Aug 13, 2002 3 min read

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (AP) – Some city officials believe the cash-strapped Johnstown Johnnies may soon be only a memory, but the owner insists he won’t take part in any effort to move the team out of the former steel town. The Frontier League team recently pulled the plug on radio broadcasts of its games, has been hit with more than $125,000 in federal and state tax liens and – for the sixth straight year – has fallen behind in payments owed to the city.

“I’d like to see something done. Either pay them up or lock them out” of city-owned Point Stadium, said city Councilman Jack Williams. “They’re going to leave here anyway.”

City records indicate the Johnnies and owner Tom Sullivan owe $16,719.94 to the city for rent at Point Stadium, utilities, and overtime for city Public Works employees on the grounds crew and police who provide game security. Sullivan’s last payment to the city was for $7,200 on April 22.

Although he’s offered assurances in the past that the team will survive, Sullivan is more vague when asked about the team’s future.

“I don’t know. I just don’t know,” Sullivan said.

But he promised to pay the city and not to have a personal role in moving the team from Johnstown, if that should happen.

“It depends on what you consider late. We’ll make the payment” to the city, Sullivan said.

“Hopefully, the Johnnies will remain in Johnstown, but at this time the location of this franchise in 2003 is uncertain.

“In my opinion, there will be a Frontier League team in Johnstown next season. The only certainty is that I will neither move the Johnnies nor have any part in such a move,” Sullivan said.

Frontier League teams move frequently, with three of the Frontier League’s 12 teams relocating after last season. Only one of the 10-year-old league’s original members – Chillicothe, Ohio – still has a team.

Because they can’t tap the major leagues’ talent pool, independent organizations such as the Frontier League must rely on players with little or no future in organized baseball. That takes away one of the minor league baseball’s traditional drawing cards, the opportunity to watch players as they ascend to the majors.

Frontier League teams average about 1,800 fans a game, but the Johnnies have attracted an average of 888 fans to 34 home games so far this year. The team is 25-42, last place in the six-team Eastern Division.

Sullivan wouldn’t say why he yanked the team’s games from WCRO-AM, a radio station owned by the Greater Johnstown School District. He called it “business as usual.”

“Everything is fine. Everything’s in order. The only think I’m upset about is our performance on the field,” Sullivan said.

Off the field, City Manager Jeff Silka said officials are willing to work with Sullivan to keep the team in the city of 23,000 – up to a point.

“I think something definitely needs to be changed. However, in the end (Sullivan) has always made good” on his debts, Silka said.

A year ago, Sullivan was almost evicted from the stadium and about to have his car auctioned at a sheriff’s sale when he paid the city money he owed.

But Silka said the city can’t continue to let Sullivan pay his bills late when other businesses pay on time.

“We need to make sure we’re collecting on all of our contracts equitably,” Silka said.

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On the Net:

Frontier League at http://www.frontierleague.com.