The Walter O’Malley Archive Goes to the National Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum
Walter O’Malley is remembered for taking the NY Dodgers out west, to Los Angeles, and more importantly, for being part of the the team’s leadership that integrated Major League Baseball.
(COOPERSTOWN, NY) – The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum on June 12, 2024, announced the donation of the Walter O’Malley Archive by Peter O’Malley and Terry O’Malley Seidler, the son and daughter of Walter O’Malley.
“The Walter O’Malley Collection documents all those moments and more from his Hall of Fame career, giving researchers and historians a first-hand look at the events that changed the face of the game. We are honored to accept this remarkable donation to the Museum and grateful in so many ways to the O’Malley/Seidler family for their longtime support of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. During Walter O’Malley’s stewardship of the Dodgers, the franchise was at the center of many of baseball’s most historic moments on and off the field,” said Jane Forbes Clark, Chairman of the Board for the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.
The archive, assembled and curated by the O’Malley family, includes 70 boxes of documents and photographs from the collection of Walter O’Malley, who owned the Dodgers from 1944 until his passing on Aug. 9, 1979. Items in the Archive include documentation on the Dodgers’ pioneering move to Los Angeles; details of planning and construction of Dodger Stadium; the genesis of Dodgertown in Vero Beach, FL, the first fully integrated Spring Training facility in the American South and the team’s spring training home for 61 years; materials related to the Dodgers’ goodwill tours of Japan in 1956 and 1966; and documents pertaining to Walter O’Malley’s 10-year efforts to privately fund and build a new stadium for the Dodgers in Brooklyn.
“My Dad’s files are historic and offer great insight into the front office of the Dodgers organization and Major League Baseball during his leadership,” said Peter O’Malley, who took over the leadership of the Dodgers from his dad in 1970. “My sister Terry and I are very happy that the Hall of Fame will house this archive for scholars, researchers, and authors to access.”
Highlights of the Archive include:
- Three letters from Jackie Robinson to Walter O’Malley
- A 1943 report by Branch Rickey to the Dodgers Board of Directors referencing a “scouting enterprise” that would eventually result in the signing of Jackie Robinson
- Canceled checks from Walter O’Malley to Branch Rickey for the purchase of Dodgers stock in 1950 resulted in O’Malley becoming the Dodgers president
- The 1954 press release announcing the signing of Sandy Koufax
- The 1959 City of Los Angeles contract requiring Walter O’Malley to privately finance and build Dodger Stadium
- O’Malley’s appointment books from 1934-1979
During O’Malley’s years leading the Dodgers, the team won four World Series titles and 11 National League pennants. He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2008.♦
Read also An Irish Field of Dreams, an interview with Walter O’Malley’s son Peter by Kelly Candaele. To learn more about Walter O’Malley and his history and influence in baseball visit walteromalley.com.
Ireland’s Runners Bring Home Silver and Gold from Rome
1,559 from 48 countries competed at the 26th European Athletics Championships in Rome Italy June 7-12. Ireland tallied four medals — two gold and two silver and set a new national record.
Day one of the 2024 European Athletic Championships started with a bang for Ireland when the inaugural mixed 4×400 meter relay took place on June 7th at Stadio Olimpico in Rome, Italy. Christopher O’Donnell, Rhasidat Adeleke, Thomas Barr, and Sharlene Mawdsley captured the gold with a time of 3:22.39 after the race took a back-and-forth tempo through all four legs of the race. On the last turn into the finish, Sharlene Mawdsley gave it an extra kick, took the lead, and never looked back. Ireland made history and as Chris O’Donnell said “as I went into the blocks I felt like I was doing it for the whole country.”
More gold followed on Sunday, June 9th when Ciara Mageean who had previously won bronze (2106 Amsterdam) and Silver (2022 Munich) at the European Championships found the gap in the 1500-meter and sprinted for gold. As she crossed the finish line Mageean raised her arms in triumph as she now has a full set of medals at the age of 32.
Within a few days, Rhasidat Adeleke was at it again, this time in the women’s 400-meter sprint. Adeleke looked fantastic straight out of the blocks and this race was a battle right up to the finish line with Adeleke taking silver and winning her first individual medal at the European Championships and three medals overall.
The final medal of the week for Ireland also came with the thrill of celebrating a new national record for the 4×400 meter relay team of Sophie Becker, Rhasidat Adeleke, Phil Healy, and Sharlene Mawdsley. While these ladies had a busy week of running you would not have thought it as they battled each leg of the race with everything they had left in the tank and snagged the silver medal with a time of 3:22.39 — a new Irish national record.
All of these races were a joy to watch and all of the 37 Irish athletes who participated in the European Championships should be proud, you made the world sit up and take notice.
Congratulations! You made Ireland and the Irish around the world proud.
Irish Cricket Team in the U.S. for the T20 World Cup
Helena Nolan, Consul General of Ireland, hosted a momentous reception for Cricket Ireland on the eve of the highly anticipated India-Ireland T20 Cricket World Cup fixture at Eisenhower Park, on Tuesday evening, June 4.
Legends of the sport, Alan Lewis, the third most capped player in the history of Irish Cricket, and Kevin O’Brien, who had a 16-year career as an international player, brought those in attendance up to speed on the state of Cricket Ireland, its growth over the past two decades, and how despite its global standing, it has to construct a pop-up pitch on other sports ground(s) for both practice and to host international teams.
The consulate said she delighted to host our Cricket Ireland friends and Irish cricket players and fans for a reception in New York. “It was an absolute pleasure to hear from Irish cricket legends Alan Lewis and Kevin O’Brien about the history and rapid growth and success of the sport in Ireland,” she said.
The Consul General also mentioned that 2024 is an especially significant year for Ireland and India as we celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations, saying: “We are delighted to be joined by our diplomatic colleagues from the Consulate of India in New York. Our two countries’ relationship encompasses a shared passion for Cricket and ever-growing ties in trade and investment, culture, education, and technology.”
Ending on a humorous note, the Consul General mentioned that Cricket might have its roots in the ancient Irish game of Catty. Irish America investigated and found that it may well be true, view the video Crickets Irish Roots and decide for yourself!
Note: As we go to press, Ireland, having lost to India, Canada and the U.S. (in a rained-out game), are out of T20. The U.S., which had an early surprise win over Pakistan, now advance to the second round.
Pádraig Harrington Inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame
The World Golf Hall of Fame welcomed their new inductees on Monday, June 10th at Pinehurst Golf House in Pinehurst, NC. Pádraig Harrington who began golfing at the age of 5 and has three major golf championship titles — Two British Open’s and one PGA Championship title in addition to countless other titles was one of the inductees. Harrington was welcomed and inducted into the Golf World Hall of Fame by his son Patrick. After receiving his trophy and a big hug, he took some time to reflect on milestones in his career and acknowledge the people who supported him along the way.
Congratulations Pádraig!
Munster and Leinster Rugby in Action This Weekend
Today there will be two semifinal matches to watch with Munster current league champions and Leinster (most URC league championships) are currently in the semifinals for the season knockout round URC league championship. Both teams play today, Leinster at 10 am in South Africa against the SA team the Bulls and Munster at 1 pm playing in Dublin at Aviva Stadium against the Glasgow Warriors. Both should be excellent games. Check out your local Irish bars for viewings.
