This Day in Walter O’Malley History:

  • After a 10-minute struggle with a huge hoss mackerel, Walter O’Malley’s line popped and he lost the fish in the U.S. Atlantic Tuna Tournament off Freeport, Long Island, New York. O’Malley, who was organizer and chairman of the event which started in 1938, was representing the Freeport Tuna Club when his mishap occurred.

  • A series of cartoons from the “Joe Palooka strip” by Ham Fisher begins today, featuring Walter O’Malley and Dodger players Jackie Robinson, Duke Snider, Carl Erskine and Gil Hodges. According to The Sporting News, “President Walter O’Malley will be visited by Palooka and his friends in a series of episodes which will continue through World’s Series time in more than 1,200 newspapers. In connection with the comic strip, in which the hero will appeal for support of sandlot ball, the Dodgers are planning to hold a ‘Joe Palooka Day’ at Ebbets Field during September.” The Sporting News, August 18, 1954

  • Los Angeles City Councilwoman Rosalind Wyman writes a letter to Walter O’Malley regarding the city’s interest in obtaining a major league baseball team. Wyman and fellow Councilman Ed Roybal ask O’Malley to meet with them in New York several weeks later. Wyman writes, “We have been authorized by the Los Angeles City Council to discuss the matter with you for the purpose of bringing recommendations back to them.” O’Malley declines the request because of preparations for Dodger postseason activities and to focus his attention on building a stadium in Brooklyn.

  • Walter O’Malley responds to a letter from Robert O. Reynolds, President of Golden West Broadcasters in Los Angeles, by stating, “My dear Bob: You were thoughtful to take the time to write me last Friday. The battle of Chavez Ravine would never have been concluded if it had not been for your strong personal efforts and those of KMPC (Radio). What is more interesting about your letter, however, is on a personal level and for that I am most appreciative.” Reynolds, who along with Gene Autry became the co-owners of the expansion Los Angeles Angels in 1960, wrote, “It was good to note that the ‘battle of Chavez Ravine’ has finally been won and that construction of your stadium can commence. While I still ‘burn’ a little when events of last Fall come to mind there is one thing I’ve never deviated from — namely, the Dodgers’ right to Chavez and the belief that it is a good move for all concerned, including Los Angeles. It will be a great day when that first Championship Pennant waves from the new stadium! Sincerely, Bob”

  • Writing a column in the Chicago Defender about his relationship with Walter O’Malley, Dodger Hall of Famer Jackie Robinson states, “There have been a lot of strange and untrue things written about (sp.) the ‘situation’ between Walter O’Malley and myself...In our opinion, there has never really been a feud. There were some natural misunderstandings and differences of view which came about beginning with the time O’Malley took over the Brooklyn Dodgers from Branch Rickey. Actually, we have given much thought (sp.) to this whole business in recent months. We have come to the conclusion that there was really only one problem. Reasonable men ought to be able to sit down across a table and iron out any misunderstandings. If they never get together, they will never understand one another. The more that third parties — people who really don’t know all the facts — have to say and write, the more muddled the waters get. Recently, when we were on the West Coast, we got a message to O’Malley that we would like to have a meeting with him and a frank, man-to-man talk. Contrary to what others think, O’Malley seems just as interested in a talk as we are. Immediately, we received a warm and gracious answer in which he invited us to have a get-together. Circumstances — purely accidental — prevented us from having the meeting. However, we are confident it will be held sometime in the near future.” Jackie Robinson, "Jackie Robinson says:", Chicago Defender, September 1-7, 1962

  • Walter O’Malley sends a letter of congratulations to Fred L. Hartley, who had just been named President of Union Oil. The Dodgers and Union Oil enjoyed a strong relationship through the years, beginning with the Union 76 as the initial radio/TV sponsor for Dodger Stadium, signage and the service station in the stadium parking lot.

  • Dodger Stadium is prominently featured in American Engineer magazine’s feature “The New Look In Stadiums.” In the story, author Sigrid Marczoch writes, “Some 23,00 pieces of precast concrete were fitted together to make up the home of the Los Angeles Dodgers...It was built into a hillside and the job included a 7.5 million square foot earth moving operation. The amphitheatre-like four-tiered stadium rests on a series of terraces that were cut into the slope and then stabilized with air placed concrete reinforced with wire mesh. It seats 56,000 during the baseball season...The stadium is surrounded by 21 parking lots to accommodate 16,000 cars. The stadium is owned by the Los Angeles Dodgers and is claimed to be the first of its size to be built with private funds since Yankee Stadium was built in 1923. Praeger-Kavanagh-Waterbury were designers.” Sigrid Marczoch, "The New Look In Stadiums," American Engineer, September 1965

  • In his congratulatory letter to publishing magnate and philanthropist Walter H. Annenberg, Walter O’Malley writes, “I was delighted to learn of your election to the Times Mirror Co. Board as it means I will have more occasions to see you in Los Angeles. As you know, I am very fond of Norman, Buff and Otis (Chandler) and most proud of the Chandler operation.”