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1957 Walter O'Malley "Keep the Dodgers in Brooklyn" Letter
Incredible typewritten letter written prior to the 1957 season defends his stance on moving the Dodgers out of Brooklyn. Written to an angry Dodger fan, a Mr. Albert Hirsch, 699 Stone Avenue, Brooklyn, NY. It reads, "Dear Albert, I have your letter but I wonder how carefully you read the newspapers. They very clearly stated that we want to keep the Dodgers in Brooklyn and were very willing to spend $5,000,000 to do so. Progress however, has been very slow and we will have to leave Brooklyn if there is not to be a new stadium when our present lease runs out. Thank you for writing. Yours Truly, Walter O'Malley (signed) President." NOTE: There is an actual watermark in the stationery of this letter depicting the Willard Mullin artwork that is on the cover of the 1957 Brooklyn Dodgers yearbook. This letter perfectly embodies the frustration of Mr. O'Malley to explain his cause to the public, seemingly one fan at a time. But his reputation would not survive the media onslaught and public relations nightmare he never woke from. As in the Red Patterson "Dodgers Leaving Brooklyn" letter also in this auction, Walter O'Malley was blamed unjustifiably for this blight, but it was in fact a conspiracy by mega-developer Robert Moses, the most powerful man in NYC. Moses wanted New Yorkers living out of Brooklyn and onto Long Island where they would be riding on his bridges, highways and paying the monstrous amount of toll money that flowed directly through him. Therefore, Ebbets was expendable. Mr. O'Malley and the Dodgers were essentially forced out of Brooklyn. The borough of Brooklyn would be decimated until today where it is now finally seeing the heyday it deserves. Originally from the National Pastime Museum and recently deacquisitioned.
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