Branch Rickey
October 16, 1950, 75 years ago: Branch Rickey's contract as president, and de facto general manager, of the Brooklyn Dodgers expires. He is still owner of 1/4 of the franchise. With the death of quarter-owner John L. Smith, another quarter-owner, Walter O'Malley, buys Smith's share from his heirs, making him the largest owner: O'Malley 50 percent, Rickey 25 percent, and James Mulvey and his wife, Elizabeth "Dearie" Mulvey each having 12.5 percent.
Dearie was the daughter of Steve McKeever, who with his brother Ed ran the construction company that helped former sole owner Charlie Ebbets build Ebbets Field in 1912-13.
O'Malley knew he could dominate the Mulveys, and did so until he finally bought their children out in 1975. But he and Rickey were both very strong personalities, with little in common except being lawyers, cheapness, the Republican Party, the love of a good cigar, and the belief that they always had to be right.
O'Malley hated everything about Rickey, including his favorite player, Jackie Robinson, and his favorite broadcaster, Red Barber; and would force Rickey, Robinson and Barber out of the organization -- all before moving the team, meaning he would have been a dirty bastard even if the team were still in Brooklyn to this day.
O'Malley offered to buy Rickey's quarter-share of the club. Seeing no reason to hold onto it -- he was not going to be offered a new contract as president, and thus would no longer have control over transactions and salaries -- Rickey decided to comply.
Dearie was the daughter of Steve McKeever, who with his brother Ed ran the construction company that helped former sole owner Charlie Ebbets build Ebbets Field in 1912-13.
O'Malley knew he could dominate the Mulveys, and did so until he finally bought their children out in 1975. But he and Rickey were both very strong personalities, with little in common except being lawyers, cheapness, the Republican Party, the love of a good cigar, and the belief that they always had to be right.
Walter O'Malley
O'Malley offered to buy Rickey's quarter-share of the club. Seeing no reason to hold onto it -- he was not going to be offered a new contract as president, and thus would no longer have control over transactions and salaries -- Rickey decided to comply.
But Rickey knew a trick that O'Malley didn't know. He knew that an agreement in the Dodger partnership said that if any of the partners got an offer for their shares, and another partner wanted to buy, that other partner had to match the offer. Rickey found someone willing to pony up a million bucks, and so O'Malley had to pay through the nose: The $350,000 of '42 was worth $515,000 in inflation-adjusted dollars, while, in reverse, the $350,000 of '50 was worth just $237,000, so O'Malley was really offering Rickey a 54 percent loss. Instead, O'Malley had to pay Rickey a 104 percent profit.
Nevertheless, O'Malley got what he wanted: Control. From this day onward, the Brooklyn Dodgers were doomed. Over the next 7 years, O'Malley guided them to 4 National League Pennants, their only World Series win -- and their move from Brooklyn to Los Angeles. From his takeover in 1950 until his death in 1979, the Dodgers won 11 Pennants, including 4 World Series.
Nevertheless, O'Malley got what he wanted: Control. From this day onward, the Brooklyn Dodgers were doomed. Over the next 7 years, O'Malley guided them to 4 National League Pennants, their only World Series win -- and their move from Brooklyn to Los Angeles. From his takeover in 1950 until his death in 1979, the Dodgers won 11 Pennants, including 4 World Series.
Today, Rickey's original '42 investment is worth $6.7 million, O’Malley's '50 offer $4.6 million, and Rickey's $1.05 million becomes $13.8 million. In 1969, O'Malley admitted his holdings in the Dodgers were worth $24 million, which is $208 million in 2025 dollars.
At his death in 1979, at which point his son Peter became owner, they were said to be worth $50 million, or today's $220 million. When Peter sold the Dodgers in 1998, it was for $311 million, or today's $621 million. When Magic Johnson bought the Dodger franchise, including Dodger Stadium, in 2012, the price was rumored to be about $2 billion, or today's $2.86 billion.
At his death in 1979, at which point his son Peter became owner, they were said to be worth $50 million, or today's $220 million. When Peter sold the Dodgers in 1998, it was for $311 million, or today's $621 million. When Magic Johnson bought the Dodger franchise, including Dodger Stadium, in 2012, the price was rumored to be about $2 billion, or today's $2.86 billion.
Rickey's son, Branch Rickey Jr. -- known as "Twig," but never to his face, or to his father's -- was already the Dodgers' farm director. After leaving the Dodgers, Branch Sr. was offered the position of general manager for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He took it, and took Branch Jr. with him to direct their farm system. Health problems forced Branch Sr. to retire in 1955, but his contributions, and those of Branch Jr., would help lead to a World Championship for Pittsburgh in 1960.
Oddly, Branch Jr., who had diabetes, died first, in 1961; Branch Sr. died in 1965. Branch Jr.'s son, Branch Barrett Rickey (never "Branch Rickey III," but that's what people call him), served as the president of the Pacific Coast League, having also worked in the Pirates' organization, and also in that of the Cincinnati Reds (which makes sense, since Branch Sr. was from Ohio).
1 comment:
What would a Brooklyn Dodgers fan do if he had O'Malley, Hitler and Stalin in a room and a gun with only two bullets? Shoot O'Malley twice.
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