|
| Introduction |
|
| The Early Years |
|
| Page 5 |
|
| Page 6 |
|
| Page 7 |
|
| Page 8 |
|
| Entering The... |
|
| The Dodger Saga |
|
| A New Era Begins |
|
| Ebbets Field Revisited |
|
| The Memorable... |
|
| Searching for New... |
|
| L.A. Sends a Message |
|
| This is Next Year! |
|
| Putting Their Domes... |
|
| The Political Game |
|
| 1957 |
|
| Los Angeles Bound |
|
| Where to Play in L.A. |
|
| Curveball Right... |
|
| The Red Head is a... |
|
| 1959: A Year of... |
|
| Home Sweet Home |
|
| Construction of... |
|
| L.A.'s Sparkling New... |
|
| 1963: A Taxing Year... |
|
| The Business of.. |
|
| Growing the Game... |
|
| Moving to Chairman... |
|
| The Last Inning |
|
|
|
At the turn-of-the-century in 1900, the relatively young sport of baseball was just hitting its stride, particularly in New York. Brooklyn had joined the National League of Professional Baseball clubs 10 years earlier and its team was known as the “Bridegrooms,” as a large number of players on the club were married the previous year. Later, the club was named for the complicated maze of trolley cars that weaved their way through the Borough of Brooklyn and residents became affectionately known as “Trolley Dodgers.” Headline writers of the time, didn’t always have space for the word “trolley” and eventually just left it out. So, they became simply the Dodgers, one of baseball’s most enduring and recognizable names.
Charles Ebbets, who at one time sold tickets and programs for the team, eventually worked his way up through the front office and became President of the Dodgers. Ebbets, too, realized a dream by building a beautiful new ballpark — Ebbets Field — which opened on April 9, 1913. Ebbets had to enlist the financial support of two brothers — Steve and Ed McKeever — who were in the construction business to finish the stadium which was fraught with cost overruns. Hard-pressed to pay the bills and complete the building process, Ebbets was forced to forgo one-half ownership of the Brooklyn franchise to the McKeever brothers. Two corporations were newly formed, as the Ebbets-McKeever Exhibition Company held real estate title to the land, while the Brooklyn National League Baseball Club took care of the business of baseball including player contracts. No grand opening of a ballpark ever seems to run entirely smoothly, as someone forgot to bring the key to open the grandstands on the first day and the game was slightly delayed!
During this same period, Walter O’Malley was a young boy in bustling New York. Born on October 9, 1903 in the Bronx, he was the only child of Edwin Joseph O’Malley and Alma Feltner O’Malley. He grew up in a pleasant section of New York, moving from the Bronx when he was just seven to Hollis, Long Island. In Hollis, he attended Public School No. 35. O’Malley worked hard at his studies, but equally liked many activities outside of school, including swimming, fishing and boating. He also thoroughly enjoyed his experience as a Boy Scout, where he first went camping, hunting and “learned how to cook and make a bed.” O’Malley attended some professional baseball games and became a real fan of the sport.
“I used to walk along a railroad trestle, up at Morrisania, with an uncle of mine, Clarence Feltner, to watch the Giants,” said O’Malley. “We lived in the Bronx then and the Giants were my team and the most wonderful guy in the world was Eddie Brannick. Eddie was terrific to us kids. He’d see we got a seat if we got into the park — and there were ways. Ho, ho, there were ways.”8
|
|
|
|
Walter O’Malley, age 2, Thanksgiving 1905 |
 |
|
|
Walter O’Malley (circa 1907) with his parents, Edwin J. and Alma O’Malley. |
|
|
|
Walter O’Malley as a Boy Scout circa 1916. |
|
|
 Back to top
|
|
|
|
