This Day in Walter O’Malley History:
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In a letter to designer Capt. Emil Praeger regarding replacing costly protective covers for the infield at Ebbets Field due to rain, Walter O’Malley writes, “I was wondering if a network of small well-points laid horizontally a foot below the surface and hooked up to an electric discharge pump would prove practical. In other words, when a game is interrupted because of heavy rain we would cover the pitcher’s mound and the batter’s box with small easily handled canvas, nylon or rubber covers and turn on the pump. In your opinion, would the pump dry the infield and the base paths sufficiently, so that a game could resume as quickly as would be the case if the entire area was covered.”
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At the 33rd Annual dinner of the Baseball Writers Association of America, New York Chapter, Dodger center fielder Duke Snider poked fun at Walter O’Malley when he showed the crowd of 1,475 at the Waldorf-Astoria a baseball cap with the initials “JC” on it. The other side read “Dodgers.” The Dodger boss took the good-natured ribbing in stride, as in August 1955 he had signed a two-year lease agreement with Jersey City, New Jersey to play selected home games in Roosevelt Stadium. In 1956, the Dodgers were to play seven “home” games away from aging Ebbets Field in Brooklyn. Snider kidded that the Dodgers were going to wear the new headgear all of 1956. Dan Daniel, The Sporting News, February 15, 1956
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After a visit to see Dodger star catcher Roy Campanella in Glen Cove Community Hospital in Long Island, New York, Walter O’Malley updates the progress of the three-time National League MVP, whose car slid off an icy road and into a light pole a week earlier. “Campy must remain in the same position for six weeks. He is still in serious condition and it may be some time before an obvious improvement can be noted. As to his own condition, O’Malley had broken his left ankle on a recent trip somewhere in Cuba or Florida. “I neglected it,” he said, “and tomorrow I may have it in a cast. Depends on what the doctor says. Meanwhile, it gives me a chance to do a lot of sitting, which I like.” He possibly broke his ankle with an exuberant leap when he spotted a Cuban guinea fowl while hunting, according to one report. Roscoe McGowen, The Sporting News, February 12, 1958
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Los Angeles Herald-Examiner columnist Bob Oates discusses with Walter O’Malley the Dodger President’s recipe to cook a venison meal. Q - What’s the main thing to keep in mind (cooking venison)? “I recommend a slow, marinated unfreeze. You take the venison out of the freezer in the morning and tie it up in a large plastic bag with the marinating sauce and put it in the ice box to unfreeze all day.” Q - What’s the O’Malley recipe for the marinade? “You start with dry red wine and add mustard and sodium glutamate, then season with peppers and herbs. Sometimes I add a little Chinese flavoring from the Don the Beachcomber shelf, or maybe a lemon rind and some ginger. I toss in whatever is around the kitchen.” Q - As a recipe for the cook in my house, this sounds something less than precise. “It’s roughly the way I gave it to the editors of the Kings in the Kitchen recipe book — which includes selections by General Eisenhower, Earl Warren and others. I doubt if I ever gave any recipe the same way twice.” Q - What’s prescribed for cooking venison? “Some people use a Dutch oven and some a barbecue, but I haven’t had very good luck with California charcoal. What I do is slice it — three-quarters of an inch thick — broil both sides quickly on a hot fire and serve.” Q - With hot French bread on the side? “Yes, and I bake the bread myself — old-fashioned sourdough home-baked bread. I keep the dough working all winter. The Alaskan sourdoughs used to sleep with it to keep it from going bad.” Bob Oates, Talking With Walter O’Malley, February 5, 1964
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Walter O’Malley sends a letter of congratulations to Francis L. Dale, former President of the Cincinnati Reds in the 1960s, who was appointed United States Ambassador to Switzerland. Dale was also publisher of the Cincinnati Enquirer. “I wish you and Mrs. Dale great happiness in your new career. As you know, you have been a favorite of mine in Baseball and I regret deeply that you left the scene,” wrote O’Malley.
