Victoria in WIL, Other Cities Considered

Victoria Bid Is Approved
TACOMA, Sept. 16—Application of Victoria, B.C., for membership the class B Western International Baseball league was approved by directors meeting here.
Bids for other franchises became so complicated that the directors decided to postpone further action until September 30, when a meeting will be held in Seattle.
Two applications were received to operate in Yakima, one from a group of local businessmen, and the other from Yubi Separovich, business manager of the Sacramento coast league club in behalf of the Solons.
Wenatchee, backed by the St. Louis Cardinals; Bremerton, a surprise contender; and Pasco-Kennewick, the latter by long distance during the meeting, also sought berths.
There are four holdover members from 1942, last year of the league's operation — Vancouver B.C., Salem, Ore., and Spokane and Tacoma in this state.
With five clubs in the circuit and applications from four others it is considered possible that the league will enlarge to eight teams at the Seattle meeting, President Robert Abel indicated.

Accept Victoria Entry in W.I.L.; Colons Make Bid
[Vancouver News-Herald, Sept. 17, 1945]
Victoria Sunday became the second Canadian entry in the Western International Baseball League, which will resume operations next year after a three-year war lapse.
Bid of the Victoria interests, presented by Laurel Harney, well-known puckster and ex-House of David ball player, and William Straith, was accepted at a league meeting in Tacoma on the week-end.
The island city will join Bob Brown’s Vancouver club, Salem, Tacoma and Spokane, the latter four teams being leftovers in the Class B pro loop.
President Bob Abel and the directors were fairly swamped with applications for loop membership, and bidding became so brisk that further action was postponed until Sept. 30, when another meeting will be held in Seattle.
SACRAMENTO INTERESTED
Two applications were received from Yakima interests, one coming from a group of businessmen, and the other from Yubi Separovich, representing the Sacramento team in the Pacific Coast League. Separovich, one of the men who saved the Sacramento franchise when there was talk of moving it here a couple of seasons back, is currently business manager of the Solons.
Wenatchee, which is backed by the St. Louis Cardinals, made a bid as expected; Bremerton was a surprise would-be entrant, and Pasco-Kennewick, who phoned long distance during the meeting, also sought a berth.
Indications were that the loop would expand to eight teams at the Seattle meeting.

Professional Baseball Assured For This City
Victoria Granted Franchise at W.I.B.L. Parley at Tacoma—Many Clubs Seek Entry
[Victoria Colonist, Tuesday, Sept. 18, 1945]
Professional baseball will return to Victoria next Summer.
This was assured Sunday at Tacoma when directors of the Class “B” Western International Baseball League accepted the application of the Victoria Baseball and Athletic Co., Ltd., for a franchise for this city. The successful bid was presented by W.T. Straith, M.L.A., and Laurel Harney.
With the franchise assured, Harney left immediately for Oakland to carry on negotiations with the officials of the Oakland Pacific Coast League team on the question of a player tie-up.
At Sunday’s parley bid for franchises became so complicated that the directors decided to postpone further action until September 30m when a meeting will be held in Seattle.
Two applications were received to operate in Yakima, one from a group of local businessmen, and the other from Yubi Separovich, business manager of the Sacramento Pacific Coast League club in behalf of the Solons.
Wenatchee, backed by the St. Louis Cardinals, Bremerton, a surprise contender, and Pasco-Kennewick, the latter by long-distance during the weekend, also sought berths.
There are four holdover members from 1942, last year of the league’s operation—Vancouver, B.C., Salem, Ore., Spokane and Tacoma.
With five clubs in the circuit and applications from four others it is considered possible that the league will enlarge to eight teams at the Seattle meeting, President Abel indicated.