[https://www.eatlife.net/dodger-stadium/art-of-the-game.php]
August 15, 1997
Piloting the Dodgers from 1976 until the 1996 campaign, Tommy Lasorda racked up 1,599 victories to rank 13th on the all-time Major League managerial list, winning two World Series tiles (1981, 1988), four NL pennants and eight division titles. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1997.
Los Angeles, NL, 1977-1996
One of baseball's most engaging personalities and a great ambassador for his sport. Managed Dodgers with an impenetrable passion, claiming to "Bleed Dodger Blue" in his 47th season with the Dodgers Organization when he retired as manager. Fourth manager in history to guide same franchise for 20 years. During which he won eight division titles, four NL pennants and World Championships in 1981 and 1988. 61 post-season games managed ranks third most in history.
HOF 8/3/97
1977-LA-1996
Number Retired on August 15, 1997
Tommy Lasorda had a tough act to follow when he succeeded future Hall of Famer Walter Alston as Dodger manager with four games left in the 1976 season. [https://www.eatlife.net/dodger-stadium/walter-alston.php] But like Alston, Lasordo went on to enjoy a lengthy and highly successful tenure at the helm. Piloting the Dodgers until the 1996 campaign, he racked up 1,599 victories to rank 13th on the all time Major League managerial list, winning two World Series titles (1981 and 1988), four NL pennants and eight division titles. Prior to joining the big league staff as coach in 1973, he had a successful eight-year stint as a minor league manager, helping the development of several future Dodger stars. The former Brooklyn Dodger pitcher was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1997.
Thomas Charles Lasorda (September 22, 1927 – January 7, 2021) was an American professional baseball pitcher and manager. He managed the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball from 1976 through 1996. He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame as a manager in 1997.Tommy Lasorda:
- Lasorda played in MLB for the Dodgers in 1954 and 1955 and for the Kansas City Athletics in 1956.
- He coached for the Dodgers from 1973 through 1976 before taking over as manager.
- Lasorda won two World Series championships as manager of the Dodgers and was named the Manager of the Year of the National League twice.
- His number 2 was retired by the Dodgers.
- Lasorda graduated from Norristown High School in Norristown, Pennsylvania, in 1944.
- He signed with the Philadelphia Phillies as an amateur free agent in 1945 and began his professional career that season with the Concord Weavers of the Class D North Carolina State League.
- He missed the 1946 and 1947 seasons because of a stint in the United States Army.
- The Brooklyn Dodgers drafted Lasorda from the Phillies organization in 1949.
- The Dodgers sent him to the Greenville Spinners in 1949, and to the Montreal Royals of the International League in 1950. He pitched for Montreal in 1950 through 1954 and made his major-league debut on August 5, 1954, for the Brooklyn Dodgers.
Tommy LasordaHe made his only start for the Los Angeles Dodgers on May 5, 1955, but was removed after the first inning after tying a major-league record with three wild pitches in one inning and being spiked by Wally Moon of the St. Louis Cardinals when Moon scored on the third wild pitch. Lasorda was demoted after the game and never pitched for the Dodgers again.
- Before the 1956 season, Lasorda was sold to the Kansas City Athletics, Kansas City traded him to the New York Yankees for Wally Burnette in July 1956. He appeared in 22 games for the Yankees' affiliate Triple-A Denver Bears in 1956–1957, and then was sold back to the Dodgers in 1957.
- Lasorda returned to Montreal for the 1958 through 1960 seasons, but was released in July 1960. He was the winningest pitcher in the history of the team (107–57). On June 24, 2006, he was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame. He ended his major league career with a 0–4 record and a 6.52 ERA in 26 games.
- In 1973, Lasorda became the third-base coach on the staff of Hall of Fame manager Walter Alston, serving four seasons.
- Lasorda became the Los Angeles Dodgers manager September 29, 1976, upon Alston's retirement.
When asked by broadcaster Vin Scully if he felt any pressure replacing Alston, Lasorda responded:
Tommy LasordaNo, Vin, I'm worried about the guy who's gonna replace me. That's the guy who's gonna have it tough
MANAGERIAL RECORD: 1976-1996: Team From To Season G W L Win % Los Angeles Dodgers 1976 1996 Regular 3038 1599 1439 .526 Los Angeles Dodgers 1976 1996 Post-Season 61 31 30 .508 TOMMY LASORDA Lasorda was named vice president of the Dodgers upon his retirement from managing in 1996. On June 22, 1998, he became interim General Manager upon the firing of Fred Claire. After the season, he helped find a permanent replacement for Claire and was made senior vice president of the Dodgers.
