September 5, 1946 ticket kept by Peter O’Malley for the Montreal Royals game he attended as an 8-year-old with his parents Kay and Walter O’Malley and his sister Terry. Jackie Robinson played for the Montreal team.
Inside/Peter
To See Jackie Robinson Play
Peter O’Malley’s first international trip outside the United States as an 8-year-old had a historic baseball connection. He traveled with his parents and his sister Terry to Montreal, Quebec, Canada, on September 5, 1946. Montreal Gazette, September 6, 1946 The purpose of the visit to Montreal was to see the first place Montreal Royals, a Brooklyn Dodger farm team, play the Rochester Red Wings in a regular season game. Jackie Robinson was the starting second baseman and had a single in five at bats. The Red Wings would defeat the Royals that evening, 5-1.
September 6, 1946 note in the Montreal Gazette newspaper that the family of Walter O’Malley, including wife Kay, daughter Terry and son Peter attended a game in Montreal, Quebec, Canada to see the Montreal Royals, the top Dodgers’ farm team, with Jackie Robinson play. Peter saved his ticket throughout his career.
Montreal would go on to win the 1946 Little World Series and Robinson would be elected the 1946 Most Valuable Player of the International League. Robinson broke the color line in Major League Baseball when he made his debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers April 15, 1947, the team of which Walter O’Malley was a majority tri-owner. The trip and the ballgame made a memorable impression on Peter as he retained the ticket from the game throughout the years.