This Day in Walter O’Malley History:

  • At a Dodger Board of Directors Meeting at 215 Montague Street in Brooklyn, designer Norman Bel Geddes presented his report, per his retainer, regarding the possibility of rebuilding or renovating on the existing Ebbets Field site. Bel Geddes and the board studied the report for several hours. Walter O’Malley, club Vice President and General Counsel, had been searching for solutions to aging Ebbets Field and its limited parking for 700 cars. According to minutes of the meeting, “It was agreed Mr. O’Malley might explore the possibilities of acquiring land in the Borough Hall section of Brooklyn as a possible site for a new stadium. The Board felt that such a location was preferable to the present site giving consideration to the demands of the playing schedule, and the possibility of building elsewhere without disturbing the schedule.” Minutes of the Board of Directors meeting, Brooklyn National League Baseball Club, February 21, 1948

  • Walter O’Malley makes the following announcement regarding a stadium site survey of the intersection of Atlantic and Flatbush Avenues by Brooklyn Borough President John Cashmore: “Brooklyn Borough President John Cashmore, his survey committee and Mayor Bob Wagner have faced an important problem with courage and intelligence. The Dodgers, and for that matter all sports fans, are elated at the possibilities for a new stadium. We are also pleased this has the endorsement of Commissioner Bob Moses. Even without the Dodgers, this program is one of great Civic importance to New York City and the Borough of Brooklyn. Should the result be that a new stadium can be included at Atlantic and Flatbush Avenues, the Dodgers would be interested in a., buying the land, building or operating the stadium; or b., participating in a bond issue; or c., being a tenant. It will be sad to see Ebbets Field demolished, but anyone familiar with its limitations will understand that this fine old landmark has to go and soon.”

  • Heading to Dodgertown in Vero Beach, Florida to begin yet another Spring Training season, Walter O’Malley, players and executives stop on the steps of the team’s DC-3 airplane for the photographers. On the flight with O’Malley are Dodger players Sandy Koufax, Roy Campanella and Billy Loes, as well as Coach Jake Pitler, Vice Presidents Fresco Thompson and Buzzie Bavasi and scout Al Campanis.

  • The Dodgers swap their Fort Worth team in the Texas League for Wrigley Field in Los Angeles, the Pacific Coast League L.A. Angels and territorial rights in Los Angeles with Chicago Cubs’ owner Philip K. Wrigley. As a proponent of Major League Baseball expansion to the West Coast, Wrigley realized that his team in the PCL would be worth much less if a team relocated to Los Angeles, thus he made the important exchange. Walter O’Malley further announces that Marvin Kratter, real estate investor, has purchased La Grave Field in Ft. Worth and that the Cubs, in operating the franchise there, would lease the La Grave Field facilities.

  • Responding to reporters at the announcement of the acquisition of the Los Angeles Angels of the Pacific Coast League and their home ballpark, Wrigley Field, Walter O’Malley once again discusses the need for a new stadium for the Dodgers in Brooklyn. “Baseball progress,” said O’Malley answering why the Dodgers should leave Ebbets Field, built in 1913. “We have to compete now with a club (Milwaukee Braves) that outdraws us two to one. We have the operation costs of an overage stadium as compared to favorable rentals of clubs in municipal and county stadiums. The Dodgers paid Federal and city taxes on admissions alone of $495,000, which is more than the player payroll. If we cannot vie with other clubs later on in the acquisition of new talent, we will not be able to compete on even terms.” New York Daily Mirror, February 22, 1957

  • Los Angeles Mayor Norris Poulson announces he will make a quick visit to Dodgertown in Vero Beach, Florida within 10 days in an effort to bring the Dodgers to Los Angeles. Poulson says propects for Major League Baseball in L.A. “were never brighter.” Poulson also said, “I intend to confer with Walter F. O’Malley, president of the Dodgers, to see how soon it will be possible for Los Angeles’ long time dream to become realized.” Los Angeles Examiner, February 22, 1957

  • Speaking to sportswriter Bob Hunter in The Sporting News, Walter O’Malley discusses his plans to open Dodger Stadium on time despite torrential rains that pummeled the Los Angeles area for five straight days and delayed the construction process. “I’m a stubborn man. We will hit the target date no matter what the weather,” said O’Malley. “I have a competent engineer (Capt. Emil Praeger) and a good contractor (Vinnell Constructors) and they both assure me we will open as scheduled. Paving is more than 90 percent complete (referring to the parking areas and access roads). Actually, I guess all we lost was time, half a million dollars and all of our top soil. I may have to chase that down to the Los Angeles River.” Bob Hunter, The Sporting News, February 21, 1962

  • A plaque is presented to Walter O’Malley by noted landscape architect John T. Ratekin at the Statler Hotel for making Dodger Stadium “one of the show places in Southern California.” O’Malley initially invested nearly $1.5 million for landscaping at Dodger Stadium, which according to Ratekin, will be “a mass of color, every hue of the rainbow, depicting the seal of the City of Los Angeles” for the 1963 season.

  • Elizabeth Geyer Hanson, mother of Katherine “Kay” Hanson O’Malley, passes away at home in Los Angeles.

  • The Porsche Owners Club holds a slalom race in the Dodger Stadium parking area in Lots 40 and 41.