This Day in Walter O’Malley History:
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Bob Curzon of the Vero Beach Press-Journal writes a letter to Walter O’Malley inviting him to stop by his new home on January 3, 1953 as preparations for the opening of Holman Stadium at Dodgertown continue. “I can assure you that your visit is happily anticipated by all of your friends in Vero Beach. The feeling about the new stadium is running high in Vero Beach and every Sunday you can spot dozens of visitors who drive out to see the progress being made and to also gaze at the beauty of Lake O’Malley. I thought that it was only proper that the beautiful fish pond should be named and so I have been referring to it as Lake O’Malley in the paper. I do hope that the suggested name doesn’t offend you.” Four days later, O’Malley replied, “Thank you for your letter. I am sure that I will have time to drop in and say hello to you...Suppose we let the name Lake O’Malley die out and refer to it in the future as Lake Gowanus (named for the Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn).”
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Columnist Bob Addie of the Washington Post writes of Walter O’Malley’s high regard for Brooklyn Dodger pitcher Sal Maglie. Maglie joined the Dodgers late in the 1956 season and his pitching helped the team to a consecutive National League pennant. Maglie for years had been a nemesis of the Dodgers while pitching for the New York Giants. When asked why the Dodgers acquired a pitcher who had been so successful against his team, O’Malley said, “Maglie is the best man I know to tell our hitters what they’re doing wrong. He’s had a lot of first-hand experience. Bob Addie, Washington Post, December 27, 1956
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Upon receiving a gift of a clock, Walter O’Malley writes the giver William S. Lawo, Jr., President of Pepsi Cola Bottling Company in Torrance, California: “Dear Bill: We have the Around the World Clock and while I know what time it is in Japan and Ireland there are times when I think I do not even know it here. All the best.”
