CITY'S IMAGE STANDS TO LOSE A CLASSY ELEMENT : VOICES.

Byline: Eric Sondheimer, Rick Orlov and Patrick McGreevy Daily News Staff Writers

From politicians to major-leaguers, voices of surprise and concern were raised Monday in reaction to Peter O'Malley's announcement that the Dodgers are for sale.

``It's terrible,'' said Councilman Joel Wachs. ``The O'Malleys are really the last of the good guys. It's so unfortunate that professional sports are so much about money now.''

Wachs said his concern is that investors will buy the team and then ask the city to put up tax money to build a new stadium or otherwise provide financial incentives to keep the team in Los Angeles.

``As far as I'm concerned, not one single penny of tax dollars should go to a professional sports team,'' Wachs said, adding it is a ``tragedy'' that O'Malley's decision is in part caused by the monetary pressures of professional sports.

Former baseball commissioner Fay Vincent said the changes taking place in major league baseball may have taken a toll on O'Malley.

``I think he must have been very frustrated that he wasn't more influential in baseball,'' Vincent said. ``I think that came through from time to time. It's a game of small-group politics. He had a big franchise but didn't have a big say in baseball.''

Former Dodgers general manager Buzzie Bavasi worked under Peter's father Walter O'Malley, who became majority owner of the club in 1950. Bavasi, later the president of the San Diego Padres and executive vice president of the Angels, said the move was a sign of the times.

``It was the only family business left in the game, and eventually they wouldn't compete,'' Bavasi said. ``His dad would have done the same thing. Except his dad probably would have sold the team the day (Chicago White Sox owner) Jerry Reinsdorf signed Albert Belle (for $55 million).

``I think Peter will be remembered as a fine owner and a very considerate young man. He and his sister both had traits of their mother. His will be the last of the family ownerships.

``In L.A., you have to have a winner. Second place means nothing to the people in Los Angeles. If you ask me if he did the right thing, yes. I don't think the organization will change. The Dodgers will be the Dodgers. When Mr. (Branch) Rickey left, everyone thought the club would go to hell. It actually got better.''

Councilman Mike Feuer said the Dodgers are critical to the city's image and self-confidence and he believes they will remain a fixture in Los Angeles.

``They are important for the morale of the city and the city's image, not only locally but nationally and around the world,'' Feuer said.

The sports franchise is also valuable to the city financially.

The Chavez Ravine property as currently developed generates about $157,000 in property taxes for the city and schools annually, said Deputy City Controller Tim Lynch.

``That would go up if it was developed more,'' Lynch said.

City officials said Los Angeles also receives business tax revenue from the sports franchise, but said that information is confidential.

Councilman Mike Hernandez from Elysian Park held public hearings last spring, arguing that O'Malley's proposal to put an NFL team on the Dodger Stadium grounds would hurt the surrounding neighborhood.

Monday, he described O'Malley as an owner who cared about his community and closed the stadium exit at Scott Avenue before the beginning of the season to help relieve traffic.

``I found him to be a fair man,'' Hernandez said. ``At first I don't think they were aware of the impact on the neighborhood. The Dodgers are an organization that really cared. At the time they were surprised at the amount of community opposition (to) building a football stadium. It was hard for them to gauge why there was such a lack of support.''

City Council President John Ferraro, who was among the delegation that welcomed Walter O'Malley to Los Angeles in 1958, called it a sad day for the city.

``The Dodgers and the O'Malley family have always been committed to the city and you couldn't ask for better owners,'' Ferraro said.

``Naturally, I hope to see some local group come together to try to buy the team, but more importantly is that the new owners share the same sense of pride in the city and do what the O'Malley's have done over the years.''

Vincent points out that times have changed, and owners like O'Malley could be hard to find.

``He did nothing else but devote time to running a baseball franchise,'' Vincent said. ``He didn't have other interests on the side. He was interested in baseball. I think he was a real gentleman, a man of real taste, civil and courteous. I think it's a sad day for L.A and baseball.''

``I have great faith that he will find a new owner who shares his commitment and love for Los Angeles. Peter and his family built a legacy in Los Angeles that must be respected and continued. This is a partnership between the O'Malleys and Angelenos which go back nearly 40 years.''

Richard Riordan

Los Angeles mayor

``He's saying baseball is not what it used to be. I guess he wishes like everybody else, `Let's all get together.' It's a big business now, with a lot of money. There might be a lot of greed out there instead of unity among owners, players and fans. You have to respect the man's judgment. It's definitely a different ballgame.''

Greg Gagne

Dodgers shortstop

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