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Story
December 12, 1943
Imperial Valley Press
El Centro, Imperial County, California
What is this article about?
Branch Rickey is reorganizing the Brooklyn Dodgers' farm system by replacing managers and unifying minor league affiliates like Montreal, St. Paul, New Orleans, Durham, and Olean, preparing for post-war expansion despite opposition from Commissioner Landis.
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NEW YORK, Dec. 11. (UP)—
Branch Rickey, "father" of the farm system during his many years with the St. Louis Cardinals, apparently is laying the ground work as president of the Brooklyn Dodgers to become potent "grandfather" of plantation production in post-war baseball.
Gray-haired, bespectacled Rickey, generally regarded as the arch-enemy of Commissioner Kenesaw M. Landis and the rest of baseball's anti-farm group, is making preliminary moves to unify Brooklyn's five-club farm nucleus in preparation for the all-out drive when peace comes.
WEEDING OUT NOW
Developments of the past couple of days indicate that psalm-singing Branch is weeding out of the Brooklyn ranch ramifications the last remnants of the Larry MacPhail regime that preceded Rickey's shift to the Dodgers a year ago. Also he is making changes aimed at developing staff officers for a great post-war farm drive.
At present the Dodger farm system includes only five minor clubs. They have partial ownership of Montreal of the International league; working agreements with St. Paul of the American association and New Orleans of the Southern association; and outright ownership of Durham, N. C., in the Piedmont league, and Olean, N. Y., in the Pony league.
NO. 1 PLANTATION
Montreal is their No. 1 plantation. The Rickey unification process naturally bore down on Montreal. Hence, in the past 24 hours, Fresco Thompson has been relieved of his post as manager of the Royals, and conflicting announcements have been made about John A. McDonald, general manager of the Royals, which indicate that John—former traveling secretary for the Dodgers under MacPhail—probably will be booted out of the Dodgers system entirely when his Montreal contract expires, Jan. 1.
SWITCHES MADE
It is uncertain what will happen to Thompson—now working in a Yonkers shipyard—who piloted the Montreal club to fourth place in the International circuit, meanwhile attracting an unexpectedly large number of customers. At any rate, Thompson has been replaced by Bruno Betzel, manager of the Durham Bulls. Betzel's elevation followed the recent announcement that Ray Blades had been switched from managership of the New Orleans club to a similar post with St. Paul.
Before the 1944 season opens, Rickey apparently will have a tightly-knit chain-store unit, geared for expansion the day the war ends. In planning this expansion, Rickey apparently is ignoring the opposition of Landis and the anti-farm group of owners, headed by Walter P. Briggs of the Tigers.
Branch has re-written the lyrics of the old song to read, "How You Gonna Keep Them Off'n the Farm?" He is making sure that the father of post-war No. 1 farms will be the grandfather of the post-war No. 2 irrigation projects.
Branch Rickey, "father" of the farm system during his many years with the St. Louis Cardinals, apparently is laying the ground work as president of the Brooklyn Dodgers to become potent "grandfather" of plantation production in post-war baseball.
Gray-haired, bespectacled Rickey, generally regarded as the arch-enemy of Commissioner Kenesaw M. Landis and the rest of baseball's anti-farm group, is making preliminary moves to unify Brooklyn's five-club farm nucleus in preparation for the all-out drive when peace comes.
WEEDING OUT NOW
Developments of the past couple of days indicate that psalm-singing Branch is weeding out of the Brooklyn ranch ramifications the last remnants of the Larry MacPhail regime that preceded Rickey's shift to the Dodgers a year ago. Also he is making changes aimed at developing staff officers for a great post-war farm drive.
At present the Dodger farm system includes only five minor clubs. They have partial ownership of Montreal of the International league; working agreements with St. Paul of the American association and New Orleans of the Southern association; and outright ownership of Durham, N. C., in the Piedmont league, and Olean, N. Y., in the Pony league.
NO. 1 PLANTATION
Montreal is their No. 1 plantation. The Rickey unification process naturally bore down on Montreal. Hence, in the past 24 hours, Fresco Thompson has been relieved of his post as manager of the Royals, and conflicting announcements have been made about John A. McDonald, general manager of the Royals, which indicate that John—former traveling secretary for the Dodgers under MacPhail—probably will be booted out of the Dodgers system entirely when his Montreal contract expires, Jan. 1.
SWITCHES MADE
It is uncertain what will happen to Thompson—now working in a Yonkers shipyard—who piloted the Montreal club to fourth place in the International circuit, meanwhile attracting an unexpectedly large number of customers. At any rate, Thompson has been replaced by Bruno Betzel, manager of the Durham Bulls. Betzel's elevation followed the recent announcement that Ray Blades had been switched from managership of the New Orleans club to a similar post with St. Paul.
Before the 1944 season opens, Rickey apparently will have a tightly-knit chain-store unit, geared for expansion the day the war ends. In planning this expansion, Rickey apparently is ignoring the opposition of Landis and the anti-farm group of owners, headed by Walter P. Briggs of the Tigers.
Branch has re-written the lyrics of the old song to read, "How You Gonna Keep Them Off'n the Farm?" He is making sure that the father of post-war No. 1 farms will be the grandfather of the post-war No. 2 irrigation projects.
What sub-type of article is it?
Historical Event
Biography
What themes does it cover?
Triumph
What keywords are associated?
Branch Rickey
Brooklyn Dodgers
Farm System
Post War Expansion
Minor League Reorganization
Montreal Royals
Baseball Management
What entities or persons were involved?
Branch Rickey
Kenesaw M. Landis
Larry Macphail
Fresco Thompson
John A. Mcdonald
Bruno Betzel
Ray Blades
Walter P. Briggs
Where did it happen?
Brooklyn, New York; Montreal; St. Paul; New Orleans; Durham, N. C.; Olean, N. Y.
Story Details
Key Persons
Branch Rickey
Kenesaw M. Landis
Larry Macphail
Fresco Thompson
John A. Mcdonald
Bruno Betzel
Ray Blades
Walter P. Briggs
Location
Brooklyn, New York; Montreal; St. Paul; New Orleans; Durham, N. C.; Olean, N. Y.
Event Date
Dec. 11
Story Details
Branch Rickey is unifying and expanding the Brooklyn Dodgers' farm system post-war by replacing managers like Fresco Thompson with Bruno Betzel at Montreal and shifting Ray Blades to St. Paul, weeding out MacPhail remnants, despite opposition from Landis and anti-farm owners.