Sports Editors/Business Editors

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 8, 2003

The official website dedicated to the life of Walter O'Malley, late President of the Dodgers, was unveiled today on the occasion of his 100th Birthday, October 9, 2003, by Peter O'Malley and his family. The site www.walteromalley.com salutes the work of Walter O'Malley, acknowledged as one of Major League Baseball's most influential leaders and visionaries during his 37 years in the game.

O'Malley is widely regarded as a pioneer in baseball for the westward expansion of the game.

His crowning achievement was designing, building and privately financing Dodger Stadium which opened on April 10, 1962. His investment in the future of baseball was unprecedented in the history of baseball. In December 1999, O'Malley earned two significant honors as The Sporting News recognized him as the "11th Most Powerful Person" in Sports over the last century, while ABC Sports ranked him in its Top 10 Most Influential People "Off the Field" in sports history as voted by the Sports Century panel.

With more than 600 pages, www.walteromalley.com is one of the largest biographical web sites on the internet. It offers a rich multimedia experience through an extensive collection of more than 50 video and audio segments, more than 1000 photographs, 120 original documents and correspondence. Many are being shared for the first time with the public. A dynamic timeline chronicles the major milestones in O'Malley's life, and parallels major events of interest in the United States. The site spans:

-- His early life as a youngster in New York

-- Two-time Class President at the University of Pennsylvania

-- Years as an engineer, publisher, lawyer and advertising

executive

-- His 10-year effort to build a privately financed new ballpark

in Brooklyn, including a first of its kind domed stadium.

-- O'Malley's international baseball goodwill tours of Japan in

1956 and in 1966

-- The challenges of building Dodger Stadium

"It is our pleasure to share this collection relating to my Dad's extraordinary life. This site allows us to centralize his story for baseball fans from around the world. We plan to include more moments of historical significance as this work-in-progress continues," said Peter O'Malley, President of the Dodgers, 1970-1998. "Baseball was not a hobby, but his full time career and passion. Through the years, he encountered obstacles and unexpected challenges. He met those challenges head on and found solutions."

In addition, www.walteromalley.com offers more than 30 different sections to explore including a detailed biography, Dodger Team History, Timeline of Achievements, Quotes and Short Stops (Anecdotes), a listing of all of the players who played, managed or coached during the O'Malley years, including those in the Hall of Fame, the building of Dodger Stadium, Dodgertown in Vero Beach, Florida, International Relations, various memorabilia, and a short movie on Walter O'Malley, narrated by Hall of Fame Dodger Broadcaster, Vin Scully. Selections of the site have been translated into two languages: Spanish and Japanese.

The site was designed by Adam King, Creative Director of Polymer, a graphic design studio in Pasadena. Head programmer was Happy Tsugawa-Banta. "Our goal was a clean, elegant, design with a friendly navigation interface that allows visitors to take full advantage of the content delivery strengths of the internet," said King.

O'Malley's impact on Baseball was unique during his years from 1950 through 1979. As an industry leader, O'Malley's role as a 28-year member of Baseball's powerful Executive Committee helped frame Baseball's expansion in the 1960s, formed policy and shaped the growth of the game. O'Malley had a strong commitment to players and fans, operating a clean, safe stadium environment and presenting entertainment at family prices.

He began his 11-year effort in 1946, to address an aging, and inadequate Ebbets Field built in 1913. This is documented through various civic and business correspondences. The website identifies five locations that O'Malley explored as potential building sites in Brooklyn. All of them shared a common goal: to build a state-of-the-art stadium, which he would privately build and finance. His creative vision included development of a domed stadium. When his options closed on the different sites and plans where he wished to build his ballpark in Brooklyn, it was time to look west to Los Angeles following the city's efforts to reach out and bring major league baseball to Los Angeles.

O'Malley assembled a talented executive team, whose stability and dedication resulted in great success on the field. During his 29 years as President and Chairman, the Dodgers had only two General Managers, three managers, two minor league directors and two scouting directors. Under O'Malley, 26 players went on to manage in the big leagues and nine are members of Baseball's Hall of Fame. While fan acceptance of the Dodgers set record attendances in the Coliseum and Dodger Stadium, the Dodgers won more games, more pennants and World Championships during O'Malley's tenure as President than any other NL club. And, for 18 straight seasons, Dodger ticket prices under O'Malley remained the same. The elegance and success of Dodger Stadium, and the Dodger team, combined with O'Malley's efforts to expand baseball on a world stage brought the team into international prominence.

The site offers a variety of anecdotes by some of baseball's best-known players and executives, U.S. Presidents and Heads of State, who provide insights into Walter O'Malley. Family photographs, documents and stories reveal his zest for life, his great love of people, legendary St. Patrick's Day Parties in Vero Beach, and his deep commitment to his family.

Among the rare offerings are stories about young John F. Kennedy, before he was President and Joseph Kennedy's attempts to buy the Dodgers in the early 1950s, communication from Cary Grant, the Marx Brothers, Walt Disney, Coretta Scott King, Jackie Robinson and Babe Ruth.

Walter O'Malley was President of the Dodgers from 1950-70, and Chairman of the Board, 1970 until his passing in 1979. Walter and Kay O'Malley had two children, son, Peter, who served as President from 1970-1998, and daughter, Terry Seidler.

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