Tommy Lasorda
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| Tommy Lasorda | |
| Position | Manager (1976-1996) |
| (Pitcher: Dodgers 1954-1955; Kansas City A's 1956) | |
| MLB Seasons | 21 (managing) |
| Teams | Los Angeles Dodgers |
| Debut | 29 September 1976 |
| Final Game | 23 June 1996 (officially retires 29 July) |
| Total Games | 3,040 |
| LCS Appearances | 1977, 1978, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1988 |
| World Series Teams | 1977, 1978, 1981, 1988 |
| Allstar Teams | Manager (1978, 1979, 1982, 1989) |
| Coach (1977, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1993) | |
| Manager 2000 U.S. Olympic Team | |
| Awards | NL Manager of the Year (1983, 1988 Co-manager w/Pirates Jim Leyland) |
| Hall of Fame (1997) | |
| Nickname | |
| "Tommy Lasagna" | |
Thomas Charles Lasorda (22 September 1927, Norristown, Pennsylvania) American, was a Major League baseball player and manager. In 1999 he marked his 50th year of involvement, in one capacity or another, with the Los Angeles Dodgers organization.
Lasorda broke into the major leagues in 1954 as a left-handed pitcher with the Brooklyn Dodgers. After two seasons in Brooklyn, he was traded to the Kansas City Athletics (1956). Playing in abbreviated stints, however, Lasorda never established himself as a major league-calibre player and didn't see major league player time after the 1956 season.
Lasorda became Los Angeles's manager 29 September 1976 after Walter Alston's retirement and led the team to consecutive National League championships in 1977 and 1978. Over 20 years at the helm of the Dodgers, he also led the team to two World Series championships (1981 and 1988).
His final game was a 4-3 victory over the Houston Astros, at Dodger Stadium (att. 35,467), on 23 June 1996. The following day (24 June) he drove himself to the hospital complaining of abdominal pains, in fact he was having a heart attack. He officially retired on 29 July, having compiled a 1599-1439 record as a manager. His 1599 career wins ranks 15th all-time in MLB history.
After retiring, Lasorda became an executive within the Dodgers organization. Lasorda was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1997. He was the manager for the gold medal United States Olympic team in 2000. Lasorda is the godfather to major league All-Star catcher Mike Piazza's (also from Norristown). His son, Tommy Lasorda, Jr passed away in 1991.
Stats
- Total games: 3,040
- Wins: 1,599
- Losses: 1,439
- Percentage: .526
External links
- Tommy's blog, "Tommy's World" (http://tommy.mlblogs.com/)
- Baseball Hall of Fame Biography (http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/hofers_and_honorees/hofer_bios/lasorda_tommy.htm)
- Lasorda's manager page @ Baseball Reference.com (http://www.baseball-reference.com/managers/lasorto01.shtml)
- Tommy's page @ Baseball Library.com (http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/ballplayers/L/Lasorda_Tommy.stm)
- Lasorda's retirement press conference @ CNN (http://edition.cnn.com/US/9607/29/lasorda.retires/)