April 1967

Finley currently owns Major League Baseball's Oakland Athletics, the National Hockey League's California Golden Seals and the American Basketball Association's Memphis Tams.

It is unknown at this time what effect this decision will have on the Birmingham Athletics.

"I really can't argue with them trying to raise prices. Everything is going up this year. But I do resent having to read about it in the paper. It seems the least they could have done was pick up the pone and tell us they would like to discuss our lease agreement. An increase is one thing, but a 100% increase is something else. Because of the increase, there is a very real possibility there won't be a baseball team at this location, or in this city, next year," said Athletics general manager Glynn West.

Southern League president Billy Hitchcock agrees the increase is too severe. "Birmingham has always had to pay much more than any other city in the league for its park. Other cities have different agreements. Some pay $1 a year and maintain the park. Others pay the light bill, and others provide the maintenance crews. None came close to paying what Birmingham has to pay. If Oakland gets out of Birmingham it will be a very serious blow to the Southern League. Our plans for the coming year are already firm, and its going to be very hard to find another city this late in the year," Hitchcock said.

Frank Wagner, of the Birmingham Park & Recreation Board, explains their reasons for the increase by saying, "We have been losing from $10,000 to $15,000 a year just on that operation. This is simply an effort on our part to break even. We understand Mr. Finley's problems in trying to field a minor league baseball team, but that's his problem and we have ours. We are in no way trying to squeeze them out of Birmingham."

West says the first option is unlikely to be agreed to but Finley is weighing the second option.

West lays it on the line and issues a challenge by saying, "Baseball fans will get a chance this season to show whether or not they want professional baseball here. How well we do this season at the gate could go a long way toward determining whether or not the Oakland organization feels it can meet any increase in rent."

West also announces that manager Harry Bright left the Athletics to become manager of the Class AAA Pacific League's Sacramento, California team.

Malmberg began his coaching career as an assistant with Major League Baseball's Boston club in 1963. His managerial career began in the California League. Since 1973, Malmberg has been with the AAA American Association's Omaha franchise.

Malmberg played in the minor leagues from 1947 to 1963 except for the 1955 season when he played for Detroit. While there, he played for Billy Hitchcock, who is currently the Southern League's president. "Harry is a good baseball man. I think the people at Birmingham will like him," Hitchcock said.

"If there had been enough light, those fans would have seen a game they'd remember all their lives. The World Champion A's and the Birmingham A's would have played barefooted, all of 'em, except the pitchers and catchers," Finley said.

The board wants to increase the fee by 100% to $25,000. Board member Tom Bradford sums up the board's feelings by stating, "I'm not interested in subsidizing professional sports. I'm willing to rent the facility for what it costs and not a penny less."

Athletics officials insist the rent can't exceed the current fee of $12,500 or they will be forced to leave the city. Team officials have already looked at Huntsville as an alternative to keep the franchise in the Southern League. "We would like to stay in the Southern League. It is a good league with some fine cities. But if a spot should come open in the Texas League, we would also take a quick look in that direction," said John Claiborne, Oakland's Director of Minor League Operations. 

A recent study by the National Association of Professional Baseball reported that the Birmingham Athletics currently pay the highest stadium rental in AA baseball. The Southern League's Jacksonville Suns are next highest at $6,000, less than half of what the Athletics pay.

The board voted to provide a cost breakdown for 70 playing dates that should be ready in 30 days.

"I can't speak for him (owner Charlie Finley), but I would guess that if anyone wants to see Class AA baseball at Rickwood Field, they had better come out tonight or Friday. After that we'll probably be gone," said Athletics General Manager Glynn West.

The proposal offers the Athletics rental of Rickwood Field for $1 for the season (April through September) but the Athletics would be in charge of ground crews and electricity. The Park Board would retain the right to book events in Rickwood when the Athletics were on the road, and the Board would be responsible for cleanup after the events. The Board would also credit the Athletics $100 for each event held at Rickwood.

West was unaware of the decision the next morning until asked for comment by local media. "I don't know anything about it. Therefore I feel I should withhold any comment until I have talked to Mr. Finley," a shocked West said.

While the approval is tentative, final league approval should only be a matter of formality during their league meeting in December.

"I have always felt, and still feel, that Birmingham is a great baseball town, and under the right circumstances I think the city could again be a minor league stronghold as it was in the 1940's and early 50's. But at this time we feel it is in the best interest of the Southern League to approve the move to Chattanooga," Hitchcock said.