Resented by some in New York and beloved in Los Angeles, O'Malley is one
of the most controversial owners in the history of American sports. He
remade major league baseball and altered the course of history in both
Brooklyn and Los Angeles when he moved the Dodgers to California. But
while many New York critics attacked him, O'Malley looked to the future,
declining to argue his case. As a result, fans across the nation have
been unable to stop arguing about him--until now.
Using never-before-seen documents and candid interviews with O'Malley's
players, associates, and relatives, Pulitzer Prize-winning writer
Michael D'Antonio finally reveals this complex sportsman and industry
pioneer. Born into Tammany Hall connections, O'Malley used political
contacts to grow wealthy during the Great Depression, and then
maneuvered to take control of the formerly downtrodden Dodgers. After
his defeat in a war of wills with the famed power broker Robert Moses,
O'Malley uprooted the borough's team and transplanted them to Los
Angeles. Once in Los Angeles, O'Malley overcame opponents of his stadium
and helped define the city. Other owners came to regard him as their
unofficial commissioner as he worked behind the scenes to usher in the
age of the players' union and free agency.
Filled with new revelations about O'Malley's battle with Moses, his
pioneering business strategies, and his relationship with Jackie
Robinson, Forever Blue is a fascinating history of baseball, business,
and the American West.
