November 3 in Walter O’Malley History

November 3, 1955
Kay and Walter O’Malley attend the Opening Night of Guys and Dolls at the Capitol Theatre in New York City. The formal event was a benefit for the Will Rogers Memorial Hospital in Saranac, New York. Other celebrity attendees were Mary Martin, Margaret Truman, Audrey Hepburn, Samuel Goldwyn and two of the film’s stars, Marlon Brando and Jean Simmons. The New York Times, November 4, 1955
November 3, 1959
- Larger View
Mallie Robinson, the mother of Dodger hero Jackie Robinson, and Dr. Rufus B. vonKleinSmid, University of Southern California Chancellor, present Walter O’Malley with the George Washington Carver Supreme Award of Merit for “his outstanding contribution to sports, better race relations and human welfare” at USC. As a 25 percent Brooklyn Dodger stockholder, as well as club V.P. and General Counsel in 1945, O’Malley was involved in the approval process when Dodger President Branch Rickey signed Robinson, who became the first African-American to play in the majors in 1947. O’Malley said, “I take no credit for signing Jackie. Branch Rickey signed Jackie, as everyone knows — but with the complete approval of the Dodger stockholders.” Los Angeles Examiner, November 4, 1959
November 3, 1961
Walter O’Malley sends a telegram to the Vero Beach Press-Journal explaining his concerns about a Vero Beach City Council resolution seeking an injunction against operation of the Dodger Spring Training site by the city and Federal Aviation Agency. “The action of the Vero Beach City Council in a rump special meeting today is in complete violation of good faith and honest dealings. As recently as yesterday Sen. Merrill Barber, the official representative of Vero Beach and the Dodgers agreed on an outline of a solution to the problem. The action of the City Council today is further evidence of the lack of good faith in trying to keep the Dodgers in Vero Beach. We have never been able to correctly ascertain the real motives behind the actions of the several Dodger opponents. The Dodgers have kept every promise they made, have never been in default and have tried to co-operate with those people sincerely interested in the future development of the City of Vero Beach and the airport. It appears the City Council has not only double-crossed the Dodgers but they have also double-crossed their own official representative, Sen. Merrill Barber, who must be considerably embarrassed by this unexpected turn of events. Copy of the O’Malley-Barber telegram agreement dated yesterday follows: ‘As a result of our telephone discussions supplemented by your several conferences with Peter O’Malley, Supervisor of Dodgertown, and our attorney, Judge L. M. Merriman, I believe we are in agreement as follows: 1. The Dodgers maintain they have a valid lease and are not in default. 2. They are firm in their intention to remain at Vero Beach. 3. They appreciate the friendly, wholesome co-operation extended to them by the majority of local citizens and city officials since 1948. 4. They recognize the importance to the City of Vero Beach and Indian River County for the proper and desirable industrial and aviation development of the airport property. They want to co-operate with this development program in every way possible and will consider voluntarily relinquishing the land on which playing fields 3 and 4 are now located to enable Piper Aircraft, or some other tenant desirable to Vero Beach, to expand their present facilities adjacent to the airport. This could produce the ‘additional’ revenue in the form of lease income, which is desired. The playing fields in question to be relocated and rebuilt according to Dodger specifications on the remaining Dodger leased property near the incinerator. I will be in Vero Beach the first week of December, preferably after the election campaigning is over.” Vero Beach Press-Journal, November 9, 1961
November 3, 1976
Chuck Young, Vice President and General Manager of KTTV Channel 11 in Los Angeles, writes a letter to Walter O’Malley with a gift of a fold-out seat to be used on a golf course. “Dear Walter: An appropriate memento for a guy who just scored his first ‘hole in one’ in 73 years. The dealer assures me that this piece has been going to golf tournaments for at least that long and has remained sturdy and servicable (sp.) all that time. Perhaps you can put a ‘hole in this one.’ It was a great thrill to be with you — even bigger than winning. Thanks, partner, Chuck.” KTTV Channel 11 began airing Dodger telecasts in 1958 and continued through the 1992 season.