!) might be concerned about territorial infringement. However, he has no need to fear, as Baltimore will be solely focused on the Washington, DC area and the surrounding states to the south and west.
“As for a stadium, the current International League Orioles play in Oriole Park, which will be a suitable replacement for now. However, the old wooden structure is getting up there in years, so a new ballpark may be on the horizon.
“In conclusion, Baltimore feels as though it deserves a franchise, especially after the way it’s been treated by the National League. The Orioles will be a class organization, and will become one of the greatest teams of all-time should it be admitted into the NL.”
***
The Orioles contingent left, but the excitement wasn't over.
A man, clearly frazzled, burst through the door.
"Mr. Gilbert! So glad you could join us! You're up next!"
***
Gilbert took a moment to catch his breath, then began his report. Another one, neatly typed.
City: New Orleans
Financed by: Myself, Larry Gilbert, and a syndicate of local business people. I am a former major league baseball player. Since retiring I have been involved with baseball in the Southern Association New Orleans and Nashville. I am currently part-owner of the Nashville Vols.
Fanbase: Baseball has a long baseball history in New Orleans. The Pelicans were a founder member of the Southern Association in 1902. It's well known that Louisianans are fanatical about football. We believe we can bring them a succesful major league baseball team that they could be equally fanatical about.
Stadium: City Park Stadium, a modern facility with a capacity of around 30,000 will be leased from the city. We understand that heat and humidity are an issue. With the war entering it's final stages there will be a huge surplus of airplane parts, specifically propellors. We are currently carrying out a feasability study into mounting dozens of these around the stadium to keep spectators cool.
***
So is "Myself, Larry Gilbert," the same person?Quote:
Originally Posted by PotatoOfCouch13
Yeah, Larry Gilbert is one man. I guess cut and paste didn't work out as well as I thought it would. Oops :p
ONE KILLED, TWENTY INJURED IN FREAK ACCIDENT
June 6, 1948: (New Orleans) - Tragedy struck today when a foul ball struck one of the propellors meant to keep fans cool during one of the hottest summers on record.
The propellor shredded the ball, scattering shrapnel at upwards of 150 mph through sections 310-314. One died when the cork core struck him in the back of the head, while others received minor injuries as other parts of the ball fired like bullets from the whirling propellor.
Said New Orleans officials: "At least it wasn't as bad as what happened in May when one of the propellors came loose!"
In an attempt to draw in fans growing leery of the stadium's cooling system, team officials are looking at mounting the propellors straight up. They theorize that these rotors, shaped and angled like Igor Sikorsky's rotary-winged craft, could allow the stadium to take off.
The US Government is looking at air traffic laws that would need modifying if a stadium became airborne.
That's 3 innocent bystanders killed as a result of this meeting. Who knew expansion was so risky?
If anyone else dies, maybe you should call the whole thing off. ;)
On the other hand, it would be a great name for a team. The New Orleans Pilots. (Or perhaps, the "Propellorheads".)
--Pet
ALL: The deaths are a bit of a downer, but look on the bright side: if New Orleans doesn't get a team, then I saved a life! :D
The final candidate, Los Angeles, presents tonight! And stay tuned for the surprise (hint: it's a perfectly placed swerve)!
How are you going to decide who gets in or not?
Coach: A lot of common sense, I guess. I looked over the proposals (including the ones I did myself), and tried to see which was most suitable for an NL team. Population and growth rate played a part, as did baseball history in that city, stadium size, fan base, and ownership. You may find that the selections are a bit common, but there's always room for more...
***
“Alright, last but not least, Los Angeles.”
Phillip Wrigley stood up and strode to the front of the room.
The other 6 owners had a puzzled look on their faces. I was confused as well.
“Relax, I’m not moving the Cubs. The Wrigley Chewing Gum company owns a stadium in downtown L.A., it just made sense for me to submit a bid.”
“Well, you can’t own both the Cubs and an expansion franchise! That’s unfair!” whined Sam Breadon.
“I’ll sell the Cubs if granted this expansion team. Do you fellows mind if I get started?”
I must say, Phil had definitely prepared the best proposal of the day. He had all the bases covered, so to speak (pardon the awful baseball pun).
STADIUM: As he mentioned, the Wrigley family owned 2 Wrigley Fields: the famed one in Chicago, and another one in Los Angeles. Currently the home of the minor-league Angels, Wrigley claims to be able to add 10,000 seats to the current 22,000 capacity by the time 1947 arrives.
FINANCIAL BACKING: We all know what Phil has done with the Cubs, so there really aren’t too many issues with management here.
FANBASE: We were assured that the West Coast would welcome baseball with open arms, not only by LA, but by San Fran and Seattle as well. Being the 5th-most populated city in America, they better be ready, because all signs point to the NL going west…
***
Just so you know, if you don't include Seattle, you won't live to see tomorrow! :D :p
You could always make it a poll, asking readers to try and get the mindset of a mid-40s NL owner before voting for two choices. That way, if Seattle isn't included Coach won't know WHO to kill :)
Coach: :eek:
CatKnight: that's a really good idea. Can I do that here, or do I have to make a separate thread for the poll?
You might be able to add one by editing your first post.Quote:
Originally Posted by PotatoOfCouch13