This Day in Walter O’Malley History:
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Walter O’Malley meets with American theatrical and industrial designer Norman Bel Geddes. In 1948, Bel Geddes had submitted a study regarding a renovation of aging Ebbets Field, but limited parking for only 700 cars diminished the possibility.
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Kings County Judge Samuel S. Leibowitz receives a Dodger Sym-Phony serenade as he and his wife depart for a 38-day South American cruise from Pier 32. Judge Leibowitz wrote a letter to Local 802, American Federation of Musicians, imploring union leaders to reconsider its decision to require only union musicians to play in the Dodger Sym-Phony at Ebbets Field at a cost of $100 a game. As Leibowitz and his wife approached the gangplank of the “Uruguay” ship, the Dodger Sym-Phony struck up “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow.” Regarding Walter O’Malley’s plan for a “Musical Appreciation Night” in which fans were encouraged to bring any musical instrument to gain entrance to Ebbets Field, Leibowitz said, “Although I have the highest regard for Walter O’Malley as a loyal Dodger fan and sportsman, I do not think any invited newcomers can take the place of the Sym-Phony in the affections of Brooklyn’s rabid rooters. I am entirely in accord with his refusal to put the band on a commercial basis, but I think these boys who have made Ebbets Field so enjoyable and colorful, deserve our appreciation in the form of solid support of their right to play at the games.” Brooklyn Daily Eagle, July 27, 1951
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A nighttime break-in to Walter O’Malley’s Ebbets Field office cost him a set of keys to the ballpark. Another on the Dodger staff lost $250 left in a pair of pants. The Sporting News, August 6, 1952
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As Chairman of the National League Expansion Committee, Walter O’Malley meets with George Kirksey and Craig Cullinan, two representatives from Houston, who want to bring a major league team there. According to O’Malley’s file memorandum, he writes, “I turned to my file and read to them (a) copy of my letter to the National League Committee members outlining a proposed program and agenda for the August 2nd meeting and I stated that pretty well spelled out my thinking. I replied that we would first explore the possibilities of the Continental League and its potentials and very likely would not go into internal expansion unless it was obvious that the Continental League was not likely to function in the near future.” As an alternative to the Continental League, National League expansion took place in 1962 as Houston and the New York Mets began play.
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Los Angeles Herald-Examiner cartoonist Karl Hubenthal depicts County Assessor Philip E. Watson sliding into base with his spikes high, ripping through the uniform of Walter O’Malley who is in the air, in obvious pain, to try and avoid him. Meanwhile, an umpire, meant to be the Los Angeles County Supervisors who approved Watson’s decision to dramatically increase the tax assessment to the Dodgers, calls him safe. The Dodger tax bill increased to $700,000, up from $345,000 the previous year. Watson appraisal of Dodger Stadium was $32.3 million, while O’Malley’s two private independent expert appraisals reported a value at between $19.3-19.5 million.
