Published Oct. 23, 1992|Updated Oct. 12, 2005
Watching the Braves this week, I recall their winning of the 1958 Series with Hank Aaron, Warren Spahn, Lew Burdette, Eddie Mathews, et al. Funny thing _ they were the Milwaukee Braves then. Before that, they were the Boston Braves! And there wouldn't be any San Francisco Giants if they hadn't left New York. Everyone knows about the Dodgers, the Senators (twice) and the Pilots. So much for the sacred tradition of not moving a team.
Then we hear that Florida, the fourth largest state, can't support two teams. California has five; New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Texas have two each; and Missouri has a team at each end of the state. The 4-million population city of Chicago has two.
Through the '80s, we were patted on the head and told to "wait for expansion." Then, the Pittsburgh Pirates' chairman Douglas Danforth and friends set us up to fail because their friend Wayne Huizenga entered the sweepstakes at the last minute. Again, "they" patted our heads and said to be patient _ there will be teams to buy and relocate.
Now the outrageous truth is seeping out _ "they" don't need a legitimate excuse. Tampa Bay is to be denied a team for any or no reason.
This is the most flagrant and arrogant abuse of power and personal privilege and must be stopped!
Mr. and Mrs. James C. Boyd, St. Petersburg
Gee whiz, I sure don't understand these big-city ways, down here in Florida.
When we were up in southern Indiana, we would follow and attend National League games in Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis. Some of us were fans of one or the other of the aforementioned teams and would get around to attending games in each of the three cities _ especially when the Cards would visit the Reds or the Reds visited the Cubs.
Now, I come down to the Sunshine State and I hear that a Mr. Huizenga feels that a baseball team in St. Petersburg would be too close to his team in Miami. It seems to this ol' hick from the Hoosier State that there should be intense interest throughout southern Florida when the rivalry begins to grow between the two National League teams.
Oh, well, maybe Wayne is right. Maybe a team in St. Petersburg would completely sink the fortunes of his team _ especially when you look at his team's win/loss record.
Oh, yes, could you answer this question? With Wayne Huizenga's Marlins' win/loss record, how does he get a vote in Major League Baseball's control group?
Sure don't understand this modern-day baseball stuff.
Dick Schneck, Oldsmar
I can't believe what I have seen in my old hometown.
First, a $138-million stadium is built with absolutely no encouragement from the only prospective tenant.
Then, four millionaires offer $115-million for a mediocre baseball team that has been losing money for years.
Next, a stadium lease is negotiated that gives 95 percent of the revenue to the first party and 100 percent of the debt to the second party.
Finally, 30,000 people buy season tickets for a team that doesn't exist.
But then, this is Florida (where 17 cities have spent hundreds of millions of dollars to watch a few practice games each spring), and St. Petersburg, which started the whole thing about 80 years ago.
Is there no end to this baseball madness? Do all 13-million Floridians belong in an asylum?
I can foresee only one thing that might put an end to it. Sooner or later, those 27 other owners will want to cut in on Mr. Lurie's windfall; they will require an unprecedented relocation fee from the new owners to indemnify them for I-know-not-what.
When that happens, I hope someone will stand up and say, "Take your team! I'll see you in court."
Hal Potter, St. Petersburg
"Crime does pay'
Re: Female death-row inmate freed, Oct. 11.
If I stretch my imagination, perhaps I can understand how this person can be freed from prison for killing two police officers after she pleaded guilty. But when I read further that this was a "plea of convenience" and that the plea means she does not concede she is guilty, I get lost. I get further lost when the article goes on to say, "but (she) recognizes it is in her best interest to plead guilty."
Is she or is she not pleading guilty? This is another example of blatant abuse of the legal system and clearly demonstrates once again that crime does pay!
John A. Dufek, Seminole
Paying attention?
I'm discovering that all my friends are spending more and more time discussing Ross Perot in a positive vein.
Anyone else notice this? Maybe we should pay attention.
Bill Walt, St. Petersburg
Young enough for motherhood
Re: Pregnant grandmother stirs debate, Oct. 7.
Concerning the pregnant grandmother critics called too old for motherhood, from my own experience, she isn't.
My first two babies came in my late 30s, my last in my mid-40s. Today they are married with children and I am still young and vibrant at 69.
Being born to younger parents doesn't guarantee that those parents have any staying power. My parents split when I was 9 and that was about the last I saw of them.
Marjorie Mang, Spring Hill
