Indians Stay Single-A, As In Affordable Spokane Decides Not To Apply For A Future Triple-A Franchise

Accepting their fans’ wishes, the Spokane Indians announced Wednesday that they won’t apply for one of two Triple-A baseball franchises scheduled to begin play in 1998.

In making the announcement, the Indians played down the area’s meager response to Triple-A season-ticket sales and focused on the positive factors of the Class A baseball the Indians have played since 1983.

“The people basically said, ‘We’d love to have Triple-A but we want single-A prices,”’ said Indians president and principal owner Bobby Brett. The thing I heard most, as far as what they like about Spokane Indians baseball, is that it’s affordable.”

“There are some negatives that go along with Triple-A and we’ve said that all along,” said Indians general manager Andy Billig, citing higher prices, the attitude of some jaded players and early-spring games that risk inclement weather.

The Indians began their Triple-A ticket drive on Nov. 9, expressing the desire to sell 2,500 full-season tickets and 1,500 20-game plans before filing a $15,000 non-refundable application fee with the expansion committee.

After three weeks of slow sales, the Indians requested a 13-day extension beyond the Jan. 2 filing deadline. Purchases never picked up, and the Indians sold less than 20 percent of their 2,500 goal.

“I would hate for there to be the perception that the community failed,” Billig said. “Spokane would have had to overachieve (to reach the sales goal).”

Billig said the “overpriced” $7.5 million expansion fee has whittled in half the list of 12 cities making the committee’s original short list. Durham, N.C., remains a favorite for one Triple-A team.

“We were prepared to make the $7.5 million investment, but only if the community was firmly behind Triple-A baseball,” Brett said.

Except for a one-year break, Spokane fielded Pacific Coast League Triple-A teams from 1958-1982. The first franchise, owned by the Los Angeles Dodgers, relocated to Albuquerque, N.M., in ‘72. The second group, affiliated with the California Angels, left for Las Vegas after ‘82.

Spokane has played in the short-season A Northwest League since ‘83.

Brett said major-league owners meet in Los Angeles next week with minor-league realignment on the agenda. Owners wish to pare their losses by trimming farm systems.

The possibility exists, Brett said, of increasing the NWL season from 76 to 100 games, or establishing a Double-A league in the West. The Texas League is the closest Double-A league to the six West Coast clubs.

“The Double-A league probably is the most appealing to me,” Brett said. “And don’t think the Dodgers and (Seattle) Mariners don’t support that geographically.”

, DataTimes