Hall of Fame Plaque
Inducted in 1998
THOMAS CHARLES LASORDA
LOS ANGELES N.L, 1977-1996
ONE OF BASEBALL'S MOST ENGAGING PERSONALITIES AND 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 N.L. PENNANTS AND WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS IN 1981 AND 1988. 61 POST-SEASON GAMES MANAGED RANKS THIRD MOST IN HISTORY.
[https://www.eatlife.net/dodger-stadium/art-of-the-game.php]
Tommy Lasorda
Manager
2
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.
Tommy Lasorda Dodger Jersey
Number Retired on August 15, 1997
1983
Tom Lasorda
Manager of the Year
- NL West
- 1st
- 91-71
Hall of Famer Tommy Lasorda won the National League Manager of the Year Awards in 1983 and 1988. Overall, his Dodger teams won eight division titles, four pennants and two world series in his 20-year managerial career.
1988
Tom Lasorda
Manager of the Year
- NL West
- 1st
- 94-67
Tommy Lasorda
First Wall of Photos
- Centerfield Plaza
- Under Right Field Pavilion
They made this moment into a Larger than Life Bobblehead! [eatlife.net/dodger-stadium/giant-bobbleheads.php#tommy-lasorda]
- Manny Mota
- Rick Monday
- Tommy Lasorda
- Bobby Castillo
- Tom Niedenfuer
- Steve Sax
- Joe Beckwith
- General Manager Al Campanis
- Commissioner Bowie Kuhn
- Owner Peter O'Malley
- Manager Tommy Lasorda
Hollywood Stars Game
- Dean Martin
- Tommy Lasorda
- Frank Sinatra
- Joe Torre
Tommy Lasorda
Second Wall of Photos
- Centerfield Plaza
- Under Right Field Pavilion
- Don Mattingly
- Tommy Lasorda
- Joe Torre
- Jo Lasorda
- Tommy Lasorda
- Frank Sinatra
- Tommy Lasorda
- Ron Cey
- Davey Lopes
- Bill Russell
- Steve Garvey
- Orel Hershiser
- Tommy Lasorda
- Don Drysdale
Tommy Lasorda
Manager
2
Bled Dodger Blue
Tommy Lasorda often sat at the far end of the Dodger dugout closest to the field during his
20-year managerial career.
His job duties included nervous pacing in front of the bench and spirited rally cries while leading Los Angeles to a pair of World Series titles and eight National League West crowns.
In retirement, the man who boasted that he "bled Dodger Blue" had a ringside seat in the Dugout Club near the Dodger on-deck circle. Baseball's goodwill ambassador was a fixture at Dodger games for the next quarter century after his induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
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
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.
Associated Press Manager of the Year Award
1977
Associated Press Manager of the Year Award
1981
Associated Press Manager of the Year Award
1983
Associated Press Manager of the Year Award
1988
Branch Rickey Award (Exceptional Community Service)
2006
Won first three All-Star Games managed in 1978, 1979, and 1982
DODGER ALL-STAR YEARS
- Manager: 1978, 79, 82, 89
- Coach: 1977, 83, 84, 86, 93, 96
California Sports Hall of Fame
(Made a Lasting Impression to California Sports)
PITCHER: 1954 - 1955
MANAGER: 1976 - 1996
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.
Washington
February 28, 1985
Dear Tom:
As you open another baseball season, I want to extend best wishes and the hope it will prove another fulfilling experience in your already notable career. A baseball season that includes a Tommy Lasorda-managed team assures plenty of color and excitement for fans everywhere. I am sure this year will be no exception.
We all thank you for your contribution in making America's pastime a great national institution we value and enjoy. You are an example of the competitive spirit at its positive best, and, as such, are not only an ambassador of goodwill for baseball, but for America as well.
Last, but surely not least, your wonderful sense of humor is a delightful outer sign of the warm and genuine man within.
Best regards,
Ronald Reagan
