Walter O’Malley
| Birthdate | 10/9/1903 |
| Death Date | 8/9/1979 |
| Debut Year | 1944 |
| Year of Induction | 2007 |
| Teams | Dodgers |
| Positions | Executive, Owner |
ABC Sports ranks Dodger owner Walter O’Malley as the 8th most influential sports figure of the 20th century; The Sporting News ranks him 11th.
Be sure to visit our page on Facebook.
Leave a commentIn the collection:
O'Malley's handling of the Mexican League jumpers helped him gain control of the Dodgers
O'Malley's handling of the Mexican League jumpers helped him gain control of the Dodgers
In 1946, Major League players Danny Gardella, Sal Maglie, Alex Carrasquel, Max Lanier, and Mickey Owen accepted $10,000 each to play in the Mexican League. In response Commissioner Happy Chandler banned them for five years on grounds that they violated baseball’s reserve clause. Gardella sued Major League Baseball and the New York Giants charging that the reserve clause was invalid.
By 1949 the case was still mired in the courts with the outcome unsure. Walter O’Malley stepped up in a turn of events that helped resolve the episode. His actions also helped secure his family’s ownership of the Dodgers.
Chandler offered amnesty to Gardella and a rumored settlement of $60,000. Late in the year, Gardella dropped his lawsuit.
In this letter, Chandler writes to Dodger owner Walter O’Malley about the case. “I want to thank you…for the very important part you played in helping to bring about the satisfactory settlement in the Gardella case.”
Mexican League jumper Danny Gardella writes about Commissioner Chandler
Mexican League jumper Danny Gardella writes about Commissioner Chandler
After going to Mexico to earn more money in the off-season, Danny Gardella came under attack from commissioner Happy Chandler.
In this letter Gardella writes in part, “Cheap and monopolistic Happy Chandler banished all players (who) went to Mexico and I asked Fred Johnson to represent me in court and the reserve clause became infamous and the great American game tried to make proper changes like unions to shape the modern player.”
Gardella hopes he was good for baseball
Gardella hopes he was good for baseball
A reflective Danny Gardella continues, “I hope I have been good for baseball…” One of the earliest players to train with weights, Gadella was also known for his ability to walk on his hands and perform acrobatic stunts.
In three Major League seasons, Gardella played 169 games and hit .267 with 24 homers and 85 runs batted in.
1956 telegram to Walter O'Malley from Yanks owner Dan Topping congratulating him on winning the NL
1956 telegram to Walter O'Malley from Yanks owner Dan Topping congratulating him on winning the NL
With two days left on the 1956 regular-season baseball calendar, the Dodgers were a half game in back of the Milwaukee Braves. Brooklyn then swept the Pirates in a double header on September 29 while the Braves lost to the Cardinals to put the Dodgers a game up with one day to go.
Needing a win to control their destiny and propel the team to the World Series the team gave the ball to Don Newcombe to bring home the pennant. Newk did what he did best in 1956 and the Dodgers were National League champs.
Shown here is a telegram dated October 1, 1956 sent from Yankee owner Dan Topping to Dodger owner Walter O’Malley. “Congratulations. See you Wednesday” the telegram says alluding to the World Series. The Dodgers would go on to win Game 1 and 2 before the Yankees came rolling back to win the Series 4-3.
Los Angeles Dodgers check signed by Walter O'Malley
Los Angeles Dodgers check signed by Walter O'Malley
Revered by many and vilified by some, 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 held the title of Chairman until his death in 1979.
O'Malley congratulated Warren Spahn on his induction to the Hall of Fame
O'Malley congratulated Warren Spahn on his induction to the Hall of Fame
Warren Spahn’s illustrious career included thirteen 20-wins seasons. A lifetime record of 363-245 puts him in elite territory. The win total puts him behind only Cy Young, Walter Johnson, Pete Alexander, Christy Mathewson, Pud Galvin in baseball history.
A first-ballot choice for Cooperstown, Spahn received his plaque on August 6, 1973. Dignitaries throughout the game expressed their awe and praise to baseball’s winningest southpaw.
Shown here is a congratulatory telegram sent to Spahn from Walter O’Malley a month after the lefty’s induction.
Dated 26 days before O’Malley’s 70th birthday, the telegram reads in part, “When they put you in the ‘Gold Room’ they didn’t make a mistake.”
A lifetime National Leaguer, Spahn tormented the Dodgers for 21 years.
Peter O'Malley signed ticket on last day of O'Malley ownership of the Dodgers
Peter O'Malley signed ticket on last day of O'Malley ownership of the Dodgers
Walter O’Malley turned over the presidency of the Dodgers to his son Peter on St. Patrick’s Day, 1970. Under Peter O’Malley’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.
Peter O'Malley business card as President of the Dodgers
Peter O'Malley business card as President of the Dodgers
Under the leadership of Peter O’Malley 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.
Peter O’Malley was 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.
