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Box 17, Folder 6, Document 142
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Text
9700 W. Grantosa Drive
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53222
October 26, 1964
Ivan Allen, Jr., "Mayor"
"City of Atlanta"
Atlanta, Georgia
Seems to us we have been reading in the press these days
about a shift of a major league franchise better known as the
"Braves" to a "city" called Atlanta. Somewhere in our geography
lessons we learned that this was a city down in a state called
Georgia, the land of peaches and peanuts.
Well, at any rate, we've been reading a few quotes of yours
in our papers here, and to say that we have been amused beyond
description is putting it mildly. To refresh your memory, here are
a few.
"Today we welcome the opportunity to become a symbol of
southern zest and drive, a major league city, a major league
state, and a major league region." Man, this Atlanta must be
quite a place! After all the shenanigans which have gone on be-
tween Atlanta and these young owners of the Braves and the methods
used to effect the transfer of the franchise to Atlanta, about the
best we can say is that the whole business is strictly bush-league.
As for the above quote, up here in Milwaukee we call it BALONEY?
And quite a mouthful at that! Careful now, don't choke.
Another quote. "I don't think anything has been handled more
properly and more above board. It is recognized that when a city
loses attraction for the club, it moves out." Come now, Ivan, you
don't really believe that do you? You couldn't! Don't you know that
from 1903 to 1953 there were no shifts in franchises until the big
money boy from Boston moved his club to Milwaukee in '53? And really,
there is no comparison with that move to the present luring of the
Braves to Atlanta. .
During these years the minor leagues flourished to a reasonable
degree, but once fellows like Stoneham, whose attendance in San
Francisco this past season was nothing to shout about, and O'Malley
whose Dodgers collapsed this year, and Charlie Finley, whose A's
found it easy to land in the cellar, when these fellows decided to
head out in other directions, then came the gradual decline of the
minor leagues. If that last statement of the above quote is true,
then baseball can start screaming, "Look out below!" It's on the
way down and out now.
Another quote. In congratulating Atlantans for their courage
in building an 18 million dollar stadium you have been quoted as
Saying, "They represent the new, dynamic south which is no longer
willing to be side-lined on the back benches." Wow, are those
vote-getting words. You ought to be a sure-fire winner in the next
election with statements like that. Yes, sir, Ivan, I'll bet they
really love you down Atlanta way these days.
To continue. "Our stadium is a southern project, built on
southern soil (No kidding), with southern money, by southern
occupants and contractors. We feel it is uniquely fitting that this
decision has been made which marks almost exactly the centennial
of the day when Atlanta was left an ask-strewn ruin, symbol of a
region's defeat." Isn't that tender! It almost drives one to tears.
How does it happen that Lou Perini isn't building your new
ballyard? Of course, he needs the money like a moose needs a hat-rack,
but after all, isn't Louis one of the owners of your new club? But
that wouldn't look good, would it? There are a few things we have to
keep on the level, aren't there?
And those words about "the centennial of the day when Atlanta
was left an ash-strewn ruin, symbol of a mmmbtmm region's defeat."
Those words could prove to be providential. You could get the same
shoddy treatment from these young owners that we received, and after
they have "bled" you for all they can, they're just apt to dicker
under the table a year in advance with some other unsuspecting city.
Then you too will have a defunct ball pasture like we'll have. We're
planning on bringing back donkey baseball. What'1l you have?
Back in 1959 when John Quinn, now General Manager for the
Phillies, saw the light and left the Braves, the Braves brought in
a guy by the name of John McHale as Yeneral Manager. At that time a
respected and influential citizen of Detroit supposedly said, "The
greatest day in Detroit baseball dawned when McHale left Detroit and
went to Milwaukee." Well, from that day on the fortunes of the Braves
were never in sorrier hands. Now Johnny boy is leaving Milwaukee.
Hallelujah! And with him will go a couple of little boys from our
neighboring state to the south. Good riddance! In our last will and
testament we bequeath them to you, with the hope that you won't be
"taken" like we were. So be careful and insist on a contract for at
i. thirteen years so that you can at least pay for your new
stadium.
We understand you also made a pitch for the St. Louis Cardinals
of the National Football League, but weren't successful. Must be the
Bidwell boys "smelled a rat" and wisely snubbed you. We understand you
had a tremendous crowd for an exhibition game the Cardinals played
there, and a worse crowd when two teams of the American Football
League played a game there. Where were all those Atlantans who, as
you supposedly said "represent the dynamic south?"
And finally, don't forget that chubby little rascal Warren Giles,
the so-called President of the National League. What a boy! With
all the hot air he throws aroundm he reminds us of a central heating
plant. In him, Ford Frick, and Joe Cronin baseball has the highest
type of poor leadership. When baseball establishes its "Hall of Ill-
Fame", we can tell you who will head the list.
With everlasting sympathy to the players on the club, we remain
Very sincerely yours,
Former Braves Fans
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53222
October 26, 1964
Ivan Allen, Jr., "Mayor"
"City of Atlanta"
Atlanta, Georgia
Seems to us we have been reading in the press these days
about a shift of a major league franchise better known as the
"Braves" to a "city" called Atlanta. Somewhere in our geography
lessons we learned that this was a city down in a state called
Georgia, the land of peaches and peanuts.
Well, at any rate, we've been reading a few quotes of yours
in our papers here, and to say that we have been amused beyond
description is putting it mildly. To refresh your memory, here are
a few.
"Today we welcome the opportunity to become a symbol of
southern zest and drive, a major league city, a major league
state, and a major league region." Man, this Atlanta must be
quite a place! After all the shenanigans which have gone on be-
tween Atlanta and these young owners of the Braves and the methods
used to effect the transfer of the franchise to Atlanta, about the
best we can say is that the whole business is strictly bush-league.
As for the above quote, up here in Milwaukee we call it BALONEY?
And quite a mouthful at that! Careful now, don't choke.
Another quote. "I don't think anything has been handled more
properly and more above board. It is recognized that when a city
loses attraction for the club, it moves out." Come now, Ivan, you
don't really believe that do you? You couldn't! Don't you know that
from 1903 to 1953 there were no shifts in franchises until the big
money boy from Boston moved his club to Milwaukee in '53? And really,
there is no comparison with that move to the present luring of the
Braves to Atlanta. .
During these years the minor leagues flourished to a reasonable
degree, but once fellows like Stoneham, whose attendance in San
Francisco this past season was nothing to shout about, and O'Malley
whose Dodgers collapsed this year, and Charlie Finley, whose A's
found it easy to land in the cellar, when these fellows decided to
head out in other directions, then came the gradual decline of the
minor leagues. If that last statement of the above quote is true,
then baseball can start screaming, "Look out below!" It's on the
way down and out now.
Another quote. In congratulating Atlantans for their courage
in building an 18 million dollar stadium you have been quoted as
Saying, "They represent the new, dynamic south which is no longer
willing to be side-lined on the back benches." Wow, are those
vote-getting words. You ought to be a sure-fire winner in the next
election with statements like that. Yes, sir, Ivan, I'll bet they
really love you down Atlanta way these days.
To continue. "Our stadium is a southern project, built on
southern soil (No kidding), with southern money, by southern
occupants and contractors. We feel it is uniquely fitting that this
decision has been made which marks almost exactly the centennial
of the day when Atlanta was left an ask-strewn ruin, symbol of a
region's defeat." Isn't that tender! It almost drives one to tears.
How does it happen that Lou Perini isn't building your new
ballyard? Of course, he needs the money like a moose needs a hat-rack,
but after all, isn't Louis one of the owners of your new club? But
that wouldn't look good, would it? There are a few things we have to
keep on the level, aren't there?
And those words about "the centennial of the day when Atlanta
was left an ash-strewn ruin, symbol of a mmmbtmm region's defeat."
Those words could prove to be providential. You could get the same
shoddy treatment from these young owners that we received, and after
they have "bled" you for all they can, they're just apt to dicker
under the table a year in advance with some other unsuspecting city.
Then you too will have a defunct ball pasture like we'll have. We're
planning on bringing back donkey baseball. What'1l you have?
Back in 1959 when John Quinn, now General Manager for the
Phillies, saw the light and left the Braves, the Braves brought in
a guy by the name of John McHale as Yeneral Manager. At that time a
respected and influential citizen of Detroit supposedly said, "The
greatest day in Detroit baseball dawned when McHale left Detroit and
went to Milwaukee." Well, from that day on the fortunes of the Braves
were never in sorrier hands. Now Johnny boy is leaving Milwaukee.
Hallelujah! And with him will go a couple of little boys from our
neighboring state to the south. Good riddance! In our last will and
testament we bequeath them to you, with the hope that you won't be
"taken" like we were. So be careful and insist on a contract for at
i. thirteen years so that you can at least pay for your new
stadium.
We understand you also made a pitch for the St. Louis Cardinals
of the National Football League, but weren't successful. Must be the
Bidwell boys "smelled a rat" and wisely snubbed you. We understand you
had a tremendous crowd for an exhibition game the Cardinals played
there, and a worse crowd when two teams of the American Football
League played a game there. Where were all those Atlantans who, as
you supposedly said "represent the dynamic south?"
And finally, don't forget that chubby little rascal Warren Giles,
the so-called President of the National League. What a boy! With
all the hot air he throws aroundm he reminds us of a central heating
plant. In him, Ford Frick, and Joe Cronin baseball has the highest
type of poor leadership. When baseball establishes its "Hall of Ill-
Fame", we can tell you who will head the list.
With everlasting sympathy to the players on the club, we remain
Very sincerely yours,
Former Braves Fans
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