Rupert Murdoch purchases the Los Angeles Dodgers from Peter O’Malley for a reported $311 million

On March 19, 1998 –Rupert Murdoch purchased the Los Angeles Dodgers from Peter O’Malley for a reported $350 million, the highest price ever paid for a US sports franchise.

aseball’s team owners overwhelmingly approved the sale over the objections of Murdoch’s archenemy, Ted Turner, owner of the Atlanta Braves. “Fox will be a great contributor to the baseball industry,” said Peter O’Malley, whose family had controlled, the team since 1950 when it was still in Brooklyn. “I’m very proud they have agreed to step in and take the leadership of the Dodgers.” The owners endorsed the sale by a vote of 27-2, with the Chicago White Sox joining Turner’s Braves in objecting., The New York Mets abstained” Critics of the sale warned of the possible conflicts of interest in letting; Murdoch buy into baseball. They noted that Fox, a division of Murdoch’s News Corp., has national TV and cable contracts with ‘baseball and has full or partial local rights to games involving 22 of the 30 teams. A top executive of News Corp. met with several owners Wednesday to allay their concerns. “They’ve been good partners with baseball, and I think that relationship spoke well of them as a potential partner,” said Texas Rangers president Tom Schieffer. “That’s what carried the day.” In a statement, the Australian-born media magnate promised to “work hand-in-hand with the other owners to further assure the long-term growth and success of America’s pastime.” Murdoch is a naturalized American citizen.” “v The price is the highest ever paid for a sports franchise. The most paid previously for a baseball team was $173 million for the Baltimore Orioles in 1993. The sale also includes Dodger Stadium, 300 acres surrounding the ballpark in downtown Los Angeles and training complexes in Vero Beach, Fla., and the Dominican Republic. Murdoch is buying one of the most storied teams in the history of the game. Jackie Robinson broke baseball’s color barrier in 1947 with the Dodgers, a decade before O’Malley’s father, Walter, moved the team to Los Angeles and made major league baseball a coast-to-coast sport. Some of the most celebrated names in the game have bled Dodger blue: Duke Snider, Maury Wills, Don Drysdale, Sandy Koufax, Steve Garvey, Fernando Valenzuela, Kirk Gibson, Tommy Lasorda, to name a few.O’Malley, who will remain an executive with the Dodgers, was the last of the family owners in a sport once dominated by families such as the Stonehams (Giants), Carpenters . (Phillies), Wrigleys (Cubs), ; Griffiths (Senators and Twins), Fetzers (Tigers), Galbreaths ‘ (Pirates), and Yawkeys (Red Sox). ‘ .When O’Malley announced early last year that the team was for sale, he said estate planning was the primary reason. None of his children had held more than a part-time position with the club. Murdoch’s arrival also adds another corporate name to the owners’ table. Previously, the Tribune Co. (Cubs), The Walt Disney Co. (Angels), Time Warner (Braves), and Interbrew SA (Blue Jays) had acquired teams. The purchase continues a trend of media conglomerates buying sports teams. Turner, a vice-chairman of Time Warner, has feuded with the more conservative Murdoch over politics and , their competing businesses for years. He attended his first owners’ meeting in nine years Wednesday in an attempt to block the sale. In a calm, five-minute speech, Turner questioned Murdoch’s possible conflicts of interest and wondered whether he would be a partner with the other owners. . . Before Thursday’s vote, though, when it became apparent the sale would go through, Turner’s only question was whether Murdoch was a real fan and how “many” baseball games he had attended. “I thought Ted Turner showed an extraordinary amount of class,” said Bud Selig, acting commissioner of baseball. Murdoch did not attend the meeting and was in Britain, according to Fox spokesman Vince Wladika.

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