Walter O'Malley

Walter Francis O'Malley (October 9, 1903 - August 9, 1979) was an American sports executive who owned the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers team in Major League Baseball from 1950 to 1979.

Birth

O'Malley was the son of Edwin Joseph O'Malley (1883-1955), who was working as a cotton goods salesman in the Bronx in 1903, but would later become the Commissioner of Public Markets for New York City. Walter's mother was Alma Feltner (1882-1940).

Education

O'Malley attended the Culver Academy in Indiana, and then the University of Pennsylvania where he graduated in 1926. He then attended Columbia University in New York City, but completed his law degree at Fordham University in 1930. He then started the Walter F. O'Malley Engineering Company, and published the Subcontractors Register with his uncle Joseph O'Malley (1893-1985).

Marriage

On September 5, 1931, he married Katherine Elizabeth "Kay" Hanson (1907-1979), who he had dated since high school, at Saint Malachy's Church in Manhattan. They had two children, Theresa (1933- ) and Peter (1937- ).

Brooklyn Dodgers

In 1942 he was appointed the attorney for the Brooklyn Dodgers, and he became the president and chief stockholder on October 26, 1950. In 1955, the team overcame decades of frustration by winning the World Series for the first time in franchise history. But following the 1957 season, he moved the Dodgers to Los Angeles after he met resistance in replacing the aging Ebbets Field stadium. He bought a property in Chavez Ravine and built the 56,000 capacity Dodger Stadium for $12 million. His Los Angeles Dodgers won the World Series in 1959, 1963, and 1965.

On March 17, 1970, Walter turned over the presidency of the team to his son Peter.

Death

Walter O'Malley was diagnosed with cancer, and sought treatment at the Mayo Clinic on July 12, 1979. He died of congestive heart failure on August 9th and was buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California. Less than a month before his own death, his wife Kay had died.

References

• New York Times, August 10, 1979; Obituary

External links

• Findagrave: Walter O'Malley
• Baseball Biography Project: Walter O'Malley
• Official Website: Walter O'Malley