This Day in Walter O’Malley History: February 18

• 

  Larger View

Walter O’Malley talks with the press about the opening of Spring Training at Dodgertown in Vero Beach, Florida. “1953 will be a red-letter year in the relationship between the Dodgers and the city of Vero Beach. This Spring baseball’s newest park, Holman Stadium, will be opened. This will give the city not only the most elaborate Spring training camp in the world, but one of the finest Minor League parks. The Dodgers will play four games in Vero Beach this Spring, and I predict that in the space of a few short years Vero will rival cities like Miami and St. Petersburg as a mecca of Major League competition in Florida.” The Dodgers also reveal that the 1952 expenses in running both the Miami and Vero Beach portions of Spring Training cost $409,262. Roscoe McGowen, The Sporting News, February 18, 1953

• 

  Larger View

In the Vero Beach Press-Journal, an article says that Walter O’Malley is making preparations to hold a large summer camp at Dodgertown for boys from all over the nation. “It will give Vero Beach some additional national exposure,” O’Malley said. Bob Curzon, Vero Beach Press-Journal, February 18, 1954  The Dodgertown Camp for Boys did make its debut that year from July 1-August 25 and nearly 200 boys attended the all-sports camp under the direction of Les MacMitchell, a former New York University track star and 50 counselors.

• 

  Larger View

In his continuing efforts to make the fan experience a pleasant and safe one at Dodger Stadium, Walter O’Malley writes to Joseph E. Havenner, President of the Automobile Club of Southern California, for suggestions on improving the traffic control and parking. O’Malley writes, “I would be most appreciative if you could see fit to cause a study of our parking and traffic operation with the hope that we might come up with better procedures than we now have. I cannot think of anyone better to ask for help than you and your splendid organization.”