Walter Francis O'Malley (1903-1979)

Walter Francis O'Malley (1903-1979) Owner of the Brooklyn Dodgers from 1950 to 1979 (b. October 09, 1903, Bronx County, New York City, New York, USA - d. August 09, 1979, Methodist Hospital, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street Southwest, Rochester, Olmsted County, Minnesota, 55905, USA) Social Security Number 090249001.

Early years
Walter O'Malley was the only child 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).

O'Malley attended the Jamaica High School in Queens and then the Culver Academy in Indiana. He then attended the University of Pennsylvania and graduated in 1926. He then attended Columbia University in New York City, but after his family lost their money in the Wall Street Crash of 1929, he switched to attending night classes at Fordham University. He completed his law degree in 1930 at Fordham Law, and then worked as an assistant engineer for the New York Subway. He then worked for Thomas F. Riley who owned the Riley Drilling Company and they formed the partnership of Riley and O'Malley. With the help of Walter's father's political connections, the company received contracts from the New York Telephone Company and the New York City Board of Education to perform geological surveys. Walter then started the Walter F. O'Malley Engineering Company, and published the Subcontractors Register with his uncle, Joseph O'Malley (1893-1985).

On September 5, 1931, he married Katherine Elizabeth Hanson (1907-1979), whom he had dated since high school, at Saint Malachy's Roman Catholic Church in Manhattan. They had two children, Theresa O'Malley Seidler (1933- ) and Peter O'Malley (1937- ). Kay had been diagnosed with laryngeal cancer in 1927 before the engagement and had to have her larynx removed. She was unable to speak above a whisper the rest of her life.

Dodgers
In 1933 Walter met George V. McLaughlin who was president of the Brooklyn Trust Company. It was through George that Walter was brought into the financial arrangements for Ebbets Field in 1940.

In 1942 he was appointed the attorney for the Brooklyn Dodgers, and he became the president and chief stockholder on October 26, 1950, taking over for Branch Rickey, who was a trailblazer in baseball by instituting the farm system and breaking the racial barrier with Jackie Robinson.

The Dodgers remained successful under O'Malley's leadership, winning National League pennants in 1952, 1953, 1955, and 1956. In 1955, the team overcame decades of frustration by winning the World Series for the first time in the franchise history. Dodgers' attendance was declining, from a peak of 1.7 million in 1946 and 1947 to just over one-million per year in the mid-50s. Saddled with a beloved-but-aging stadium, O'Malley tried to raise the capital and political backing to build a new ballpark elsewhere in Brooklyn. When that failed, he began looking at moving the team to Los Angeles, then virgin territory for major league baseball.

Following the 1957 season, he moved the Dodgers to Los Angeles. The move enraged millions of the team's Brooklyn fans but ultimately was successful for the franchise. O'Malley was sold a property in Chavez Ravine by the Los Angeles city government and built the 56,000 capacity Dodger Stadium for $12 million. The Dodgers were soon drawing more than two-million fans a year. They remained successful on the field as well, winning the World Series in 1959, 1963, and 1965. The Los Angeles Angels also played in Dodger Stadium for their first 4 years.

On March 17, 1970, Walter turned over the presidency of the team to his son Peter. Peter O'Malley held the position until 1998 when the team was sold to Rupert Murdoch.

Death
Walter O'Malley was diagnosed with cancer, and sought treatment at the Mayo Clinic, then his wife Kay died. He died of congestive heart failure on August 9, 1979 and was buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California.