This Day in Walter O’Malley History:
-
Jimmy Powers writes in “The Powerhouse” column, “If respectable businessmen like (Tom) Yawkey, Lou Perrini (sp.), Dan Topping, Jim Norris, P. K. Wrigley, Spike Briggs or Walter O’Malley ever walk out of our professional sports world it will be a sorry day for fan, player and sports writer alike.” Jimmy Powers, Daily News, September 22, 1952
-
W. A. Burress, Lieutenant General of the United States Army at Headquarters First Army, Governors Island, New York, writes to Walter O’Malley, “I wish to express my deep appreciation to you and your organization for the material contribution to the morale of Armed Services personnel in this area by making available complimentary admissions to the baseball games at Ebbets Field. Through your cooperation, thousands of servicemen and women not only enjoyed many hours of wholesome recreation but had admirable evidence of the regard in which they are held by the civilian community. Your interest in the welfare of military personnel is personally appreciated and is a valued contribution in the furtherance of the Army Recreation program.”
-
Left hand pitcher Karl Spooner pitches a shutout and sets a Major League record with 15 strikeouts by a pitcher in his debut as he defeats the New York Giants, 3-0.
-
Duke Snider hits his 40th home run of the season and ties a National League record with Ralph Kiner for five consecutive seasons of 40 or more home runs in a 7-3 win over the Phillies.
-
Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Jim Murray writes of the memories he’ll have after the Dodgers play their final game in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. “There were 12,068 on hand for the finale including (and the Dodgers thank you) the General Pipe and Supply Co. of Compton, Job’s Daughters, Bethel No. 254 of Reseda, the Toluca Lake Optimists and quite a few pessimists. The game wasn’t much except that Sandy Koufax, coming off a 24-hour fast (for Yom Kippur), struck out 15 batters. He also beat out a bunt proving that eating is not good for you since the last time I saw him here he couldn’t even beat out a single to right field.” Jim Murray, Los Angeles Times, September 22, 1961
-
Arthur E. “Red” Patterson, Dodger Director of Public Relations and Promotions, writes a memorandum to Walter O’Malley about the possibility of playing basketball at Dodger Stadium. “It is not too bizarre an idea and the owners of the (American Basketball League Los Angeles) Jets are interested for 1962. They play from November to March, have a special floor they can install, etc. I think it is something you should seriously consider.”
-
Don Sutton becomes a 20-game winner when he defeats the San Francisco Giants, 3-1 at Candlestick Park in San Francisco.
-
Fernando Valenzuela becomes the first native born Mexican pitcher to win 20 games in a Major League season as he defeats the Houston Astros in Houston, 9-2.
