Walter Emmons Alston (1911 - 1984)

Born 1 Dec 1911 in Venice, Ohio

Ancestors

Died 1 Oct 1984 at age 72 in Oxford, Butler, Ohio, United States

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Biography

Walter Alston is Notable.

Walter was born in Ohio in 1911, son of William Emmons Alston and Lenora Slyvia Neanover. He died of complications from a heart attack in Oxford, Ohio in 1984. In addition to his famous career as a Dodger manager that earned him a place in the Baseball Hall of Fame, Walt was also a catcher/first baseman in the St. Louis Cardinals organization. Walt made it to the majors for a single game when he substituted for first-baseman Johnny Mize on September 27, 1936. In his only at-bat, he struck out and in two fielding attempts, he committed one error.

Biography by Frank Russo

Hall of Fame Major League Baseball Manager. Managed the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers for over 20 seasons. He was a multi-position player during his 13-year minor league playing career, which lasted from 1935 to 1947. He played in the Mid-Atlantic League and International League among others, and, while still a player, managed Portsmouth (Mid-Atlantic League), Trenton (Interstate League), Pueblo and St. Paul. In 1950 he was promoted to the Brooklyn Dodgers' top minor league club in Montreal. In four seasons in Canada, he managed many of Brooklyn's future stars, and his teams never finished below second place. On November 24, 1953, Walter O'Malley named him to replace Charlie Dressen as Brooklyn's Manager. He then signed a one year contract, a practice he would follow for 23 seasons. A quiet, dignified leader who demanded loyalty and hustle from his players, in 1955, he led Brooklyn to its only World Series victory over the Yankees. His Brooklyn club won the 1956 pennant but lost to the Bronx Bombers. When the Dodgers left for Los Angeles in 1958, Walter Alston altered his managing style to a pitching orientated club that included Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale. His Dodger teams won Championships in 1959, 1963 and 1965. His teams continued to finish in the first division throughout the late 1960s and early 1970s. Led by Steve Garvey, Dave Lopes, and Ron Cey, his teams won their last pennant in 1974, when he was 62. He was honored as Manager of the Year six times by the Associated Press and five times by United Press International. He was the first manager from the 1970s to be inducted to the Major League Baseball Hall Of Fame.

Bio by: Frank Russo

Sources

• United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MDRX-DYX : accessed 3 July 2019), Walter E Alston in household of Emmon Alston, Somers, Preble, Ohio, United States; citing ED 257, sheet 14B, line 83, family 387, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 1428; FHL microfilm 1,821,428.

• "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X4SD-3KL : accessed 3 July 2019), Walter E Alston in household of Emmons Alston, Milford, Butler, Ohio, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 42, sheet 5B, line 85, family 115, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 1755; FHL microfilm 2,341,489.

• "Ohio Death Index, 1908-1932, 1938-1944, and 1958-2007," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VKYC-4BS : 8 December 2014), Walter E Alston, 01 Oct 1984; from "Ohio, Deaths, 1908-1932, 1938-2007," database and images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 2010); citing vol. 25789, certificate number 071265, Ohio Historical Society, Columbus; Ohio Department of Health, State Vital Statistics Unit, Columbus.

• "United States Social Security Death Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JTYK-96N : 19 May 2014), Walter Alston, Oct 1984; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).

• "Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVJ1-1GWK : 13 December 2015), Walter E. Alston, 1984; Burial, Darrtown, Butler, Ohio, United States of America, Darrtown Pioneer Cemetery; citing record ID 5086, Find a Grave, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/5086

• "United States, GenealogyBank Obituaries, 1980-2014," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVPG-FNRC : accessed 3 July 2019), Mr Walter Emmons Alston, Pennsylvania, United States, 02 Oct 1984; from "Recent Newspaper Obituaries (1977 - Today)," database, GenealogyBank.com (http://www.genealogybank.com : 2014); citing Philadelphia Inquirer, The, born-digital text.

See also:

• Wikipedia: Walter Alston

• Wikidata: Item Q326793, en:Wikipedia