Steve Webb
LOS ANGELES, CA — Walter O’Malley is a pivotal figure in baseball history, most notably for his decision to relocate the Brooklyn Dodgers to Los Angeles in 1958. This move, while controversial at the time, transformed Major League Baseball and significantly shaped the sports landscape of the United States. And, when he is inducted as a member of the Dodgers’ “Ring of Honor” this weekend, he will become a permanent fixture of the landscape at Dodger Stadium, the house he was so instrumental in creating.
O’Malley took control of the Dodgers in 1950 and quickly became a key figure in the sport. Under his ownership, the Dodgers became one of the most successful and popular teams in baseball. The team won several National League pennants and the 1955 World Series, their first-ever championship. However, despite this success, O’Malley faced significant challenges in Brooklyn.
One of the main issues was the aging Ebbets Field, where the Dodgers played their home games. The stadium was small, seating just over 30,000 fans, and its location made it difficult for many fans to attend games. O’Malley sought to build a new, more accessible stadium in Brooklyn, but he encountered resistance from New York City officials, particularly Robert Moses, the powerful city planner. Moses wanted to build a stadium in Queens, far from the Dodgers’ traditional fan base, while O’Malley insisted on staying in Brooklyn.
Frustrated by the lack of support from the city, O’Malley began exploring other options. At the same time, Los Angeles was eager to attract a Major League Baseball team. The city was growing rapidly, and local leaders saw a professional sports team as a way to boost their city’s profile. They offered O’Malley a large parcel of land in Chavez Ravine, just north of downtown Los Angeles, where he could build a state-of-the-art stadium. Of course, the removal of the Chavez Ravine locals prior to the transfer of the site to the Dodgers remains a bone of contention with many in the city, but no one can deny the success that the stadium has become.
The decision to move the Dodgers was not made lightly. O’Malley understood the deep connection between the team and its Brooklyn fans. However, he also saw the potential for growth in Los Angeles. The move would allow the Dodgers to reach a much larger audience, play in a modern stadium, and tap into the expanding West Coast market.
In 1957, O’Malley announced that the Dodgers would be moving to Los Angeles for the 1958 season. The news was met with shock and anger by Brooklyn fans, many of whom felt betrayed by the move. The relocation was a watershed moment in baseball history, marking the first time a Major League team moved to the West Coast.
Despite the initial backlash, the move proved to be a tremendous success. The Dodgers quickly became one of the most popular teams in Los Angeles, and the construction of Dodger Stadium in 1962 provided the team with a world-class facility. The Dodgers won several World Series championships after the move, solidifying their status as one of baseball’s premier franchises.
O’Malley becomes the 15th member of the Ring of Honor. He will be featured at Dodger Stadium alongside the retired numbers of players Pee Wee Reese, Duke Snider, Gil Hodges, Jim Gilliam, Don Sutton, Sandy Koufax, Fernando Valenzuela, Roy Campanella, Jackie Robinson (whose number 42 is also retired throughout baseball) and Don Drysdale, managers Walter Alston and Tommy Lasorda, and broadcasters Jaime Jarrín and Vin Scully.
“My sister Terry and I are grateful to Mark Walter, Stan Kasten and the Dodger organization for this Ring of Honor recognition,” said Peter O’Malley through a press release issued by the team. “Designing, financing and building a stadium for the Dodgers was my dad’s goal for many years. After 62 seasons, he would be very happy with how Dodger Stadium accommodates millions of fans today thanks to the enhancements by current ownership.”
“Walter O’Malley was a pioneer, whom we can thank for expanding baseball into a truly national game – and also, through his goodwill exchanges with Japan, an international one,” said Stan Kasten, President & CEO, Los Angeles Dodgers. “He loved baseball, and he loved the Dodgers, illustrated by the longtime brilliance of Dodger Stadium, a ballpark for the ages. We are thrilled to celebrate Walter’s legacy, and we are grateful that Peter, who built upon that foundation so impactfully, will join us for this celebration.”
Walter O’Malley’s decision to bring the Dodgers to Los Angeles was a bold and controversial one, but it ultimately changed the trajectory of Major League Baseball. It opened the door for further expansion into the western United States and set the stage for the modern era of professional sports.
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