Walter O'Malley was the long time owner of the Brooklyn Dodger (later Los Angeles Dodger) franchise. While he may have given some of his stars long term contracts, his practice with his managers was to offer only a one year contract, subject to yearly review and renewal. Most of the managers had no problem with his idiosyncrasy - Leo Durocher had eight years - Walter Alston stayed on for twenty-three years - and Tommy LaSorda put in eighteen seasons. But the one fellow who had a problem with this year to year routine was Charley (Chuck) Dressen who served from 1951-1953. It seemed that Dressen's wife was unhappy with the uncertainty of it all and provoked her husband to ask for a longer term. This did not sit well with O'Malley and Dressen was gone after three seasons. Of course, it didn't help Dressen since he was at the helm on October 3, 1951 when the Dodgers lost the NL pennant to the rival New York Giants in a playoff that featured Bobby Thomson's famous home run. There is a moral here for all to see.
tjs
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