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Owner of the Dodgers in both Brooklyn and Los Angeles, Walter O’Malley was one of the most influential owners in the history of Major League Baseball. Shown here is a check drawn on the Los Angeles Dodgers account made out December 15, 1958 to the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Los Angeles.

O’Malley moved the Dodgers from Brooklyn to Los Angeles in 1958, and ran the team until turning over the presidency of the team to his son Peter in 1970.

Under O’Malley leadership, the Dodgers remained a cornerstone franchise of the Major Leagues. For his work, Walter was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2008.

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The presidency of the Dodgers changed hands in 1970 from Hall of Fame owner Walter O’Malley to his son Peter. Under the younger O’Malley, the Dodgers ascended to new heights.

The team reached the World Series three times in the decade. Fans packed the stands like never before. In 1977, the Dodgers broke the MLB attendance record set by the team in 1962.

In 1978, they became the first team to surpass the 3-million mark in home attendance. Four years later they attracted a record 3,608,881 paying customers.

Under Peter’s guidance the team made nine postseason appearances, claimed five National League Pennants, and won it all in 1981 and 1988.

Peter and his Dodgers were at the forefront as big league baseball expanded its reach into Asia. In 1994 the first Korean-born big leaguer Chan Ho Park debuted with the Dodgers. From 1997-2001 he averaged 15 wins per season, making the All Star team in his final season with Los Angeles.

O’Malley’s team signed Hideo Nomo in 1995. The Japanese right-hander started the All Star Game that season and earned the the Rookie of the Year Award. Nomo became the first player to permanently relocate from Japan to the US, two decades after the MLB debut of Masanori Murakami. After O’Malley opened the doors, many players from Japan came to the US to play baseball at its highest level.

Peter made nearly 100 trips to Japan, solidifying baseball relations of the two countries. In 2015 he received “The Order of the Rising Son”, for his contributions to Japanese baseball. The honor dates back to 1875 to the Meiji Emperor.

Elsewhere Peter pushed for the inclusion of baseball in the Olympics and built privately-funded baseball fields internationally. Peter O’Malley left an imprint on baseball here and throughout the world.

In the collection is this letter dated February 8, 1974. O’Malley responds to a fan’s inquiry. He responds in part, “Please understand that all our old contracts and correspondence are kept on file here at Dodger Stadium are not discarded…”

The ever-cordial O’Malley then signs his name at the bottom of the letter.

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In 1977 Hall of Fame third baseman Brooks Robinson mailed current and former stars of the game requesting their consent to lend their name to the Babe Ruth Advisory Board. Peter O’Malley agreed to this help the cause.

He writes, “Brooks, to help out the youth today is in my heart. If only one of those kids becomes even an attempt at what the Babe represents, it will be worthwhile.”

O’Malley then signs his name, adding the Dodger Stadium address. The O’Malley family owned the Dodgers dating back to the Brooklyn days. Peter’s Hall of Fame father Walter moved the team from New York to Los Angeles in 1958.

When it was time for Walter to step aside, his son carried on the family name with pride. Under Peter the Dodgers continued their winning ways and stood as a cornerstone franchise in baseball.

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Walter O’Malley turned over the presidency of the Dodgers to his son Peter on St. Patrick’s Day, 1970. Under Peter’s stewardship the team won World Series championships in 1981 and 1988 and was a box office hit.

The franchise was the first to draw three million fans and have reached that mark more than all other franchises combined.

In the collection is a ticket stub from the final game of O’Malley ownership of the Dodgers. Dated Sunday September 27, 1998, the ticket is signed by Peter O’Malley.

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Walter O’Malley turned over the presidency of the Dodgers to his son Peter on St. Patrick’s Day, 1970. Under Peter’s leadership the Dodgers remained a first-division club.

From 1979 when he assumed the Dodger presidency until 1998 when he sold the franchise, the Dodgers finished first six times and won the World Series twice.

The O’Malley Dodgers were also at the forefront of the expansion of baseball globally, helping introduce the sport to the Olympics and signing players from Asia when the practice was still in its infancy.

Shown here is Peter O’Malley’s business card as Dodger president.

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In this letter dated July 22, 2021 Peter O’Malley reflects on his family’s nearly half-century stewardship of the Dodger franchise.

“Our family is really fortunate to have so many extraordinary memories of when we were responsible for the Dodgers. My dad was president from 1950-1970 and I followed him as president from 1970-1998, resulting in nearly 50 years of family leadership.”

Peter goes on to share his personal memories of his family’s time with the team.