Former Dodgers' Manager Tommy Lasorda Dies

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Published on January 11 2021 8:37 am
Last Updated on January 11 2021 8:53 am
Written by Millie Lange

Tommy Lasorda, the fiery manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers for 20 years, died Friday, January 8 at the age of 93.

Lasorda spent 71 seasons in the Dodgers organization. His love for the Dodgers began when the team was in Brooklyn. He signed as a player for the Philadelphia Phillies in 1945 and three years later went to the Dodgers. He debuted as a pitcher in 1954 and lasted through 1955. After the 1956 season, he was sold to the Kansas City Athletics then traded to the Yankees before being sold back to the Dodgers in 1957. He returned to Montreal in 1958-60 before being released.

He missed the 1946 and 1947 seasons serving in the U.S. Army. He returned to baseball in 1948 with the Schenectady Blue Jays of the Canadian-American League. 

He was a scout in the Dodgers organization and managed in the minor leagues. In 1973 he became the third base coach for the Dodgers and when Walter Alston retired in 1976, he was named manager.

Lasorda managed the Dodgers from 1976 to to 1996 where he won 1,599 games. He guided the Dodgers to four National League pennants and two World Series titles in 1981 and 1983. His teams in 1977 and 1978 were defeated by the New York Yankees.

He suffered a heart attack in July of 1996 and retired. He stayed on as special advsier to the chairman. He was named to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1997.

After becoming manager and retiring, he held several positions for the Dodgers such as vice-president, interim general manager, senior vice president and special advisor to the chairman.

In 2000 he led Team USA to the gold medal in the Sydney Olympic Games. His team defeated two-time defending gold medalist Cuba 4-0 in the championship game.

"Words cannot begin to express the profound loss we feel with the passing of Tommy Lasorda," said USA Baseball Executive Director/CEO Paul Seiler. "His achievements on the baseball field are legendary but his legacy will forever exceed his baseball accomplishments. His patriotism was inspiring and the people who were fortunate enough to meet and learn from him will forever carry on his passing and goodwill for international baseball and our country. He is the epitome of a titan in our game and USA Baseball will forever honor his memory.

"We are thankful that we were able to reconnect Tommy with his Olympic players and staff as we celebrated the twentieth anniversary of the gold medal victory in the Sydney Olympic games in September."

Lasorda leaves behind his wife of 70 years Jo, daughter Laura and granddaughter Emily Tess.