Walter O'Malley
| Walter O'Malley | |
|---|---|
O'Malley circa 1940s
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| Born |
Walter Francis O'Malley October 9, 1903 Bronx, New York |
| Died | August 9, 1979 (aged 75) Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota |
| Cause of death | Congestive heart failure with cancer |
| Resting place | Holy Cross Cemetery |
| Residence | Los Angeles, California |
| Education |
Culver Academy University of Pennsylvania Columbia University Fordham University |
| Occupation | Owner of Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers |
| Known for | Moving the 2nd most profitable baseball team out of Brooklyn |
| Spouse(s) | Katherine Elizabeth Hanson (m. 1931–79) |
| Children | Therese O'Malley Seidler Peter O'Malley |
| Parent(s) |
Edwin Joseph O'Malley Alma Feltner (1882–1940) |
| Website | WalterOMalley.com |
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. In 1958, as owner of the Dodgers, he brought major league baseball to the West Coast, moving the Dodgers from Brooklyn to Los Angeles despite the Dodgers being the 2nd most profitable team in baseball from 1946–1956, and coordinating the move of the New York Giants to San Francisco at a time when there were no teams west of Kansas City, Missouri. For this, he was long vilified by Brooklyn Dodgers fans. However, Pro-O'Malley parties describe him as a visionary for the same business action, and many authorities cite him as one of the most influential sportsmen of the 20th century. Other observers say that he was not a visionary, but instead a man who was in the right place at the right time, and regard him as the most powerful and influential owner in baseball after moving the team. He was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame for his contributions to and influence on the game of baseball amidst allegations that his family donated money to get him into the Hall of Fame.
O'Malley's Irish father, Edwin Joseph O'Malley, was politically connected. Walter, a University of Pennsylvania salutatorian, went on to obtain a Juris Doctor, and he used the combination of his family connections, his personal contacts, and both his educational and vocational skills to rise to prominence. First, he became an entrepreneur involved in public works contracting, and then he became an executive with the Dodgers. He progressed from being a team lawyer to being both the Dodgers' owner and president, and he eventually made the business decision to relocate the Dodgers franchise. Although he moved the franchise, O'Malley is known as a businessman whose major philosophy was stability through loyalty to and from his employees.
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