Yankees’ Boss Steinbrenner Lauds Dodger Organization After World Series Match-ups

George Steinbrenner III, principal owner and managing partner of the New York Yankees from 1973 until his passing in 2010, and the Dodgers were intertwined in several ways through Walter O’Malley and his son Peter.

Walter O’Malley and Steinbrenner both graduated from Culver Military Academy in Culver, Indiana. In 1994, O’Malley, class of 1922, and Steinbrenner, class of 1948, were both inducted into the Culver Academies Athletic Hall of Fame, O’Malley for baseball and Steinbrenner for football and track.

Steinbrenner said of Walter O’Malley on SI.com, May 4, 2004: “He was the smartest man I knew in baseball. He was a graduate of the same school I am, Culver (Military) Academy (a prep school in Indiana). In those days the A.L. (owners) sat on one side of the table, the N.L. on the other. It was like a declaration of war. And I remember him saying, ‘Mr. Steinbrenner is going to wonder why he ever got into baseball after sitting here listening to us.’ Well, what Walter O’Malley wanted, he got done.” 

In 1977, just four years after Steinbrenner came to own the Yankees, the Dodgers made their first of two consecutive trips to the World Series against New York. On October 18, 1977, the Yankees beat the Dodgers in a six-game series with the capper an 8-4 win at Yankee Stadium. 

Just nine days later on October 27, 1977, Steinbrenner, 47, wrote a letter to Dodger Chairman of the Board Walter O’Malley, 74, stating, “I know that losing is always a disappointment, but if I had to summarize this Series between the Yankees and the Dodgers, I’d do it this way – It would be one of those few instances where a ‘pupil’ was lucky enough to be able to just get by ‘his teacher.’

“I said it on the airplane on the way back to New York to my administrative people who were all sitting up front and I sincerely meant it – “Now that, gentlemen, (the Dodgers), is the way a baseball organization should be run. I meant that because it’s a model and it’s top-drawer all the way. That’s why I feel like a very lucky ‘pupil’ because, quite frankly, in my opinion you’re the best owner and operator that baseball has ever seen and probably will ever see, and I spent half my time in L.A. observing, making notes, and learning. I can’t tell you how impressed I am with everything about the Dodgers. I think we’d be smart in baseball if we had a course for all the owners and just let you be ‘the professor.’” 

Steinbrenner continues, “I know how Peter feels having to follow in your footsteps. I had the same situation in the ship business with my dad, and I think the hardest thing for any young man to do is to work for his father, but I’ll tell you one thing – there isn’t any young owner in baseball who impresses me more than Peter. Since our relationship has become closer with the so-called ‘Young Lions’ being organized, I have gained a very profound and deep respect for him as have all the others who did not really have a chance to know him before. If I were you, I would have little or no worry about whether your standards of excellence are going to be maintained through the years. I think it’s better to feel that it’s just a question of how far he will go beyond the accomplishments of the recognized master.”

The next season, the Dodgers and Yankees once again played each other in the Fall Classic and once again the Yankees beat the Dodgers in a six-game World Series with New York storming back from losing the first two games. On August 9, 1979, Walter O’Malley passed and Steinbrenner told the New York Daily News: “Walter O’Malley was a leader among baseball owners as much the same way as are the giants of steel and shipping in their industries. He was full-time baseball and he understood every facet of the game.”

In 1981, when the Dodgers and Yankees met for the third time in five seasons, it was the Dodgers who captured their first World Championship since 1965. Steinbrenner and Yankee superstar Reggie Jackson graciously stopped by the visitor’s clubhouse at Yankee Stadium to offer congratulations to Dodger President Peter O’Malley. Steinbrenner also issued a public apology to the fans of the Yankees for his team’s performance in the World Series, while congratulating O’Malley and the Dodger organization.  

In October 1983, it was reported that Steinbrenner was attempting to sign Dodger Manager Tommy Lasorda to replace Billy Martin for a long-term deal. Baseball rules prevent tampering with a manager under contract unless specific permission is sought and granted by his organization. The New York Times reported, “Peter O’Malley, the Dodger owner, was said to have been incredulous that someone could make Lasorda an offer without getting permission to talk with him.” October 16, 1983, New York Times, “Rumors Swirling Around Lasorda” Lasorda indicated that he didn’t want to leave the Dodgers and O’Malley rewarded him with the club’s first multiyear managerial contract in history, a three-year term. Since 1954, Managers Walter Alston and Lasorda worked on one-year agreements.

On October 7, 1985, Steinbrenner sent congratulations to O’Malley via a Mailgram as the Dodgers won the National League West Division (see top of page). One day after the Dodgers lost the 1985 National League Championship Series to St. Louis, Steinbrenner sent O’Malley a telegram, the second congratulatory message in 10 days: “It was a great year Peter and as I said you did it the right way. You are going to be there a long time now and remember there were 22 of us sitting at home watching. Your friend, George Steinbrenner” 

On July 30, 1990, Major League Baseball Commissioner Fay Vincent banned Steinbrenner from daily operations “for life”, a penalty later reduced. Steinbrenner paid admitted gambler Howard Spira $40,000 to dig up “dirt” on Yankees outfielder and future Hall of Famer Dave Winfield.

O’Malley issued the following statement that day: “There was never any doubt in my mind that Commissioner Vincent would give Mr. Steinbrenner a fair hearing and I support the Commissioner’s decision. The Commissioner’s ability to sanction those acting against the best interests of baseball is critical to maintain the integrity of the game.”

On February 28, 1992, Steinbrenner wrote to O’Malley and other baseball owners making his pitch to meet with Commissioner Vincent and be reinstated as managing partner of the Yankees. After lawsuits were dropped, Vincent granted Steinbrenner’s request effective March 1, 1993.

In 1995, O’Malley met with Japan-born free agent pitcher Hideo Nomo at Dodger Stadium. In his initial meeting with Nomo they bonded.

O’Malley said, “He (Nomo) came to my office on his way to Atlanta and New York. He wanted to see (George) Steinbrenner (owner of the Yankees) and (Ted) Turner (chairman of the Braves). I told him we really wanted him here. This was the best place for him, and we would take good care of him.” Gordon Edes, Boston Globe, April 5, 2007  Nomo and his agent Don Nomura cancelled that trip.

O’Malley signed Nomo who became starting pitcher for the National League in the 1995 All-Star Game and was named 1995 NL Rookie of the Year. Nomomania took hold throughout the baseball world. Nomo’s courageous move from Nippon Professional Baseball to MLB opened the door for 80 more Japan-born players to participate in the past 30-plus years.