Dodger BlueDodger BlueDodger Blue
  • Dodgers News
    • MLB News
  • Rumors
  • Schedules
    • 2025 Spring Training
    • 2025 Dodger Stadium giveaways
    • 2025 regular season
  • Team
    • Active roster
    • Salaries
  • Video
  • Odds
    • MLB Odds
    • NHL Odds
    • NFL Odds
    • NBA Odds
    • NCAAF Odds
    • NCAAB Odds
    • CFL Odds
    • UFC Odds
    • Boxing Odds
    • MLS Odds
    • PGA Odds
  • About
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
Font ResizerAa
Dodger BlueDodger Blue
Font ResizerAa
  • Dodgers News
  • Rumors
  • Schedules
  • Team
  • Video
  • Odds
  • About
Search
  • Dodgers News
    • MLB News
  • Rumors
  • Schedules
    • 2025 Spring Training
    • 2025 Dodger Stadium giveaways
    • 2025 regular season
  • Team
    • Active roster
    • Salaries
  • Video
  • Odds
    • MLB Odds
    • NHL Odds
    • NFL Odds
    • NBA Odds
    • NCAAF Odds
    • NCAAB Odds
    • CFL Odds
    • UFC Odds
    • Boxing Odds
    • MLS Odds
    • PGA Odds
  • About
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
Follow US
© 2024 Medium Large Sports Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Dodger Blue > Dodgers History > This Day In Dodgers History: Brooklyn Becomes First MLB Team To Purchase Airplane
Dodgers History

This Day In Dodgers History: Brooklyn Becomes First MLB Team To Purchase Airplane

Blake Williams
January 4, 2025
4 Min Read
SHARE

This day in Los Angeles Dodgers history saw the team become the first in MLB history to purchase their own aircraft for player travel on Jan. 4, 1957.

The Dodgers, who were in Brooklyn at the time, purchased a Convair 440 two-engine airplane for more than $700,000, which had room for 44 passengers.

Before the Dodgers bought their new team plane, they primarily used trains for transportation between cities. They also owned a 20-seat DC-3 given to them by Bud Holman, who was a director for the team in Brooklyn and L.A.

The Dodgers owned the DC-3 from 1949-1957 but it was primarily used for transporting team executives from Vero Beach, Fla. — their Spring Training complex at the time — to New York until they decided to experiment to see if flying was a viable form of transportation for an MLB club.

Harry Holman, the Dodgers’ former pilot and son of Bud Holman, said O’Malley tasked him with determining if the team should switch to airplanes, he told the Museum of Flying:

“In 1954, Dodger executives came to me and said pick one of these (minor league) ballclubs and go see if you can fly one for a season. See if the airplane is dependable enough, if we can overcome the weather problems and all the obstacles to see if we can fly a ballclub all year. So, we picked out the St. Paul (MN.) ballclub in the American Association. I flew them all that summer. We made all the games. We didn’t have any problems — no breakdowns, no mechanicals and no weather issues.

From there, the O’Malley decided it was time to upgrade and purchased the Convair 440 new from the factory and made Holman the first team pilot.

On this day in 1957, the Brooklyn Dodgers purchased a 44-passenger plane to fly the club during the season. They were the first Major League team to own their own plane. pic.twitter.com/f5QbC8eEVz

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) January 4, 2022

Today, most pro-sports teams, including the Dodgers, charter planes from airline companies. Only a select few, such as the Texas Rangers and NFL’s New England Patriots own a team plane.

Holman won DC-3 for Dodgers via gambling

Legend has it that Bud Holman won the plane from Eastern Airlines in a game of craps as the airline company was upgrading their fleet.

O’Malley told Holman he was looking to purchase a plane and Holman told him to wait because he thinks he could win one before gifting him the airliner a few days later.

Have you subscribed to the Dodger Blue YouTube channel? Be sure to ring the notification bell to watch player interviews, participate in shows and giveaways, and stay up to date on all Dodgers news and rumors!

Total
3
Shares
Share 0
Tweet 0
Pin it 3
Share 0
TAGGED:Brooklyn DodgersLos Angeles DodgersWalter O'Malley
ByBlake Williams
Follow:
Blake Williams is a journalist from Reseda, Calif., who is currently the Managing Editor for Dodger Blue. He previously worked as a Managing Editor for Angels Nation, as a staff writer at Dodgers Nation, as the Managing Editor and Sports Editor for the Roundup News at L.A. Pierce College, and as an Opinion Editor for the Daily Sundial at California State University, Northridge. Blake graduated Cum Laude from CSUN with a major in journalism and a minor in photography/video. He is now pursuing his master's degree from the University of Alabama. Blake is also always open to talk Star Wars with you. Contact: Blake@mediumlargela.com
Ad imageAd image
Sign Up for Our Newsletter
Get breaking Dodgers News direct to your inbox.

You Might Also Like

Andrew Friedman, Dodgers
Dodgers News

Andrew Friedman: 2019 Dodgers Starting Rotation ‘The Best I’ve Ever Been Around’

September 7, 2019
September 7, 2019
Logan-forsythe-7
Dodgers News

Dodgers News: Logan Forsythe To Miss Approximately 2 Weeks With Broken Toe

April 19, 2017
April 19, 2017
Dodgers News: Sportsnet La Negotiations With Directv And Others Come To Halt
Dodgers News

Dodgers News: KTLA To Simulcast Replacement Game For Sunday’s Rainout Against Padres

May 8, 2017
May 8, 2017
Cody Bellinger, Mookie Betts, Max Muncy, Justin Turner
FeaturedGame Central

Recap: Ross Stripling, Max Muncy & Justin Turner Carry Dodgers To 2nd Win Over Giants

July 24, 2020
July 24, 2020

Categories

  • News
  • Rumors
  • Games
  • History

Information

  • Advertise
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Get breaking Dodgers News direct to your inbox.

© 2025 Medium Large Sports Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?

  • 日本語
  • 한국어