Who Will Victoria Sign?

SPORTS SLANTS
By SID THOMAS
[Victoria Colonist, Jan. 8, 1946]
HARNEY BUSY WITH BASEBALL CONTRACTS
Back in Victoria after attending the Western International Baseball parley at Tacoma over the week-end, Laurel Harney, manager of Victoria’s entry in the Class “B” professional circuit, is busy with players’ contracts and other matters dealing with plans for the coming season.
Chatting yesterday on the player question, Harney made it perfectly clear that the Victoria club is willing and actually anxious to have as many Victoria players as possible make the grade, on the local team. On the very same question, Harney made it known that Gil Bruce, Navy fly-shagger and top sticker in the Victoria Senior League last season, as been offered a contract. While not disclosing any names, Harney added that other players have been contacted with a view to signing contracts.
Victoria will establish its training camp at Lewiston, Idaho, with training scheduled to commence on April 1, but there will be “no fooling.” Harney has not announced the number of players to be taken to the training camp, but it is a foregone conclusion that plenty of baseball talent will be on hand.
The Western International Baseball League will be operated on a straight pennant race this season with the elimination of the post-season play-offs. The Victoria manager had held out for play-offs, but the matter was defeated by other owners at the W.I.B.L. sessions. “Old operators in the W.I.B.L. have always lost money on post-season play-offs because of the lateness of the season and the unfavorable weather,” Harney said last night. “The pool usually set for the play-offs will go to the four top teams and will be divided according to their positions in the pennant race at the conclusion of play,” Harney added.