This Day in Walter O’Malley History:

  • Walter O’Malley requires all Dodger players at the major league level and minor league players in the organization to begin wearing protective helmets while batting. O’Malley issued his command after Dodger outfielder Carl Furillo and infielder Don Zimmer were struck in the head while batting that season. O’Malley was so concerned about the potential injuries Furillo and Zimmer might have suffered that the order was to be followed by all players in the Dodger organization. The Sporting News, August 12, 1953

  • Walter O’Malley speaks to the Los Angeles Transportation Club at the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles.

  • John Joseph Seidler is born to Terry and Rollie Seidler and is the first grandchild of Kay and Walter O’Malley. John weighs 7-pounds, 11 ounces and was born at Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena, California.