This Day in Walter O’Malley History: November 13

Rube Samuelsen of the Pasadena Star-News writes of the background of Harold “Chad” McClellan, the lead negotiator for the City and County of Los Angeles in the contract that brought the Dodgers to Los Angeles. McClellan, who negotiated with Walter O’Malley of the Dodgers, was President of the Old Colony Paint Company, but had served two terms as Assistant Secretary of Commerce for International Affairs. President Dwight D. Eisenhower had said of McClellan, “I am deeply grateful for the sound judgment and fine spirit that always have characterized your assistance, given to Secretary Weeks in promoting world trade. You have devoted many long hours and much hard work at home and abroad in this very important endeavor. May you have lasting satisfaction in the knowledge that such talented dedication has served the cause of peace.” Rube Samuelsen, The Sporting News, November 13, 1957

Responding to C. Richard Locke, Director of the National Conference of Bar Examiners in Chicago about the character and professional reputation of attorney Irving Koufax, Walter O’Malley writes the following: “In response to your letter of November 10, 1961, pleased be advised that I have known Mr. Irving Koufax for approximately eight years during which time I have had ample opportunity to observe that he is of good moral character and enjoys a sound professional reputation. I have no hesitancy in recommending his admission to the Bar of California. Very truly yours, Walter F. O’Malley, President, Los Angeles Dodgers.” Irving Koufax had practiced law in New York, became assistant corporation counsel for the city in 1945 and entered general practice in 1950. He also happened to be the father of one Sanford Braun Koufax, known to all as Sandy Koufax. Evelyn Braun, Sandy’s mother, divorced Jack Braun when Sandy was three and married Irving Koufax when Sandy was nine. In his autobiography, Sandy writes, “When I speak of my father, I speak of Irving Koufax, for he has been to me everything a father could be.” Koufax by Sandy Koufax with Ed Linn, The Viking Press, New York, 1966

Agreeing to serve on a new Los Angeles committee for the United Negro College Fund, Walter O’Malley writes Dan A. Kimball, President of Aerojet-General Corporation in Azusa, California, “Dear Dan, I have your letter of November 8th, and of course, I want to be on any team where you are calling the signals. Feel free to use my name on the Los Angeles Committee for the United Negro College Fund.” At the time, the United Negro College Fund was an educational “Community Chest” founded in 1944 by John D. Rockefeller, Jr., to enable 32 privately-supported, fully-accredited Southern Negro colleges to raise funds jointly to help themselves and some 25,000 students attending U.N.C.F. schools.

Walter O’Malley returns from Baseball Meetings in Phoenix to attend a Daniel Freeman Hospital Foundation Dinner in Inglewood, California with guest speaker Najeeb E. Halaby, Administrator, Federal Aviation Agency. O’Malley serves on the Hospital Development Committee to raise funds for the East Wing Program.

Film actor and comedian Woody Woodbury sends a letter of appreciation to Walter O’Malley for appearing on the syndicated TV program “The Woody Woodbury Show” on September 14, 1967. “From what I understand you have been off over the world (practically) since guesting with us on the show so long ago; in any case I do want to take this belated means to thank you for being such a tremendous sport and guy the night you gave of your time to be with us. The ratings on the show are climbing steadily in all of the markets...and we are in about 80 percent of the country...and I can only thank guys like you, who are so great, for being such good sports while this show was still in its infancy or so to speak...Warm good wishes to you and yours, it was nice meeting your son again, and continued success to you in all of your endeavors. Cordially, Woody”

Bob Hunter writing in the Los Angeles Herald-Examiner reports that home plate at Dodger Stadium will be moved 10 feet closer to the outfield wall, thus shortening the distance for home runs from 410 feet to 400 feet to straightaway center field for the 1969 season. The power alleys will shrink from 385 feet to 375 feet and the home run distance to the bullpens is reduced from 370 to 360 feet. “Len Gabrielson, who led the club with 10 homers last season, although at bat only 304 times, told The Herald-Examiner: ‘I am extremely pleased with the decision Mr. O’Malley has made, but it wouldn’t be fair to say that it automatically makes us a home run club. I think, however, I will be able to hit twice as many next season.’ The Dodgers have averaged only 35 blockbusters in their own park for the seven years they’ve been there, while they have averaged 58 each season in the same number of 81 games on the road.” Bob Hunter, Los Angeles Herald-Examiner, November 13, 1968  In 1969, the Dodgers slugged 40 home runs over the shortened wall at Dodger Stadium, 15 more than their total of 25 the previous season.