Walter O'Malley

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Walter Francis O'Malley
O'Malley circa 1940-1950
Born	October 9, 1903 Bronx
Died	August 9, 1979 (aged 75) Mayo Clinic
Occupation	Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers
Spouse	Katherine Elizabeth Hanson (1907-1979)
Parents	Edwin Joseph O'Malley Alma Feltner (1882-1940)
Children	Theresa O'Malley Seidler Peter O'Malley

Walter Francis O'Malley (October 9, 1903 – August 9, 1979) was an American sports executive who owned the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers team in Major League Baseball from 1950 to 1979. In 1958 he brought major league baseball to the West Coast, moving the Dodgers from Brooklyn to Los Angeles.^[1]

Contents 1 Early years 2 Dodgers 3 Death 4 Timeline 5 Popular culture 6 References 7 External links

[edit] Early years

Walter O'Malley was the only child of Edwin Joseph O'Malley (1883-1955), who was working as a cotton goods salesman in the Bronx in 1903, but would later become the Commissioner of Public Markets for New York City. Walter's mother was Alma Feltner (1882-1940).^[2]

O'Malley attended the Jamaica High School in Queens and then the Culver Academy in Indiana. He then attended the University of Pennsylvania and graduated in 1926. He then attended Columbia University in New York City, but after his family lost their money in the Wall Street Crash of 1929, he switched to attending night classes at Fordham University. He completed his law degree in 1930 at Fordham Law, and then worked as an assistant engineer for the New York Subway. He then worked for Thomas F. Riley who owned the Riley Drilling Company and they formed the partnership of Riley and O'Malley. With the help of Walter's father's political connections, the company received contracts from the New York Telephone Company and the New York City Board of Education to perform geological surveys. Walter then started the Walter F. O'Malley Engineering Company, and published the Subcontractors Register with his uncle, Joseph O'Malley (1893-1985).^[1]

On September 5, 1931, he married Katherine Elizabeth Hanson (1907-1979), whom he had dated since high school, at Saint Malachy's Roman Catholic Church in Manhattan. They had two children, Theresa O'Malley Seidler (1933- ) and Peter O'Malley (1937- ). Kay had been diagnosed with laryngeal cancer in 1927 before the engagement and had to have her larynx removed. She was unable to speak above a whisper the rest of her life.^{[1] [3]}

[edit] Dodgers

In 1933 Walter met George V. McLaughlin who was president of the Brooklyn Trust Company. It was through George that Walter was brought into the financial arrangements for Ebbets Field in 1940.^[1]

In 1942 he was appointed the attorney for the Brooklyn Dodgers, and he became the president and chief stockholder on October 26, 1950, taking over for Branch Rickey, who was a trailblazer in baseball by instituting the farm system and breaking the racial barrier with Jackie Robinson.^[4]

The Dodgers remained successful under O'Malley's leadership, winning National League pennants in 1952, 1953, 1955, and 1956. In 1955, the team overcame decades of frustration by winning the World Series for the first time in the franchise history. Dodgers' attendance was declining, from a peak of 1.7 million in 1946 and 1947 to just over one-million per year in the mid-50s. Saddled with a beloved-but-aging stadium, O'Malley tried to raise the capital and political backing to build a new ballpark elsewhere in Brooklyn. When that failed, he began looking at moving the team to Los Angeles, then virgin territory for major league baseball.^[1]

Following the 1957 season, he moved the Dodgers to Los Angeles. The move enraged millions of the team's Brooklyn fans but ultimately was successful for the franchise. O'Malley was sold a property in Chavez Ravine by the Los Angeles city government and built the 56,000 capacity Dodger Stadium for $12 million. The Dodgers were soon drawing more than two-million fans a year. They remained successful on the field as well, winning the World Series in 1959, 1963, and 1965. The Los Angeles Angels also played in Dodger Stadium for their first 4 years.^[5]

On March 17, 1970, Walter turned over the presidency of the team to his son Peter. Peter O'Malley held the position until 1998 when the team was sold to Rupert Murdoch.^[6]

[edit] Death

Walter O'Malley was diagnosed with cancer, and sought treatment at the Mayo Clinic, then his wife Kay died.^[7] He died of congestive heart failure on August 9, 1979 and was buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California.^[8]

[edit] Timeline

[edit] Popular culture

O'Malley was mentioned several times in Danny Kaye's 1962 song tribute, The Los Angeles Dodgers, which spins a tale of a fantasy game between the Dodgers and the Giants. At one point, the umpire's call goes against the home team:

Down in the dugout, Alston glowers

Up in the booth, Vin Scully frowns;

Out in the stands, O'Malley grins...

Attendance 50,000!

[edit] References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f} Walter O'Malley. Retrieved on February 14, 2007.
2. ^ "Walter in Wonderland", Time (magazine). Retrieved on February 14, 2007.
3. ^ "Daughter to Mrs. W.F. O'Malley.", New York Times, May 24, 1933. Retrieved on February 14, 2007.
4. ^ "O'Malley Elected To Succeed Rickey As Dodger President; Rickey Congratulates His Successor. Branch Rickey, baseball's 69 year-old wizard, "resigned" the presidency of the Brooklyn Dodgers yesterday and Walter F. O'Malley, 47-year-old Brooklyn lawyer, was elected to succeed him.", New York Times, October 27, 1950. Retrieved on February 14, 2007.
5. ^ "Mayor Is Blamed For Dodger Move; City Administration Scored By G.O.P.-O'Malley Tie To Transit Unit Cited Authority Defends Contract. Republican spokesmen yesterday blamed Mayor Wagner for the loss of the Brooklyn Dodgers to Los Angeles.", New York Times, October 10, 1957. Retrieved on February 14, 2007.
6. ^ "Peter O'Malley, 30-year old son of the president, Walter F. O'Malley, was promoted today to the post of executive vice president of the Los Angeles Dodgers.", New York Times, December 19, 1968. Retrieved on February 14, 2007.
7. ^ "Walter O'Malley, chairman of the board of the Los Angeles Dodgers, was admitted to Methodist Hospital in Rochester.", New York Times, February 24, 1978. Retrieved on February 14, 2007.
8. ^ "Walter F. O'Malley, Leader of Dodgers' Move to Los Angeles, Dies at 75. Unqualified Success. Walter F. O'Malley, the man who took the Dodgers out of Brooklyn and opened the West Coast to major league baseball, died yesterday in Rochester, Minnesota. He was 75 years old.", New York Times, August 10, 1979. Retrieved on February 14, 2007.

[edit] External links

• Official Website: Walter O'Malley
• Baseball Hall of Fame candidate profile
• Baseball Library: Walter O'Malley
• Baseball Biography Project: Walter O'Malley
• Findagrave: Walter O'Malley
• Findagrave: Walter's mother: Alma Feltner
• Findagrave: Walter's father: Edwin O'Malley
• Findagrave: Walter's uncle: Joseph O'Malley

Preceded by Branch Rickey

President of the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers 1950-1970

Succeeded by Peter O'Malley