This Day in Walter O’Malley History:

  • Kay and Walter O’Malley and son Peter see Mary Martin star in the leading role of the musical “Peter Pan” at the Winter Garden Theatre in New York City.

  • Los Angeles Examiner cartoonist Karl Hubenthal depicts Walter O’Malley in a Santa Claus suit scratching his head as he is perplexed as to how to leave his Christmas gift of a major league team for Los Angeles. O’Malley has brought the Dodgers to Los Angeles for the 1958 season, but actions of the Los Angeles Coliseum Commission and the Proposition B Referendum regarding the validity of the approved contract between the city of Los Angeles and the Dodgers have tied in knots the Christmas stocking for the stunned O’Malley.

  • Two days after his appearance as guest speaker for the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) luncheon in Los Angeles, Walter O’Malley receives this review in Rafu Shimpo: “Mr. O’Malley turned out to be an excellent speaker. He is not a fiery orator; but he is full of humor so that there was constant laughter. Some of the remarks he made certainly indicated that he was fast on his feet. We were impressed with the extent of his friendship and understanding of the Japanese people. It was not difficult to see why the Dodgers are so popular in Japan. When a contingent has a leader of his caliber to accompany them, there could be no doubt about the favorable impression which would be made upon the hosts. Of course, we were all interested in finding out about his thinking on the progress of Japanese baseballdom was making. Mr. O’Malley frankly stated that there will be a World Series between the champions of Japan and those of this country one day...The Dodgers have been inviting Japanese teams to have spring training with them. This is a tremendous assist for the top teams to reach the level of American teams.” Saburo Kido, Rafu Shimpo, December 20, 1963

  • Along with General Manager E. J. “Buzzie” Bavasi and Vice President Fresco Thompson, Walter O’Malley sends a resolution to The Nashville Banner sportswriter Bill Roberts, a longtime Dodger fan. The resolution reads, “Whereas, you have demonstrated by your loyalty and enthusiasm for the Dodgers over many years that you are a true fan of the Dodgers; Whereas, you have maintained this loyalty during your childhood in Brooklyn, through Duke University, through service in the Air Corps, and into the mountains of Tennessee while covering sports for the Nashville Banner; Whereas, despite the loss of the first two games in the 1965 World Series, you strongly held and so wrote that the Dodgers would be the final victors. You even gave us the benefit of your ‘whammy buster’ on your trip to Dodger Stadium which started the Dodgers’ winning skein; Whereas, you have suffered the trials, tribulations, and ridicule of all Dodger fans, you always bounced back with the well-known cry of ‘Wait ’till next year!’ — and there have been glorious and rewarding years for all of us; It is hereby resolved that Bill Roberts of the Nashville Banner accept the sincere appreciation of the undersigned members of the Official Dodger Family for his public expressions of his love for the Dodgers. Signed in Los Angeles, California, this 20th Day of December, 1965.” The Nashville Banner, December 23, 1965

  • As one of 10 honorees of the 1971 Times Women of the Year, Kay O’Malley is profiled in the Los Angeles Times with a lengthy feature. She and husband Walter O’Malley are the parents of children Terry O’Malley Seidler and Peter O’Malley and the proud grandparents of eight (all Seidlers). The daughter of Judge Peter B. Hanson and Elizabeth Hanson, Kay was born in Brooklyn in 1907. The article notes, “Kay and Walter O’Malley live in Hancock Park and have been Angelenos since coming here from their native Brooklyn. Can you believe it has been 13 years? Locally she is on the board of directors of the Los Angeles Orphanage Guild and is a life member of the Mary and Joseph League. She is a founder member of the Music Center and a sponsor of the Civic Light Opera. ‘God has been very good to me,’ she smiles. ‘I have lived a full life.’ Then she adds, ‘That’s due to my husband, of course.’ But there is more to it than that. There is Kay O’Malley herself, whose attitude has made it all possible. In her way she has contributed significantly to the success of every one of the O’Malleys. They are a very close, congenial family...Kay attended the College of New Rochelle in Westchester, N.Y., and St. John’s Law School. ‘I wanted to be a schoolteacher. My father was a judge, you know. But I didn’t finish. I got married.’...When she’s not watching baseball, Kay is driving. ‘I love to drive (she sees her grandchildren, who live in Pasadena, for a moment every day!). I just love it.’ She heads to Fullerton or Encino to see friends, take a pal to Ports o’ Call at San Pedro or to Santa Barbara or Solvang. Her dressmaker is in Long Beach. Kay is a mover.” Christy Fox, Los Angeles Times, December 20, 1971