O'Malley Collection on Display at These Museums
Japanese American National Museum (JANM), Los Angeles, CA
"Dodgers: Brotherhood of the Game," special exhibit from March 29-September 14, 2014)
*Ten members of the National Baseball Hall of Fame autographed this one-of-a-kind porcelain plate, including Jackie Robinson and Walter O'Malley, while renowned sports writer Sotaro Suzuki, a Hall of Famer in Japan, also signed the plate. The plate, with famous Mt. Fuji in the background, was presented to Dodger owner Walter O'Malley by members of the traveling party, who visited the Noritake factory during the Dodgers' 1956 Goodwill Tour to Japan. A total of 40 signatures are on the plate.
*Happi coat from Dodgers' 1966 Goodwill Tour to Japan, Happi coat (kimono) was presented to members of the traveling party during the Dodgers' 1966 Goodwill Tour to Japan. The front of the coat with cherry blossoms reads "Welcome, World Peace and Dodgers".
*Chan Ho Park and Hideo Nomo autographed photo, 1996, photo by Jon SooHoo. Park and Nomo signed inscriptions to then Dodger President Peter O'Malley, who made the historic international signings of the pioneer pitchers in 1994 and 1995, respectively. Park was the first player from South Korea to sign and play in Major League Baseball, while in 1995, Nomo became the first Japanese player from Japan's Pacific or Central Leagues to play in MLB since Masanori Murakami in 1965.
*Hideo Nomo color artwork artist's proof by artist Hiro Yamagata. "The Warrior" Hideo Nomo, with 123 victories in the majors, is colorfully and boldly depicted with his unique twisting and turning pitching wind-up. In 2014, Nomo was elected to the Japan Baseball Hall of Fame. Nomo's successful career enabled more than 40 additional players from Japan to play in Major League Baseball and follow in his historic footsteps.
*Dodger pitcher Fernando Valenzuela, who became the only player to win Rookie of the Year and Cy Young awards in the same season (1981), is depicted in original artwork by Red Grooms at West Palm Beach, Florida during 1985 Spring Training. Montreal Expos owner Charles Bronfman, who commissioned artwork of various players, sent this original as a gift to then Dodger President Peter O'Malley and his wife Annette.
*Framed collection of autographed 1984 Olympic baseballs. The eight autographed baseballs represent the participating teams for the 1984 Olympic Baseball exhibition tournament held at Dodger Stadium before sellout crowds. Following Japan's 6-3 win over Team USA in the final game, this collection was presented to Dodger owner Peter O'Malley by the Dodger organization, with the momentum from the tournament ultimately leading to baseball's inclusion as an official gold medal sport at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona
*Dodger National League Championship black bat, 1947. Louisville Slugger presented championship black bats to Dodger players and the organization commemorating their success. Jackie Robinson, who made his debut season with the Dodgers and broke baseball's color barrier on April 15, 1947, is among those National League Champion Dodgers whose name is on the bat.
*Akihiro "Ike" Ikuhara and Peter O'Malley Memorial Sports Management Class flyers - Tommy Lasorda on June 24, 2004, Sadaharu Oh on January 21, 2008. Following the passing of Japan Baseball Hall of Fame honoree Akihiro "Ike" Ikuhara, Peter O'Malley and Waseda University started the Akihiro "Ike" Ikuhara and Peter O'Malley Memorial Sports Management Class to commemorate Ikuhara's significant contributions to international baseball. Starting in May 2003, 12 lectures were held through November 2009, including U.S. Presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush.
*Chan Ho Park and Hideo Nomo on Newsweek international edition cover, 1995. Magazine covers feature the far-reaching effects of Dodger international pitching stars Hideo Nomo and Chan Ho Park from Newsweek International edition (in Korean language) and another United States version.
*Hideo Nomo on Sports Illustrated cover, July 10, 1995. Sports Illustrated features pitcher Hideo Nomo as its cover story, as Nomomania begins to take hold in the United States and in Japan. A hero in his homeland, Nomo's every start was shown live on jumbo TV screens strategically placed on buildings and street corners in 13 cities in Japan.
*Korean-language newspapers feature Chan Ho Park's signing, January 14, 1994. Three Korean-language newspapers represent the extensive coverage of pitcher Chan Ho Park's historic signing on January 14, 1994 by the Dodgers. The pioneer Park story resonates in the large Los Angeles Korean community and in South Korea, where newspapers prominently feature him alongside Dodger President Peter O'Malley at the press conference.
*Emperor Hirohito and Walter O'Malley photograph, November 6, 1966. Dodger owner Walter O'Malley (second from right) and Baseball Commissioner William D. Eckert (far right) prepare to meet Emperor Hirohito and Empress Nagako at Tokyo's Korakuen Stadium for a Dodger exhibition game. The Dodgers made their second Goodwill Tour to Japan in 1966 and it was reported that the Emperor witnessed his first baseball game.
*1956 Dodger Goodwill Tour to Japan promotional poster. This rare original color poster promotes the 1956 Dodger Goodwill Tour to Japan, with images of (left-right) Dodger stars Roy Campanella, Duke Snider and Don Newcombe. Matsutaro Shoriki, the founder of the Yomiuri Shimbun and "father of Japanese professional baseball" dispatched confidant Sotaro Suzuki to New York to meet with Dodger owner Walter O'Malley and ask the Dodgers to make a fall trip to Japan.
*Photo album of Tokyo Yomiuri Giants visit to Dodgertown, Spring 1961. In 1957, Dodger owner Walter O'Malley invited Giants Manager Shigeru Mizuhara, Yomiuri Shimbun sports writer Sotaro Suzuki, who helped organize the 1956 Dodger Goodwill Tour to Japan in 1956, catcher Shigeru Fujio and pitcher Sho Horiuchi to Dodgertown in Vero Beach, Florida for Spring Training. In 1961, the entire Giants team trained at Dodgertown (the first of five visits) and this photo album highlights the friendly relationship between the Dodgers and Giants.
*Hideo Nomo Proof Coin Set, 1995. Pitcher Hideo Nomo, known as "Warrior," was so popular in Japan and in the United States that a special coin set was designed to commemorate his historic achievement as the first player from Japan's Pacific or Central Leagues to perform in Major League Baseball since Masanori Murakami in 1965. This proof set features gold, silver and bronze coins and is numbered No. 1 of 95.
*Dodger souvenir miniature baseball bats were created for several significant openings of Dodger youth and adult baseball fields, privately built by former Dodger President Peter O'Malley, including in Tianjin, China (Sept. 12, 1986), Managua, Nicaragua (Jan. 18, 1992) and Dublin, Ireland (July 4, 1998). Mini-bats were also made for the Dodgers 1993 Friendship Series as they traveled toTaipei, Taiwan and Fukuoka, Japan.
*Walter O'Malley's Third Class "Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon", November 15, 1966. Emperor Hirohito awards Walter O'Malley the Third Class "Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon" during the Dodgers' 1966 Goodwill Tour to Japan. O'Malley received the high honor, established in 1888 for both civil and military merit, on November 15, 1966 at the Prime Minister's Office, where he was decorated by Kiyosi Mori, director general for Prime Minister Eisaku Sato, in recognition of fostering United States-Japan friendship through professional baseball and the second of two Dodger Goodwill Tours to Japan.
*Program from Dodgers' 1956 Goodwill Tour to Japan. An official program, in Japanese, from the Dodgers' 1956 Goodwill Tour to Japan featuring team captain and shortstop Pee Wee Reese on the cover. Reese is a Dodger Hall of Famer.
*Tommy Lasorda signed photograph, August 3, 1997. Popular Tommy Lasorda had a stellar managerial career with 1,599 victories and two World Championships in 20 seasons for the Dodgers. This 1997 Lasorda autographed photograph is inscribed to Peter O'Malley and Peter's wife Annette and shows Tommy holding his Hall of Fame plaque in Cooperstown, New York.
*Hand-written letter to Walter O'Malley from Tommy Lasorda, January 30, 1965. In 1965, an original hand-written letter from Tommy Lasorda to Walter O'Malley, owner of the Dodgers, during a Japan visit to instruct Tokyo Yomiuri Giants players. Lasorda informs Mr. O'Malley of his activities in helping to train the Giants during his stay and includes newspaper clippings of the goodwill trip.
*An original, color ticket from the Dodgers' 1956 Goodwill Tour to Japan, with writing in Japanese. More than 450,000 fans attended Dodger exhibition games throughout the country and the Dodgers finished 14-4-1 on the trip.
*Akihiro "Ike" Ikuhara commemorative baseball and two baseball books, 1984, 1985. Akihiro "Ike" Ikuhara, Assistant to Dodger President Peter O'Malley from 1982-1992, wrote two books in Japanese: "The Man Who Survives the Race" in 1984 and "Dodger Way: A Winning Tradition" (1985). A commemorative baseball was created to honor Ikuhara, who was posthumously inducted into the Japan Baseball Hall of Fame in 2002.
*An original letter from Jackie Robinson to Dodger President Peter O'Malley on June 8, 1972 expresses his appreciation regarding the Dodgers' retiring his uniform No. 42 during Old-Timer's Day ceremonies on June 4, 1972 at Dodger Stadium. Robinson wrote, in part, "I want you to know that I was never so moved by the response of the fans as on that day."
*Tommy Lasorda original hand-written letter to express appreciation to Dodger President Peter O'Malley on December 19, 1981, following the Dodgers' World Championship season. Lasorda writes, in part, "I will be starting my thirty third year with the Dodgers. I've enjoyed everyone of them, but 1981 has to be the greatest of them all…We brought the Championship back to L.A. where it belongs…"
*Fernando Valenzuela Celebrity Window Waver, 1983. Fernandomania started in 1981 and Dodger fans were all looking for a collectible featuring Fernando. With his smiling face and his hand holding a baseball, the window waver was meant to be placed in a car, so that its motion made the hand wave - a fun and unique item featuring one of the all-time Dodger greats.
*The Dodgers All-Time Greats, A Pictorial History (1890-1970's). A special publication produced by the Dodgers that features Sandy Koufax and Jackie Robinson on the cover at Dodger Stadium from Old-Timer's Day on June 4, 1972. The inside highlights individual and team photos, Dodgers in the Hall of Fame and great moments of the organization.
*Photograph of Jackie Robinson stealing home plate, May 18, 1952. Jackie Robinson stealing home plate against the Chicago Cubs at Ebbets Field, Brooklyn, New York as Dodger pitcher Preacher Roe is batting and steps back from home, while Cubs' catcher John Pramesa makes a late tag according to National League umpire Augie Guglielmo. The daring base runner Robinson stole home 19 times in his illustrious career, electrifying every ballpark with his energy. The label on the original photo is dated incorrectly, as the game was three days later than it suggests.
*Artist signed print of President Barack Obama sliding, November 2008, J.D. Crowe cartoonist. Print of President Barack Obama in a baseball uniform sliding in J.D. Crowe's cartoon "Jackie Robinson of Politics," signed by the artist to Peter O'Malley. Jackie Robinson's significance as the first African American baseball player to cross the color barrier in Major League Baseball goes way beyond sports to the Civil Rights movement and, as Crowe suggests, to President No. 44 Barack Obama, another historic first.
*Japan Night celebration at Dodger Stadium, April 12, 1962. An April 13, 1962 newspaper clipping from The Kashu Mainichi showing Kay O'Malley, wife of Dodger owner Walter O'Malley, wearing a beautiful red Happi coat on Japan Night at Dodger Stadium, as part of Nisei Week celebrations. Just two days after Dodger Stadium opened, April 12 was a big day for Mrs. O'Malley, as it was her birthday and also stadium dedication ceremonies were held on the Top Deck level.
*Copy of November 1, 1959 letter from Mallie Robinson, Jackie Robinson's mother, who writes to Norris Poulson, Mayor of Los Angeles (1953-1961) in support of Dodger President Walter O'Malley, when O'Malley was trying to privately build Dodger Stadium.
*Transfer decal from the 1956 Dodger Goodwill Tour to Japan, sponsored by the Yomiuri Shimbun. The decal shows an outline of Mt. Fuji and the Dodger script name in red letters, not blue.