If the Dodgers & Giants had not moved West...

thehef · 03-30-2020, 04:14 PM

Not the most in-depth analysis, but a quick, easy, & somewhat entertaining read to pass the time...

https://sports.yahoo.com/giants-dodg...040257025.html

Buster Cherry · 03-30-2020, 05:36 PM

Not many know this but the first team Los Angeles officials approached about moving to the West Coast was the Philadelphia Phillies. Phils owner Bob Carpenter was receptive but then the intra-city Philadelphia A's announced they were headed to Kansas City. Carpenter then figured since he now had Philadelphia all to himself why take a gamble on moving the franchise to Los Angeles. Good thing too. Los Angeles Phillies doesn't sound right.

Déjà Bru · 03-30-2020, 05:47 PM

Westheim, don't look. Look away, I tell you!

"...the Mets are never created..."

If you did look, then feel better that the article does not mention the Portland Raccoons one way or the other.

thehef · 03-30-2020, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buster Cherry

Not many know this but the first team Los Angeles officials approached about moving to the West Coast was the Philadelphia Phillies. Phils owner Bob Carpenter was receptive but then the intra-city Philadelphia A's announced they were headed to Kansas City. Carpenter then figured since he now had Philadelphia all to himself why take a gamble on moving the franchise to Los Angeles. Good thing too. Los Angeles Phillies doesn't sound right.

When was this? Given that the Phils' owner was Bob Carpenter, that would suggest that it was after 1943 (when the Carpenters took ownership of the Phillies). Assuming so, there would be at least one known overture before that for a team to move to LA: The St Louis Browns were set to receive approval to move to LA at a December 8, 1941 owners meeting. The day before that meeting, however, Japan bombed Pearl Harbor and concerns about travel nixed the deal.

For those interested and who haven't seen it, there's a thread from a few years ago that discusses franchise moves that didn't happen. Some interesting stuff: https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...d.php?t=239420

Buster Cherry · 03-30-2020, 09:48 PM

The overture towards the Phillies was made around 1954 which was when the A's announced they were moving to Kansas City. City officials in Los Angeles were determined to bring major league baseball to the city and since baseball had yet to expand they decided to try and lure an established team. It was decided to try and go after three NL teams that were struggling at the gate and on the field--the Phillies, the Reds, and the Pirates. The Phillies were the first to be approached and according to LA officials owner Bob Carpenter appeared interested in the move but things fell apart rather quickly when the A's announced they would move to Kansas City thus the Phillies stayed. The Reds and Pirates were then approached but both said they had no desire to move. Thus, Los Angeles had to wait until the Dodgers fell into their laps.

Leo_The_Lip · 04-02-2020, 12:29 PM

In the book "Even the Browns" there is an opening chapter on how the St Louis Browns were negotiating to move to LA in 1941. Then Pearl Harbor happened and that was that.

https://www.amazon.com/Even-Browns-B.../dp/0486474623

another shorter, story:

https://www.mercurynews.com/2016/01/...geles-in-1941/

03-30-2020, 04:14 PM	#1
thehef Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 4,838	If the Dodgers & Giants had not moved West... Not the most in-depth analysis, but a quick, easy, & somewhat entertaining read to pass the time... https://sports.yahoo.com/giants-dodg...040257025.html

03-30-2020, 05:47 PM	#3
Déjà Bru Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: United States Posts: 10,456	Westheim, don't look. Look away, I tell you! "...the Mets are never created..." If you did look, then feel better that the article does not mention the Portland Raccoons one way or the other. __________________ - Bru

04-02-2020, 12:29 PM	#6
Leo_The_Lip All Star Starter Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 1,703	In the book "Even the Browns" there is an opening chapter on how the St Louis Browns were negotiating to move to LA in 1941. Then Pearl Harbor happened and that was that. https://www.amazon.com/Even-Browns-B.../dp/0486474623 another shorter, story: https://www.mercurynews.com/2016/01/...geles-in-1941/ __________________ "My name will live forever" - Anonymous Last edited by Leo_The_Lip; 04-02-2020 at 12:31 PM.

03-30-2020, 05:36 PM	#2
Buster Cherry Minors (Triple A) Join Date: May 2019 Location: Southwest Virginia Posts: 297	Not many know this but the first team Los Angeles officials approached about moving to the West Coast was the Philadelphia Phillies. Phils owner Bob Carpenter was receptive but then the intra-city Philadelphia A's announced they were headed to Kansas City. Carpenter then figured since he now had Philadelphia all to himself why take a gamble on moving the franchise to Los Angeles. Good thing too. Los Angeles Phillies doesn't sound right.

03-30-2020, 09:48 PM	#5
Buster Cherry Minors (Triple A) Join Date: May 2019 Location: Southwest Virginia Posts: 297	The overture towards the Phillies was made around 1954 which was when the A's announced they were moving to Kansas City. City officials in Los Angeles were determined to bring major league baseball to the city and since baseball had yet to expand they decided to try and lure an established team. It was decided to try and go after three NL teams that were struggling at the gate and on the field--the Phillies, the Reds, and the Pirates. The Phillies were the first to be approached and according to LA officials owner Bob Carpenter appeared interested in the move but things fell apart rather quickly when the A's announced they would move to Kansas City thus the Phillies stayed. The Reds and Pirates were then approached but both said they had no desire to move. Thus, Los Angeles had to wait until the Dodgers fell into their laps.