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Sctvman · 04-10-2021, 11:59 PM

July 10, 1947

The morning of July 10 in Chicago has dawned cloudy with a few showers. At the Stevens Hotel, National League owners were up most of the night deliberating over a decision which could shape the future of the sport for decades to come, and maybe even all of big-league sports. What was the Senior Circuit going to decide?

Are the owners going to stay status quo with 16 teams for at least another year, possibly longer? Or would they expand the league by 2 for the coming 1948 season?

The expansion of the sport at this coming time, less than two years after World War II ended, is coming at a key point in this country's history. There are reports of a "boom" of babies which could swell the country's population. It was at 132 million in 1940, and 15,000,000 more have been added in the last 7 years.

In addition, air travel and television could play huge parts in this decision. Dodgers and Giants owners, who already televise most of their home games on TV, already know the benefits of showing games, even to a small amount of sets, mostly in bars.

They could go any set of ways with this. A western expansion with LA and San Francisco? Very possible. The first Canadian team with Montreal or maybe Toronto? A chance. They could also surprise with a city like Buffalo or Minneapolis.

Wednesday night, the National League announced a press conference for 11:30am local time at the Stevens Hotel. Hundreds of newspaper writers, radio and early TV reporters, and newsreel reporters stayed in town for the extra day to cover the meetings.

Cities were waiting with baited breath for the proceedings. The Mutual network decided to cover the presser live over its entire network with Bill Corum hosting. Several Los Angeles and San Francisco stations picked up the proceedings live.

04-10-2021, 11:59 PM	#18
Sctvman Major Leagues Join Date: Apr 2018 Posts: 423	July 10, 1947 The morning of July 10 in Chicago has dawned cloudy with a few showers. At the Stevens Hotel, National League owners were up most of the night deliberating over a decision which could shape the future of the sport for decades to come, and maybe even all of big-league sports. What was the Senior Circuit going to decide? Are the owners going to stay status quo with 16 teams for at least another year, possibly longer? Or would they expand the league by 2 for the coming 1948 season? The expansion of the sport at this coming time, less than two years after World War II ended, is coming at a key point in this country's history. There are reports of a "boom" of babies which could swell the country's population. It was at 132 million in 1940, and 15,000,000 more have been added in the last 7 years. In addition, air travel and television could play huge parts in this decision. Dodgers and Giants owners, who already televise most of their home games on TV, already know the benefits of showing games, even to a small amount of sets, mostly in bars. They could go any set of ways with this. A western expansion with LA and San Francisco? Very possible. The first Canadian team with Montreal or maybe Toronto? A chance. They could also surprise with a city like Buffalo or Minneapolis. Wednesday night, the National League announced a press conference for 11:30am local time at the Stevens Hotel. Hundreds of newspaper writers, radio and early TV reporters, and newsreel reporters stayed in town for the extra day to cover the meetings. Cities were waiting with baited breath for the proceedings. The Mutual network decided to cover the presser live over its entire network with Bill Corum hosting. Several Los Angeles and San Francisco stations picked up the proceedings live.