Dodger Manager Burt Shotton sits in the driver's seat with Dodger stars (clockwise on left) Carl Furillo, Pee Wee Reese, Jackie Robinson, Roy Campanella, Duke Snider and Gene Hermanski. Taken during Spring Training in 1949 at Dodgertown, Vero Beach, Florida near Field 2. Photo by Barney Stein. Dodgertown became a hub of international goodwill for the next six decades.

Dodger Milestones in the Development of International Baseball During the O’Malley Era: The 1940s

Researched and edited by Brent Shyer and Robert Schweppe

  • Following days of meetings with the intent to sign Baseball’s first player of African descent, Dodger attorney Walter O’Malley travels to Havana, Cuba, carrying a $25,000 letter of credit. His mission, per Dodger President Branch Rickey, is to sign Cuban-born shortstop Silvio Garcia. However, Garcia had just been conscripted into the military and thus was unavailable.

  • Branch Rickey wrote to the Dodger Board of Directors that the Dodgers would have a “scouting enterprise…a pioneer movement more thorough and more extensive than has been taken by any baseball organization.” That movement was the quest to sign many players who were formerly prohibited from playing Organized Baseball.

  • Dodgers travel to Havana, Cuba for Spring Training

  • Dodgers hold Spring Training in the Dominican Republic and play their first games at newly-created Dodgertown, Vero Beach, Florida against the Montreal Royals (Triple-A) farm team

  • The Dodgers shift their Spring Training home to Dodgertown, Vero Beach, FL for the next 60 seasons. It is regularly the site of international goodwill with meetings and team & individual training