Peter O'Malley is a former owner and president of the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team. He was born on December 12, 1937, in Brooklyn, New York, and is the son of Walter O'Malley, who was the owner of the Dodgers from 1950 to 1979. Peter O'Malley began his career with the Dodgers in 1957 as a batboy and worked his way up through the organization, eventually becoming the team's president in 1970.
Under O'Malley's leadership, the Dodgers won four World Series championships (1981, 1988, 1998, and 1995) and eight National League pennants. He was known for his commitment to the team and its fans, and for his efforts to improve the Dodger Stadium experience. He oversaw the construction of several new facilities at the stadium, including a new clubhouse, a new press box, and a new parking lot.
O'Malley was also involved in several important decisions that shaped the future of the Dodgers. In 1972, he convinced his father to trade pitcher Claude Osteen to the Washington Senators for Frank Howard, a move that helped the team win the National League pennant that year. In 1976, he was instrumental in the signing of free agent pitcher Don Sutton, who went on to become one of the team's all-time greats.
In 1998, O'Malley sold the Dodgers to Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation for $311 million. The sale was controversial, as many fans felt that O'Malley had sold out to a media conglomerate that had no interest in the team's long-term success. However, O'Malley defended the sale, saying that it was necessary to ensure the team's financial stability.
After leaving the Dodgers, O'Malley remained involved in baseball as a member of the board of directors of Major League Baseball's Hall of Fame and as a member of the board of directors of the Baseball Assistance Team, a charity that helps former players in need. He also served as the chairman of the board of the Japanese baseball team, the Chiba Lotte Marines.
Overall, Peter O'Malley's career in baseball was marked by his commitment to the Dodgers and his efforts to improve the team and its facilities. He was a key figure in the team's success during the 1980s and 1990s, and his legacy as a Dodger will be remembered for years to come.
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