Posted on 01/08/2021 10:34:32 AM PST by ShadowAce
LOS ANGELES -- Tommy Lasorda, the son of Italian immigrants and a professional pitcher who became a legendary Dodgers manager, global baseball ambassador and national treasure, died on Thursday. He was 93.
Commissioner Rob Manfred issued the following statement:
“Tommy Lasorda was one of the finest managers our game has ever known. He loved life as a Dodger. His career began as a pitcher in 1949 but he is, of course, best known as the manager of two World Series champions and four pennant-winning clubs. His passion, success, charisma and sense of humor turned him into an international celebrity, a stature that he used to grow our sport. Tommy welcomed Dodger players from Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Japan, South Korea and elsewhere -- making baseball a stronger, more diverse and better game. He served Major League Baseball as the Global Ambassador for the first two editions of the World Baseball Classic and managed Team USA to gold in the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. Tommy loved family, the United States, the National Pastime and the Dodgers, and he made them all proud during a memorable baseball life.
“I am extremely fortunate to have developed a wonderful friendship with Tommy and will miss him. It feels appropriate that in his final months, he saw his beloved Dodgers win the World Series for the first time since his 1988 team. On behalf of Major League Baseball, I send my deepest sympathy to his wife of 70 years, Jo, and their entire family, the Dodger organization and their generations of loyal fans.”
In three seasons as a Major League pitcher, Lasorda went 0-4 and reminded nobody of Sandy Koufax, who replaced him on the Brooklyn roster. But as the Dodgers manager for two decades, Lasorda crafted a body of work that earned him a place alongside Koufax in baseball’s Hall of Fame. Before his death, Lasorda was the oldest living Hall of Famer, a distinction that now passes to Willie Mays, 89.
He died after serving in his 71st season with the Dodgers, an extraordinary display of loyalty. He spent the last two decades as a special advisor to the chairman (currently Mark Walter), having been rescued by previous chairman Frank McCourt from an exile imposed when News Corp. bought the club from Peter O’Malley and his sister, Terry Seidler.
“My family, my partners and I were blessed to have spent a lot of time with Tommy,” said Walter in a statement. “He was a great ambassador for the team and baseball, a mentor to players and coaches, he always had time for an autograph and a story for his many fans and he was a good friend. He will be dearly missed.”
pic.twitter.com/E1qyeKtfjl— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) January 8, 2021
Lasorda’s career began as a smallish left-handed pitcher with a big heart and fighting spirit. When that dream ended, he switched to scouting, then built a résumé as a Minor League manager, Major League third-base coach, Hall of Fame Major League manager, acting general manager and senior vice president.
He earned eight honorary doctorate degrees, had an asteroid named after him by Cal Tech, had a wife (Jo) of 70 years and was still making appearances every year on behalf of the Dodgers and MLB. He is in 17 Halls of Fame, and if they had one for eating, he’d be in there, too. He savored the “fruits of victory,” not to mention industrial-sized portions of linguini and clams.
Lasorda was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1997 on the strength of 20-plus seasons managing the Dodgers (1976-96). He is one of only four managers in big league history to manage the same team for 20 years or more -- the others being Connie Mack, John McGraw and Lasorda's predecessor, Walter Alston.
"In a franchise that has celebrated such great legends of the game, no one who wore the uniform embodied the Dodger spirit as much as Tommy Lasorda," Dodger president and CEO Stan Kasten said. "A tireless spokesman for baseball, his dedication to the sport and the team he loved was unmatched. He was a champion who at critical moments seemingly willed his teams to victory. The Dodgers and their fans will miss him terribly. Tommy is quite simply irreplaceable and unforgettable."
RIP Tommy 💙
He will be missed.
One of the greatest BB managers in the game....back when baseball was...well...baseball.
My dad met and spent a little time with him during a celebrity tour Lasorda was part of during the Viet Nam war. My dad said he was a stand up guy.
One of the biggest personalities of sports in many ways.
RIP
He lived a long and great life. As a Giants fan, I used to boo the crap out of him every time he went to the mound at Candlestick, and I always enjoyed it and him. RIP.
I’ve never been a Dodgers fan, but I always liked Tommy.
Condolences to family and friends of Tommy Lasorda. One of the GREATS
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=N4nwMDZYXTI
RIP Tommy
He hung on till the Dodgers won the series again
RIP Tommy Lasorda
Tommy had some good genes to make it to 93.
Loved the crowd at his Blue Bell restaraunt that went by his name, but run by his brother. Had a good run there for about eight years. Nice family.
Not unexpected, but it hurts nonetheless...a true American Icon...RIP Tommy.
Many criticized Lasorda for his weight issues, but there is something to be said for enjoying life and what you do to the fullest.
LOL, and he probably wound up outliving all of them.
never liked that crybaby
A National treasure...completely apt description of Mr. Lasorda.
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