Norris Poulson – LA Dodger Talk

The Battle of Chavez Ravine

December 13, 2020

This post is about how the Dodgers obtained the land where Dodger Stadium is built. It was an acrimonious endeavor. And it all started long before the Dodgers arrived in Los Angeles. The Ravine is an L shaped Canyon. It was named for Julian Chavez, a LA Councilman in the 19th century who originally purchased the land in the Elysian Park area. Chavez was born in New Mexico and moved to…

The O’Malley’s Part One – Walter F. O’Malley

November 30, 2020

69 comments

From 1950 to 1998 there was one constant with the Dodgers. Ownership. Walter Francis O’Malley took control of the team as it’s primary stockholder and owner in 1950. Branch Rickey’s contract was expiring in October of that year. He had purchased a 25% ownership of the team in 1944. Rickey and John L. Smith were also part owners as were the heirs of McKeever who had owned the team with…