This Day in Walter O’Malley History:

  • Walter O’Malley is one of nearly 1,200 mourners to attend funeral services for baseball legend Connie Mack at St. Bridget’s Catholic Church in Philadelphia. On March 11, 1953, Mack brought his Philadelphia Athletics to Dodgertown in Vero Beach, Florida for the dedication of Holman Stadium. The Dodgers defeated Philadelphia 4-2. In his 50 years as a manager, Mack won five World Championships. He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1937.

  • Despite legal challenges facing the Dodgers to begin building their new home in Los Angeles, Walter O’Malley is determined to move his plans forward for Dodger Stadium. Commenting in The Sporting News, O’Malley said, “In light of the latest litigation and the fact that the city still is under an injunction we are not going to do any physical work on the property now, but we will do all the paper work possible so that there won’t be any unnecessary delay.” Frank Finch, The Sporting News, February 11, 1959

  • Walter O’Malley sends a telegram to inventor and designer R. Buckminster Fuller, who is in town for a dinner, inviting him to Dodger Stadium for lunch and an exhibition game.