On November 28, 1950.....

[DODGER DEB]

Though WE could not have known it then, the first nail in OUR coffin was been hammered through OUR hearts on November 28, 1950, 56 years ago today.

On this day, the Big "O" completed the ouster of Branch Rickey, and installed himself as principal owner. He then went on to fire Manager Burt Shotton, and hired Chuck Dressen, Manager of the PCL Oakland team, to replace him.

Sometimes, it really pays...to pay attention!

c.

[musial6]

Though WE could not have known it then, the first nail in OUR coffin was been hammered through OUR hearts on November 28, 1950, 56 years ago today.

On this day, the Big "O" completed the ouster of Branch Rickey, and installed himself as principal owner. He then went on to fire Manager Burt Shotton, and hired Chuck Dressen, Manager of the PCL Oakland team, to replace him.

Sometimes, it really pays...to pay attention!

c.


The FIRST nail was hammered October 9. 1903 (or maybe nine months before that), the day little Walter was born.

[DODGER DEB]

The FIRST nail was hammered October 9. 1903 (or maybe nine months before that),, the day little Walter was born.

Good point, musial6!

c.

[Jason R. Maier]

Thanks for the history lesson. Didn't know today was the day.

[strummer]

Every little thing contributes to the continuing evolving situation. I think we all are aware that the deal between Rickey and O'Malley was that O'Malley had the right to match any independent offer. Rickey made a deal with Zeckendorf to make an offer which was probably well above what an independent qualified apppraiser might have valued Rickey's position as, and probably 3 times what O'Malley thought it was worth. O'Malley was forced to match the offer, and later found out that Zeckendorf received a fee (gratuity?) for making the offer (I believe it was $50,000, a sizeable tip in those days). We have to believe that O'Malley was furious with Rickey for being the victim of this scheme. He had no good words for Rickey after that and started to rid the Brooklyn organization of those he thought to be loyal to Rickey (and not to him) or who would have been labeled "Rickey's man". I am not trying to excuse any of O'Malleys later acts, only trying to understand all of the factors that went into his mental attitude toward the team and Brooklyn and New York City.
Remember he started to clear houise, first with Shotten, but he retained many as well, and they turned out to be loyal to O'Malley, at least until they departed the organization, either while still in Brooklyn, or later in LA. Many of his changes (manager and coaching staff) were attributed to his thinking Rickey was still playing a role in their minds. Even the trade of Robinson in 1956 has been characterized as O'Malley finally getting rid of one of Rickey's favorites, and Jackie never did anything to dispell that image.

[DODGER DEB]

Every little thing contributes to the continuing evolving situation. I think we all are aware that the deal between Rickey and O'Malley was that O'Malley had the right to match any independent offer. Rickey made a deal with Zeckendorf to make an offer which was probably well above what an independent qualified apppraiser might have valued Rickey's position as, and probably 3 times what O'Malley thought it was worth. O'Malley was forced to match the offer, and later found out that Zeckendorf received a fee (gratuity?) for making the offer (I believe it was $50,000, a sizeable tip in those days). We have to believe that O'Malley was furious with Rickey for being the victim of this scheme. He had no good words for Rickey after that and started to rid the Brooklyn organization of those he thought to be loyal to Rickey (and not to him) or who would have been labeled "Rickey's man". I am not trying to excuse any of O'Malleys later acts, only trying to understand all of the factors that went into his mental attitude toward the team and Brooklyn and New York City.
Remember he started to clear houise, first with Shotten, but he retained many as well, and they turned out to be loyal to O'Malley, at least until they departed the organization, either while still in Brooklyn, or later in LA. Many of his changes (manager and coaching staff) were attributed to his thinking Rickey was still playing a role in their minds. Even the trade of Robinson in 1956 has been characterized as O'Malley finally getting rid of one of Rickey's favorites, and Jackie never did anything to dispell that image.

Except for Buzzie Bavasi and Freso Thompson. The Big "O" needed them to be the "front" men in the press, since he rarely put himself "out there. They were the ones who knew the mechanics of running a baseball team. To this day, discussing the Big "O" is something Buzzie stays away from, except, when pressed, he says only "nice" things.

c.