NEW YORK (Jan. 15, 1951) -- Just months after the bankruptcy of both the AL and NL, major league baseball is back!  The United League raised the curtain on its eight founding franchises today, ending weeks of speculation over which cities would be left out of the post-bankruptcy era. The new setup offers just half the number of top-flight teams and ends a half-century of stability.  But the massively-contracted United League offers fans what promises to be the highest quality baseball ever played, as the talent of 16 teams is concentrated onto just eight teams.
   As expected, New York is home to two of the league's founding franchises. The 'capital of baseball' (as Ken Burns will call it four decades from now) was home to three of the most well-supported teams in the country, and teams playing in Ebbets Field and Yankee Stadium/Polo Grounds will continue the intense rivalry of these great neighbors.  Favorites Boston, Chicago, and St. Louis were awarded clubs, as were Pittsburgh and Washington. The one dark horse city was Louisville. League officials, and Louisville owner Mark Allen, expect Louisville's return to the big leagues after a 51-year absence to be a more profitable venture than placing a team in a smaller major league market. Ironically, Louisville was one of the victims of the last major league contraction, in 1899.
   The big story today centered not on the 'haves' so much as the 'have-nots.'  Cincinnati, Cleveland, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh were all relegated to AAA status with today's announcement.  Philadelphia, in particular, was shocked. Home to both the  Phillies and Athletics a year ago, the City of Brotherly Love will go without major league ball for the first time since 1881. The league justified Philly's omission by pointing out that over the last decade the Phillies and Athletics were 13th and 14th in attendance, respectively. "Besides," commissioner Timothy J. Smith added, "their fans are total jerks."
   Cleveland's omission was more of mystery.  Since 1941, only the Yankees, Tigers, and Dodgers have spun the turnstiles more than the Indians. Just two pennants in 50 seasons may have been a factor. As for the other shortlisted cities whose hopes were dashed today, the commissioner commented, "Oh, come on, you really think we'd put a team in Indianapolis??  Ha! Ha! Ha!"
   In any event, the league put a positive spin on the announcement, pointing out that the eight AAA teams are still 'major league' quality, as they will be stocked with major league talent and "will probably still be better than the Browns," a reference to the now-defunct, terminally hopeless St. Louis club.
   

United League Clubs, Owners, and Minor League Affiliates
Boston Beacons - Charlie Qualls
(AAA-Philadelphia, Nashville, Portland)
Brooklyn Superbas - Frank Thomas
(AAA-Buffalo, AA-Birmingham, A-Los Angeles)
Chicago Colts - Lance Mueller
(AAA-Cincinnati, AA-Charlotte, A-San Francisco)
Detroit Sound- Brad McNeely
(AAA-Milwaukee, AA-Dallas, A-Kansas City)
Louisville Colonels - Mark Allen
(AAA-Pittsburgh, AA-New Orleans, A-Seattle)
New York Gothams - Gregory Bish
(AAA-Cleveland, AA-Houston, A-Oklahoma City)
St. Louis Maroons - Tim Smith
(AAA-Indianapolis, AA-Memphis, A-St. Paul)
Washington Monuments - Jay Kaplan
(AAA-Baltimore, AA-Atlanta, A-Denver)