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managers, known as teachers of young players, and let them choose their own coaches. Some of the Double A players would be selected from drafts and others upgraded from the Single A franchise which was in the final stages of a purchase agreement.
    Vic Harrington, the AGM who would work primarily on negotiations for salaries and contracts, was not yet so busy, although he did have some overseeing work with the new Minor League franchises, working with Aritha on possible salary figures. Most of those contracts were in the hands of the General Manager of each team. Vic and Aritha huddled several times a week over possible budget figures for the draft choices, as well as trades and the free agents to be chased down following the World Series. Larry Henderson would handle the bulk of the negotiations, with assists from both Vic Harrington and Molly.
    Molly had already drawn up the list of players she wanted, and all three knew the cost of getting those players would be high. She called her father away from his main office in New York and told him she needed him for at least two and maybe three days to talk about the problem, and she and Larry spent almost the entire time with him, occasionally joined by Aritha, going over figures.
    Molly was well prepared to defend her choices. Big Mike, his ever-present cigar stinking up the small office, protested very little and gave in eventually on every request, especially after being reminded several times of his promise: money would be available. They settled on a hundred million dollar salary budget for the Gold, with a possible ten million dollar contingency fund for somebody yet unknown whom they found absolutely necessary to sign. When the meetings were finally concluded, he congratulated the three on the job they were doing and took them out to a celebratory dinner.
    The biggest surprise Molly threw into her list was the name of Tabby O’Hara. Not a free agent, Tabby would have to be obtained through a trade with the Dodgers.
    â€œWhat? Are you kidding? You out of your mind?” Mike grew loud and red in the face over that name. “He’s nothing but trouble in the clubhouse. He’s as strange as a three-headed prairie dog. And the Dodgers will want a fortune to let a 20-game winner go.”
    â€œMaybe, Dad. But I’ve got some information they’ll be darn glad to get rid of him for the right price.”
    â€œBut how in the name of all that’s high and holy will you ever handle him? I know I said you can manage a team of men, but that guy is no ordinary man. He’s trouble, Molly, mark my word.” Mike sat back in his chair, his cigar puffing an extra cloud of smoke and fumes. “However….” He was clearly unhappy.
    â€œMolly and I have been all through this, Mike.” Larry Henderson waited until Mike had quieted down. “I had the same basic objections you have, but we talked it over from a number of angles, and I think we can work it out okay. The big problem will be finding the right players to trade, and we are already working on that angle. In fact, I’m flying out to LA tomorrow to begin talks with Jo-Jo McKennie about it.”
    â€œWell, bloody good luck to you, Larry. Keep me posted. I want to know before I read it in the papers and have a heart attack!”
    â€œJust calm down, Dad. You gave us carte blanche to run this team. So let us do it. Okay?”
    Mike grumbled, but he didn’t mention the matter at dinner that evening, and the four had a very pleasant couple of hours together.

5
    The previous spring draft of college and high school players had gone well. Eddie Harper and his organization of scouts had found a number of possible draftees who could fill Class A, and even some of the spots of Double A rosters. And wonder of wonders, one of the scouts had discovered a high school player who had all the possibilities of jumping immediately to the big team. That type of player is a rarity in Major