02/08/2023 1 Minute Read

The WBSC Family mourns the passing of Annette O'Malley

Annette O'Malley was the wife of 52 years of International Baseball Pioneer Peter O'Malley, both pictured above (photo courtesy of Los Angeles Dodgers).

Annette O’Malley, 81, the wife of Peter O’Malley, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her family after a longstanding lung disease on July 19, 2023, in Los Angeles, California, USA.

Peter O'Malley, 85, who chaired the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1970 to 1998, became instrumental in making baseball a demonstration sport at the Los Angeles 1984 Olympics. He guaranteed the Los Angeles Organizing Committee that the Los Angeles Dodgers would ensure the financial support of the baseball games.

"We guaranteed against losses because I was confident that the games in Dodger Stadium would be successful," said O'Malley during an interview for the WBSC book, The Game We Love.

Last year, WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari presented O'Malley with the WBSC Collar of Honour.

Annette, his wife of 52 years, shared his commitment to international baseball. The O'Malleys travelled together to support the international development of the game to several countries, including Japan (over 25 times), Taiwan, the Philippines, the People's Republic of China, South Korea, Mexico, Haiti, the Netherlands, Venezuela, Canada, the Dominican Republic, Russia, and Ireland.

The WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari and the whole WBSC family mourn the loss of Annette O'Malley.