Scholarship honors Sports Administration Program鈥檚 visionary, baseball pioneer
Walter O鈥橫alley is pictured outside of his office at Dodger Stadium, a stadium this visionary behind 91探花鈥檚 world-renowned Sports Administration Program designed, built and opened in April 1962. Photo courtesy of the O鈥橫alley Family
In February 1970, Dean Taylor picked up a copy of The Los Angeles Times that changed his life forever, setting him on a path to 91探花 and a 40-year career in baseball that includes three world championship rings and five league championship rings in Major League Baseball.
Nearly 50 years later, Taylor, MED 鈥75, has established a scholarship that he hopes will help provide Bobcats some of the same opportunities he has had, while also paying tribute to the baseball pioneer and visionary behind one of OHIO鈥檚 most notable academic programs.
The Walter O鈥橫alley Scholarship Fund is designated for full-time graduate students enrolled in the College of Business鈥 or the Master of Sports Administration Program, with preference given to students pursuing careers in the baseball industry.
鈥淲hether it鈥檚 mentoring a student that鈥檚 currently in the program that鈥檚 interested in baseball or looking for advice, which I have done over the years, or giving back financially, I think it鈥檚 important to give students the opportunity that I had back in 1973,鈥 Taylor said about creating the endowed scholarship. 鈥淚t鈥檚 also a way to stay engaged with the program.鈥
Dean Taylor and his son, Colby, pose with the 2015 World Series trophy after the Kansas City Royals defeated the New York Mets. A 1975 graduate of OHIO鈥檚 Sports Administration Program, Dean Taylor created the Walter O鈥橫alley Scholarship Fund in honor of the program鈥檚 visionary. Photo courtesy of Dean Taylor
Taylor was a first-year college student living in Claremont, California, when he first discovered 91探花鈥檚 Sports Administration Program. A pre-med major who dreamed of becoming a general manager of a Major League Baseball team, a column in the sports section of The Los Angeles Times caught Taylor鈥檚 eye.
The column touted a relatively new sports administration program at 91探花, and the visionary behind the program, the late Walter O鈥橫alley.
A sports executive, O鈥橫alley owned the Brooklyn Dodgers and is credited with bringing Major League Baseball to the West Coast when he relocated the Dodgers to Los Angeles. A wise businessman, O鈥橫alley also recognized an industry need for professionals trained in areas of sports administration. O鈥橫alley shared his idea with a professor at Columbia University who later shared it with one of his doctoral students, James Mason, who brought the idea to 91探花 where, in 1966, he established the world鈥檚 first sports administration program.
鈥淚 read this story, and it was life-changing,鈥 Taylor said. 鈥淚 said this is the path I want to follow.鈥
Taylor immediately changed his major to economics and after earning his undergraduate degree enrolled in OHIO鈥檚 Master of Sports Administration Program, which continues to be ranked as the best sports business program in the world.
鈥淚t just grew and grew and grew,鈥 Peter O鈥橫alley, Walter O鈥橫alley鈥檚 son and the former owner and president of the Los Angeles Dodgers, said of program, comparing its growth to that of a redwood tree. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 a remarkable accomplishment for everyone鈥攖he people at 91探花, Dr. Mason, my dad and everyone else. It鈥檚 quite a story.鈥
The program鈥檚 innovative curriculum and exceptional reputation attracted students from across the country, like Taylor, who wanted to learn the skills necessary to work in sports administration.
While at OHIO, Taylor found quick success, working as a graduate assistant in the sports information office at the Convocation Center and landing a two-year internship in Minor League Baseball.
鈥淚t helped me get my foot in the door and started what turned out to be a fortunate 40-year career in baseball,鈥 Taylor said.
After graduating from OHIO, Taylor spent three additional years as a general manager in the minor leagues before beginning his career with the Major Leagues and living out O鈥橫alley鈥檚 vision as an educated and passionate sports administrator. Among his positions were assistant general manager for the Atlanta Braves, Kansas City Royals and Cincinnati Reds, and general manager of the Milwaukee Brewers.
鈥淣one of this would have been possible without Ohio U,鈥 Taylor said, attributing his success not only to OHIO鈥檚 Sports Administration Program but also to Walter O鈥橫alley. 鈥淭here was no Walter O鈥橫alley scholarship, so we felt it was appropriate 鈥 based on the huge role he played in getting the program started and his vision.鈥
Peter O鈥橫alley said he is grateful that an OHIO alumnus is recognizing his father鈥檚 contributions.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 extraordinary of him,鈥 Peter O鈥橫alley said.