By Keith Thursby
Times staff writer

The Dodgers decided
their disappointing first season in Los Angeles shouldn’t be blamed on
Manager Walt Alston and rehired him for the 1959 season.

The
Times’ Frank Finch reported that the announcement "was met by a
spontaneous burst of applause from press and radio representatives"
attending the news conference.

"Alston can’t think, hit, throw
or run for his players," General Manager Buzzie Bavasi said. "He has
managed in our organization for 14 years and never finished worse than
third. I believe he is entitled to one bad year."

The Times had
reported the Dodgers’ faith in Alston earlier in the season when owner
Walter O’Malley backed the manager during an interview in Brooklyn (of
all places). But the paper had also spectulated about a replacement. On
Aug. 2, the Times’ Al Wolf suggested that Yankees Manager Casey Stengel
might leave New York to take over the Dodgers.

Bavasi said he "didn’t even ask Alston if he wanted to manage our club next year. I just assumed he did."

Looking
back, of course, the decision was genius. A year later, Alston would be
leading the team into the World Series where they would defeat the
Chicago White Sox.  Alston would end up in the Hall of Fame. Nice hire.

keith.thursby@latimes.com