Walter Alston was a professional baseball manager whose career spanned from 1936 to 1976. He is best known for his successful tenure as manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, a team he managed for 23 years. Alston was born in Venice, Ohio in 1911 and attended Ohio Wesleyan University. After college, he signed a contract with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1936 and played in the minor leagues until 1941.

In 1942, Alston was promoted to the major leagues, where he played for the St. Louis Cardinals and the Brooklyn Dodgers. He was a successful player, but his career was cut short due to a knee injury. After his playing career ended, Alston was offered a managerial position with the Montreal Royals, a minor league team in the Dodgers organization.

Alston quickly proved his worth as a manager and in 1954, he was promoted to the major league Dodgers. As manager of the Dodgers, he led the team to seven National League pennants and four World Series championships. Alston was known for his calm demeanor and his ability to get the most out of his players. He was also known for his loyalty to the organization, having managed the Dodgers for 23 years before retiring in 1976.

Alston was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1983. He is remembered as one of the greatest managers in baseball history and is credited with helping to build the Dodgers into one of the most successful teams in the sport. His legacy continues to live on through the Walter Alston Award, which is given annually to the best manager in baseball.

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