Johnny Rosenblatt

John Ross Rosenblatt (December 25, 1907– October 29, 1979) was an American civic leader, the mayor of Omaha, Nebraska, from 1954 to 1961.

His name remains synonymous with baseball in Omaha, and Rosenblatt Stadium was named after him.

Rosenblatt led his hometown with warmth and optimism; one of six children born to Jewish immigrant parents, he started selling newspapers at age seven.

He seemed a natural salesman, whether it was pitching papers, the municipal stadium project or the city at large.

Rosenblatt was more than just a baseball fan, he was a top outfielder in amateur and semipro leagues for nearly 20 years.

He also played in a 1927 exhibition with Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig.

The mayor won many friends and accolades during his career in sports and politics.

He was called “the supreme gentleman” by Archbishop Gerald T. Bergan.

Longtime City Clerk Mary Galligan Cornett said he was “absolutely the greatest guy you ever knew.” City Planning Director Alden Aust described him as “one of the best and most successful mayors I have known.” Aust continued his praise, listing Rosenblatt’s attributes as friendly, gentle, optimistic, trusting and self-effacing.

After starring as an athlete at Tech High in Midtown Omaha, Rosenblatt attended the University of Iowa on a baseball scholarship but had to leave college to help support his family.

He played basketball briefly at Omaha University.

The young Rosenblatt played baseball in sandlot leagues for a few years, then Roberts Dairy came calling for the left-handed outfielder in 1933.

The company wanted him for its fast-pitch Omaha League team.

He got more than a position on the team, he landed a sales job.

Thus began a relationship with Roberts that lasted more than 20 years.

Rosenblatt even returned to the dairy after his political career.

Rourke Park had burned to the ground in 1936.

Rosenblatt and his friend Eddie Jelen were the prime movers behind the stadium push.

In the early 1940s, Rosenblatt and several businessmen were seeking a AAA baseball franchise for Omaha.

The idea for building a ballpark received major impetus in 1944 when Omaha was ruled out as a possible site for an American Association franchise because it lacked a suitable stadium.

As chairman of the Municipal Stadium Sports Committee, Rosenblatt approached the city council to request a referendum in April 1945 for a stadium bond issue.

By a 3 to 1 margin, voters approved a $480,000 bond issue.

A second bond issue of $280,000 was needed in 1948 to complete the infield, install lights and finish parking lots.

Rosenblatt ran for city commissioner in 1948, primarily on platform to complete the stadium project properly.

The inaugural event in October 1948 drew some 15,000 fans, who saw major leaguers and Nebraska natives Rex Barney, Richie Ashburn, and Johnny Hoop compete against a collection of sandlot and minor league players.

In his zeal to promote the new stadium, Rosenblatt proposed some outlandish proposals that did not materialize, such as Nebraska vs. Notre Dame and Army vs. Omaha University college football games.

He did pull off a Los Angeles Rams–New York Giants exhibition football game that attracted 13,000 fans and generated $9,000 for Children's Hospital.

He also arranged for the American Legion's Little World Series, which drew 47,000 fans over several days.

He joined Ed Pettis and Morris Jacobs in persuading the NCAA to relocate championship baseball series to Omaha's new stadium.

Though he threatened to resign in 1949, Rosenblatt served admirably in public life, first as public property commissioner and then as street commissioner.

In 1950 the College World Series settled into Municipal Stadium after two years in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and one in Wichita.

He was first elected mayor in 1954.

His original goal for the stadium was fulfilled in 1955, when the St. Louis Cardinals brought a AAA baseball team to Municipal Stadium.

In 1957, midway through his seven years tenure, he became the first mayor since James Dahlman directly elected by the people.

Formerly the Columbus Red Birds in Ohio, the Omaha Cardinals occupied the stadium for five seasons, through 1959.

Rosenblatt then negotiated with the Los Angeles Dodgers, whose Omaha Dodgers farm team played two years at the stadium (1961 and 1962).

In a 1971 B'nai B'rith salute, Rosenblatt said the College World Series has been "an inspiration to the youth of our community."

He played many games at Rourke Park near 15th and Vinton, the predecessor to Municipal Stadium.

As a semipro player, under the name Johnny Ross, Rosenblatt faced Satchel Paige, the famed Negro league pitcher.

“I never saw a pitch travel so fast in all my life,” he said of the experience.