December 7th, 2012
L.A. Browns?
The Dodgers were the first Major League team in California, moving from Brooklyn after the 1957 season. But the American League St. Louis Browns were planning a move to L.A. after the 1941 season. The Cardinals were to pay the Browns $350,000 to leave the town they shared. The Browns were going to purchase Los Angeles’ Wrigley Field, home of the Pacific Coast League Angels, for $1 million. Cross-country train trips were scheduled because air trave. was not yet commonplace among sports teams. The MLB owners meeting was set for 12/8/41, but the attack on Pearl Harbor on 12/7 meant the Browns’ move was tabled. The Browns eventually moved to Baltimore and became the “Orioles” in 1954.
