Spring’s Eternal at Dodgertown

Attendance 1953-1957 Brooklyn Dodgers vs. Milwaukee Braves

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The first major league exhibition game played at night was on March 28, 1968 at Holman Stadium as the Dodgers faced the Chicago White Sox. Forty percent improvement on candlepower at the field, designed by Dodger engineer Ira Hoyt, made it possible to play. Of course, the many minor league teams could partake, as well. On November 20, 1968, Vice President Fresco Thompson passed away, six months after assuming the responsibilities of General Manager from Buzzie Bavasi, who left the Dodgers to join the expansion San Diego Padres as their first President. It was the first change of O’Malley’s lieutenants in 18 years. The following spring, longtime scout Al Campanis was the new Vice President, Player Personnel and Scouting and William P. Schweppe was named Vice President, Minor League Operations. In 1969, Dick Crago worked his first spring as the public address announcer at Holman Stadium, a position he has held ever since. O’Malley purchased a restaurant near Dodgertown called “The Shed” and turned it into a dining establishment for players and the public known as “The Dodger Cafeteria,” which had a brief run.

O’Malley’s son, Peter, became the Dodger President on March 17, 1970 at Dodgertown. The symbolic changing of the guard was an important crossroads for them, as the senior O’Malley moved to Dodger Chairman of the Board. It gave Peter an opportunity to carry the brunt of the workload, while his father continued to serve on the all-important Major League Baseball Executive Council, on other boards and maintain his many charitable interests.

In 1965, Capt. Lew Carlisle took over the reins as pilot from Capt. H.R. “Bump” Holman. In 1971, the Dodgers purchased a 720-B Fan Jet from American Airlines and christened it Kay O’II, the second Dodger-owned aircraft named for O’Malley’s wife, which would make frequent visits to Dodgertown to haul major and minor league teams to and from the training base. Capt. Carlisle and his wife Millie became instant favorites of the O’Malley family and the rest of the Dodger organization.

The O’Malleys worked on a major renovation of Dodgertown which took place in 1972. That year, 90 modern villas for the players, coaches, executives and press were placed on property which would replace the old barracks. O’Malley and his wife always resided in villa number 162 on Sandy Koufax Lane located adjacent to the Olympic-size swimming pool.

Despite a mock “Save the Barracks” campaign headed by O’Malley and ballplayers like Ron Fairly, Don Sutton and Claude Osteen in 1969 and 1970, the two old Naval barracks were razed in 1973.

By 1974, the continuation of expansion included a 23,000-square foot administration building, which included the Major League clubhouse, medical department, dining room, kitchen, main lobby, broadcasting studio, photo darkroom, press room, lounge, training rooms, equipment room, minor league clubhouse and laundry room. In 1976, clubhouses were built for the two golf courses.

O’Malley’s vision of Dodgertown as a multifunctional and year-round destination was certainly taking shape when in 1977 he started the Dodgertown Conference Center and executed an agreement to have it managed by Harrison Conference Centers. This immediately brought corporate business seeking a top-notch place to hold important meetings, seminars and conventions. Attendees would live right on site, dine in the Dodgertown dining room and use the fields and Olympic-size swimming pool for recreational purposes. The Dodgers expanded their interests into other sports, as the National Football League New Orleans Saints initially utilized the camp to prepare for their championship season in 1974. Many more NFL teams would follow suit preparing for the playoffs.

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