Forever Blue: The True Story of Walter O'Malley, Baseball's Most Controversial Owner, and the Dodgers of Brooklyn and Los Angeles

by Michael D'Antonio

Book Overview

Pulitzer Prize-winning writer D'Antonio presents a richly detailed and engrossing portrait of Walter O'Malley--the enigmatic Dodgers' owner who changed Brooklyn, Los Angeles, and baseball forever. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1594488568
• ISBN13: 9781594488566
• Release Date: March 2009
• Publisher: Riverhead Books
• Length: 355 Pages
• Weight: 1.34 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 6.4" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

D'Antonio's FOREVER BLUE take us behind the headlines to the story of the people

I have always felt that the true test for a writer is to take us beyond what we think we know about a subject, and reveal something that makes it more than a story and something more real. Michael D'Antonio has achieved this feat with FOREVER BLUE. Whatever you thought you knew about the players involved, the book takes you into dimensions that make the story more about people and how actions can set in motion a course that would have ripple effects for years to come. Bravo!

Outstanding!!!

Even if you're not a Dodger fan this book is a must read! It is so well written, and the insight it revels in regard to Walter O'Malley's best efforts at trying to keep the Dodgers in Brooklyn sheds new light on the teams move to Los Angeles in 1958. Outstanding!!

A great review of a baseball genius!

Walter O'Malley's name is often damned in Brooklyn for supposedly stealing the heart and soul of the the borough and moving the Dodgers to Los Angels for more money. As Michale D'Anotonio proves in this well written history, O'Malley did everything in his power to stay in New York but was resisted at every turn by the powers that be. That, combined with a crumbling ball field and lack of fan support resulted in his move to L.A. The book clearly demonstrates that the villain was someone who has a long record of being a villain and putting his own interests above the common good. That would be Robert Moses. The same man who destroyed thousands of homes and built parks and beaches for whites while destroying minority neighborhoods was also the driving force to keep the Dodgers out of any special deals because he didn't care for O'Malley, The book does a great job of showing how savvy O'Malley was and how, unlike many of his owners, he basically treated his players with respect. No one can forget how he drove baseball's integration and that unlike a lot of other rich owners, he ran his team as a business and made it clear that being a Dodger was something to be proud of. He also never lost touch with his humanity which makes him all the more of an interesting person. This is a great read for all baseball fans!

A Deserving Tribute to a Great Baseball Owner

This is the first comprehensive biography of Walter O'Malley. It also covers the transition of the Dodgers from Brooklyn to Los Angeles. Having the support and assistance of Mr. O'Malley's children, the author was able to research a number of primary source documents and has presented a much more objective bio of Walter O'Malley than has been shared in previous books that tended to be written for the grieving fans of Brooklyn, at Mr. O'Malley's expense (and simply unfair). Well written and I look forward to reading it again. Very entertaining writing. Enjoy.

Baseball - Business or Pleasure?

This book chronicles the life of Walter O'Malley, who came to be the owner of the Brooklyn Dodgers, who was a baseball fan, but first and foremost, a businessman. Mr. O'Malley had to struggle with the very fine line between doing what's right for the fans and doing what's right for the team. As a pioneer in baseball, he was the first owner to desegregate professional baseball and he had the vision to bring baseball to the west coast. He also understood that in order to win the World's Series, you have to have the best players, and stadium and attendance, which takes money, and that, his conclusion, is where the business of baseball takes priority. This book explains how O'Malley did try to find a way to stay in Brooklyn and in the state of New York, and that when his attempts failed or were ignored, only then did he take the opportunity available in Los Angeles. There are still some people that will never forgive Walter O'Malley for taking "their" Dodgers out of Brooklyn. This book might help ease some of that resentment. You certainly don't have to be a fan of baseball in order to get sucked into Forever Blue. It's fascinating to learn about the history of the Brooklyn Dodgers, the players at the time, and what was going on behind the scenes. First hand accounts are included, so you really get a feel for the emotions involved. After all, it's not just a game, it's a way of life. Reviewed by Vanessa Garcia