The late Dodgers owner, who moved the team to Los Angeles in 1958, was one of five managers and executives who got in on the veterans committee ballot announced this morning at the winter meetings. O'Malley, who died in 1979, was joined by late commissioner Bowie Kuhn, former Pittsburgh Pirates owner Barney Dreyfuss and former major-league managers Billy Southworth and Dick Williams.
O'Malley's grandson, Tom Seidler, one of several O'Malley family members who are part of the ownership group of the Visalia Oaks of the California League, was in Nashville for the announcement.
``We have always been pround of what Walter and Peter accomplished,'' Seidler said. ``Today, we are especially excited for Walter and proud of him and all he accomplished. I think it's a nice thing that this is coming on the 50th anniversary of the Dodgers' move to Los Angeles (next) year.''
There will be a media conference call with Peter O'Malley at 1 p.m. West Coast time, so I'll update after that.
On another note, the Dodgers have increased their interest in free-agent center fielder Andruw Jones, largely because reigning N.L. Gold Glove center fielder Aaron Rowand has, for the moment anyway, priced himself out of the Dodgers' range. More on that as the day progresses.