Dodger Milestones in the Development of International Baseball During the O’Malley Era: The 1960s

Walter O’Malley donates a Dodger home and road uniform to the second-year Japan Baseball Hall of Fame for a display

Japan Hall of Famer Kaoru Betto, the Japan Series MVP in 1950 for the Tokyo Daimai Orions, visits Dodgertown in Vero Beach, FL and remains with the Dodgers to study and observe throughout the season at the request of Masaichi Nagata, owner of the Orions.

The entire Tokyo Yomiuri Giants team trains for the first time at Dodgertown, Vero Beach, FL, as Peter O’Malley is responsible for all the Giants’ arrangements and schedule from arrival to departure. Japan’s Baseball Commissioner writes Walter O’Malley a letter of appreciation for his hospitality. The Giants went on to win the 1961 Japan Series

Walter O’Malley sends a gift of an American-made pitching machine to the professional Taiyo Whales in Japan

Dodger Stadium grand opening ceremonies are held on April 9-10 and Walter O’Malley invites Japan Baseball Hall of Fame author Sotaro Suzuki and his wife Toku to attend as his guests

Walter O’Malley invited the managing director of Korakuen Stadium, Tokyo to visit new Dodger Stadium, as renovations were being planned to update Korakuen.

On the invitation of Walter O’Malley, Boudewijn Maat, an outstanding amateur player from Holland, visits Dodgertown for two weeks to observe training techniques

At the request of the owner of the professional Toei Flyers, Walter O’Malley sends former player and Dodger Coach Pete Reiser to Japan to assist with instruction and training methods during pre-season training

The Dodgers travel to Mexico City to play three exhibition games against the Mexico City Tigers, Mexico City Diablos Rojos and the Mexico City All-Stars (Tigers and Diablos Rojos combined)

Members of the Tachikawa City, Tokyo, Japan Little League Baseball team are invited to visit Dodger Stadium and are introduced in pregame ceremonies

Dodgers chief scout Al Campanis conducts coaching clinics for three weeks at Kawasaki, Japan for the professional Taiyo Whales

On the recommendation of renowned Yomiuri columnist and baseball emissary Sotaro Suzuki, Walter O’Malley hires Akihiro “Ike” Ikuhara to work in the Dodger front office

To fulfill a request by the Tokyo Yomiuri Giants, Walter O’Malley sends scouts Ken Myers and Tom Lasorda as instructors to conduct clinics in Tokyo and at the Yomiuri Giants’ training base in Miyazaki, Kyushu, Japan

The Mexico City Tigers send Ricardo Garza to Dodgertown in Vero Beach, FL to help prepare the player for a future as a manager by observing the Dodgers’ training and coaching methods

In response to a request by the professional Chunichi Dragons for help with instruction, the Dodgers send Coach Roy Hartsfield to Japan

Sotaro Suzuki commemorates his Dodger Stadium grand opening attendance as guest of Walter O’Malley by sending him an impressive eight-foot “Kasuga” stone lantern. It was placed on a hill on Dodger Stadium grounds and became the centerpiece for a traditional Japanese garden

The Dodgers Goodwill Tour to Japan includes 18 exhibition games throughout the country

The Tokyo Yomiuri Giants make their second team visit to Dodgertown for spring training. They won the 1967 Japan Series

Toru Shoriki, owner of the Tokyo Yomiuri Giants, travels with Dodger VP Peter O’Malley to select Pacific Coast League sites, including Spokane, WA, to observe their minor league operations

Dodger coaches Red Adams, Jim Gilliam and organizational hitting instructor Duke Snider travel to Maui, Hawaii for 10 days to assist the Tokyo Orions of Japan’s Pacific League during pre-season training at Baldwin Field

Walter O’Malley sends Dodger scout Al Campanis to London, England; Weisbaden, Germany; and Rome, Italy to lecture, hold clinics and train coaches

During Spring Training, the Dodgers play the Pittsburgh Pirates in a two-game series at Queen Elizabeth Sports Centre in Nassau, Bahamas. The teams split the games, playing in front of more than 4,000 fans each game

Horikazu Takei, owner of the professional Hankyu Braves and Masaichi Nagata, owner of the professional Tokyo Orions, visit Dodger Stadium and are invited to attend Dodger staff meetings

Prior to a Dodger game, the Dodgers welcome the Taichung, Taiwan baseball team which swept through to victory in the 23rd Little League World Series at Williamsport, Pennsylvania