Читать книгу Bad Boys, Bad Times. The Cleveland Indians and Baseball in the Prewar Years, 1937–1941 онлайн

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The standing rule on night baseball stated, “Any club desiring to play night baseball must apply to the other seven teams for permission which if granted at all would be granted for one year only.” Bradley would have quite a chore on his hands in convincing a majority of American League owners to support his innovative plan.

The owners reserved the right to decline a request if the club had been operating at a reasonable profit by daylight. Only for a club in financial straits might the owners consider endorsing an emergency measure. Bradley’s did not fit that description.

The owners politely listened to Bradley’s arguments, then adjourned to discuss the proposal. In a short time they returned a one-sided vote of five against the lights and just two, Chicago and St. Louis, in favor. The other owners still believed baseball should be played in the daytime, and did not consider that fans might embrace the idea of playing ball after sundown. The Cleveland boss told reporters, “Naturally I’m disappointed. Night baseball in Cleveland would have meant a lot to the club and new fans.” Bradley took some solace in the ball club netting a profit of $190,000, the highest amount during his tenure.