This Day in Walter O’Malley History:
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In a letter to industrial designer and theatre architect Norman Bel Geddes, Walter O’Malley establishes a lunch date. “Dear Mr. Bel Geddes: Branch Rickey has sent the correspondence between you, to me and it will be my pleasure to meet you and discuss this interesting idea of yours. Would you be free to have luncheon with me at the Metropolitan Club, Friday, December 26th at say 12:30 o’clock.” At the time, Dodger ownership was investigating the possible renovation of aging Ebbets Field, opened in 1913.
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A note in Sports Illustrated mentions Walter O’Malley’s one million dollar-plus investment in Dodger Stadium landscaping prior to the 1963 season. “Sore-footed National League ballplayers will be delighted to hear that the program includes extensive work on the playing field. It has been plowed four times to a depth of 20 inches to help eliminate the hard surface that aroused so much criticism last season. But the major aspects of O’Malley’s beauty treatment are being concentrated off the field. On the parking lot banks, for instance, there will be red bougainvillea and blue plumbago, and petunias in cantilevered bowls. And beyond the outfield the once barren perimeter hills will be dressed by summer in the dazzling hues of California poppies, larkspur, paintbrush, wild pansies, lupine and Johnny-jump-ups. Not only that, but the stands, too, will blossom even more than they did in 1962, with a greater-than-ever array of blooming Angelinos, clinging Hollywoods, creeping Anaheims, climbing Burbanks and wild Beverly Hillbillies — season ticket sales are up 71% over last year already.” Sports Illustrated, December 24, 1962
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Toru Shoriki, Vice President of the Yomiuri Giants, sends a letter to Walter O’Malley stating, “I am very pleased to send to you a pennant of the Yomiuri Giants and a Furoshiki (Japanese wrapping cloth) in celebration of its victory in the 1963 Japan Series. I have asked Mr. Dick Miyamoto, Japan representative of the Music Corporation of America, to present them to you. Mr. Miyamoto is leaving Tokyo for Los Angeles shortly on his business trip. I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all the joys of the holiday season.” At the time, it was the sixth Japan Series championship for the Yomiuri Giants since winning their first title in 1951.
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Dr. James G. Mason, credited as the founding father in the field of sports administration at Ohio University, writes a letter to Walter O’Malley that “Herbert Anderson has completed his masters research paper and is the first person to officially receive his masters degree in physical education with a major emphasis in sports administration, as of December, 1968.” Anderson served an internship with the Los Angeles Dodgers and was subsequently hired by the Dodgers as General Manager of their Daytona Beach farm club. Since 1957, O’Malley had worked with Dr. Mason in developing the idea of preparing students on the executive and administrative side of professional sports. In 1966, Dr. Mason developed the first degree-granting program in sports administration at Ohio University.
