As a teen-aged girl, I half-assedly followed The Dodgers only because of Tommy Lasorda. He was a scamp.
MLB.com:
By Ken Gurnick9:03 AM PST.
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.” more here
Covid?
Tommy was my favorite Dodger. I loved to see him on the rampage!
I don’t know, I remember reading he’s been in the hospital for something else. But hey, there’s always time to slap ‘corona’ on him, right?
Kurt Bevacqua probably isn’t upset about it…
https://youtu.be/fzjWQF1oP2M
Can’t help but like Tommy Lasorda. Gone to the field of dreams – – RIP Tommy.
The late Jim Healy had a sports radio show that featured clips of Tommy, including the “Bevacqua? Bevacqua couldn’t hit f**king water if he fell out of a f**king boat.” His tirade about his opinion of Dave Kingman after he hit three homers to beat the Dodgers was another classic.
I didn’t care much for the Dodgers except during Lasorda’s tenure as manager, which I believe was based on a series of one year contracts because that’s the way Walter Alston did it. The Dodger culture was never the same after they were sold by the O’Malleys and after Tommy Lasorda quit being manager.
My favorite Lasorda quote: “In a race with a pregnant woman he’d (Bruce Benedict) come in 3rd”.
I loved and hated him.
Rickles hits Lasorda and the Dodgers on the field at Dodger Stadium https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyvDZpfjhb4
dJohn
I listene to Healy on670 and then 71o for decades! I dtried my best to. be our of the offdice by 1720 to be in the cr when he came on.
Will Kurt pay for the hearse?
OMHO Healy was the best Sportscaster by far! Ever!
Was a Dodger fan when I lived in the East because of Red and Viny. Vinny do me is far and away the best Baseball announcer EVER1
He was 0 and 1252 vs the Pirates, but never lost to the Mets….
Tommy Lasorda RIP, brings memories of my Gramps. Thoughts and Prayers go out to your family. 🕊️❤️🙏
He’s eaten his last lasagna.
RIP sir, you were one of the best managers of all time.
A real gavone.
Tommy Lasorda was such a big personality. He made me laugh with his comments and I loved it when he kicked dirt over the bag while screaming at a ref. He loved his players and everyone else. Tommy just loved life. I’m sad we have lost him.