Benefit Game for Spokane? - 1946

Benefit Game Appeals Made For Spokane
SPOKANE — Telegraphic appeals went out to heads of the nation's major and, minor baseball leagues Wednesday urging benefit games for families of nine Spokane players who died in a bus accident Monday night.
The move brought prompt endorsement from the head of the Spokane club's own league, who said the Western International league would participate in any such national effort.
Terming the bus accident in the Cascade mountains near Seattle "one of baseball's greatest tragedies," the Spokane Chronicle telegraphed an appeal to Baseball Commissioner A. B. Chandler to promote one benefit game in each of the two major circuits. The newspaper also asked Judge W. G. Bramnham, president of the National Association of Minor leagues, to arrange one benefit in each of the association's leagues.
Robert B. Abel, president of the Western International League, of which Spokane is a member, said here Wednesday that while he spoke unofficially, the Western International league would also take part in any such national benefit.
Abel said one fan in Yakima had suggested that a "memorial" night be set aside and that the proceeds from all four games in the league that night go to wives and families of the dead players. Abel said he liked the idea and was sure that the club owners in the circuit would welcome the plan.
He said a meeting of league directors will not be held for several days and then only if Owner Sam Collins of the Spokane club finds it necessary to secure baseball players from within the circuit. Collins has received numerous telegrams from other clubs over the nation offering their services in obtaining players to re-construct the team.
The bus accident slashed Spokane's list of active players to three men.
-Thursday, June 27, 1946

Hawkins, Raimondi Will Aid Spokane
OAKLAND, Cal., June 27. — Outfielder Frankie Hawkins and pitcher Al Raimondi announced here tonight that they would leave within the next couple of days to join Spokane of the Western International League, which had its club riddled when nine players were killed or died as the result of a bus accident Monday night.
Hawkins was the regular right fielder for the Oakland Acorns last season, batting. 341 which included five home runs. Raimondi appeared in 24 games for Oakland and finished the season with a record of three victories and two defeats. He had pitched a total of 56 innings.
Seattle and Oakland will play a benefit game Monday, July 8 in the Spokane ball park with the proceeds going to the families of the dead and injured players.