This Day in Walter O’Malley History:
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At the regular Annual Meeting of the National League held at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York attended by both Branch Rickey and Walter O’Malley, the proposal to reclassify the Pacific Coast League as a third major league to be named the Pacific Major League was rejected. N.L. President Ford C. Frick and Pittsburgh’s Frank McKinney recommended that the application by the PCL for major league status be rejected and that the Los Angeles and San Francisco areas are the only areas in the Pacific Coast territory which are suitable for major league status, but that those areas should be entertained if and when made and the burden is on the PCL for making its own arrangements for permitting the entry of major league clubs to that territory.
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Walter O’Malley has a 10 a.m. appointment with David Rockefeller, the son of John D. Rockefeller. Rockefeller has an extensive business and political background as he has been Chairman of the Board of Chase Manhattan Bank and Chairman of the Council of Foreign Relations. He has served as a trustee of the Museum of Modern Art in New York and has been involved with many charitable and philanthropic endeavors. Rockefeller was credited with the development program for the World Trade Center and his autobiography, Memoirs, was published in 2003. The New York Times Book Review said, “As this calm yet revealing memoir indicates, there will never be another person like David Rockefeller.”
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The National Conference of Christians and Jews at the 10th Annual Apparel and Textile Division Dinner confers upon Walter O’Malley the National Brotherhood Award at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. The award, presented by movie producer and director Mervyn LeRoy, was for “distinguished service in advancing brotherhood among all men.” Comedian Dick Shawn emceed the dinner attended by nearly 400 business leaders in greater Los Angeles.
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Following the Dodger trade of Frank Howard, Phil Ortega, Pete Richert and Dick Nen to the Washington Senators for Claude Osteen, John Kennedy and cash, Walter O’Malley writes this letter to Howard: “At a Bond Club luncheon yesterday I was asked about the Howard trade and I replied by saying that this could prove to be the worst trade we ever made and if it turned out that way, that Buzzie (Bavasi) and I and all your team mates would be mighty pleased for your sake. This, of course, means that we sincerely hope you would become one of the real great ball players in the history of baseball. Personally, I believe that will be the case and I cannot think of a finer man in baseball to be your manager than Gil Hodges. Your quotes in the enclosed article are typical of your character which has always impressed me. To you Frank, and your family, a truly happy New Year even if the surroundings will seem strange at first. You gave the Dodgers every ounce of your big sincere body and mind and I just want you to know that we will all miss you a great deal.”
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Walter O’Malley explains in a memorandum to Dodgertown Director Dick Bird his idea for cutting the grass at the spring training complex for 1966. “Dear Dick: On the diamonds in Holman Stadium, Field #2, and the half field, we should cut the grass as low as we can and then use the Verti-cutting machine, letting the material lay on the ground until it dries, when it should be burned. This process should be followed about a week later by verti-cutting in the opposite direction. The object is to get the Bermuda grass to grow close to the ground instead of tufting up.”
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At the end of his term, National League President Warren C. Giles writes a letter of appreciation to Walter O’Malley. “There is no one in the league with whom I have had closer contact — officially and personally. You have been helpful to me as councellor (sp.) on so many occasions. You contributed immeasurably to discussions and decisions in our Executive Council meetings, our league meetings and joint meetings (I remember well your presentation regarding the 162-game schedule at our recent joint meeting in Chicago). Very important to me has been the close personal relationship I have enjoyed with you and your wonderful family...I am grateful to you for being understanding of my errors, helpful with advice when requested and an opportunity to know and be with a wonderful family.”
