APRIL 15,, 1929
KINGS OWNER SAID TO BE SERIOUSLY ILL
Opening day is typically a joyous occasion in baseball. Every club is filled with hope for what might become of the season ahead and the sad reality, that occurs for most clubs at some stage of the year, has yet to set in. However, in Brooklyn the excitement of April baseball is greatly tempered this year with recent word that Kings owner Malcolm Presley has suffered what is only being announced as a serious illness.
The Kings have been owned by the Presley brothers - 88 year old Malcolm and his late brother Reginald - since taking over from Barnabas Colson in 1898. Reginald passed away in 1920 leaving Malcolm to run the team alone although in recent years Presley's grandson Eugene Weston has become slightly more involved in the operation of the club. The 32 year old Weston is said to be much more focused on the social aspects of being tied to a baseball club rather than having any interest in the day to day operations. He did excel at golf in his youth and was a frequent playing partner of Rollie Barrell.
There is speculation that if Weston does not take over control of the club, either due to Malcolm not wishing to trust him with the responsibility or Weston lacking the desire to do so, there is a good chance the club could be sold. There have not been any discussions of potential suitors but one name to consider is OSA co-founder Thomas Potentas, who is related to the Presley family as the son of Malcolm's wife's sister.