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Tommy Lasorda, RIP

 “I bleed Dodger Blue…and when I die I’m going to the Big Dodger in the sky!” –Tommy Lasorda

The baseball world was saddened today to learn of the passing of legendary Dodger Tommy Lasorda, one of the most beloved figures in the game. A son of Italian immigrants, the  Norristown, Pennsylvania native passed away yesterday, age 93, after suffering a heart attack in Orange County, California. Reading the above quote from Tommy, I think we can all safely assume that the “Big Dodger in the Sky” was there welcoming Tommy with open arms.

Thomas Charles Lasorda’s long professional career dates back to 1945 when, at age 18, he was signed by the Class D minor league North Carolina Concord Weavers in the Phillies organization. From this point, he was associated with baseball in some capacity for virtually the rest of his life.  This upcoming year would’ve marked Tommy’s 72nd season with the Dodger organization, dating back to their days in Brooklyn. Over that time, Lasorda held many positions, including player, manager, coach, scout, and front office executive.  After his retirement, he became a highly successful global baseball ambassador. At the time of his death, Tommy was the oldest-living Hall-of-Famer, a spot he held since the passing of Red Schoendienst in 2018.

Once when asked who served as the greatest influence in his highly successful managerial careerer, Tommy singled out Ralph Houk, his manager with the minor league Denver Bears:

“Ralph taught me that if you treat players like human beings, they will play like superman. He taught me how a pat on a shoulder can be just as important as a kick in the butt.”

As a tribute to Tommy, I’d like to repost an essay I wrote about him a few years ago, which recaps Tommy’s disastrous first inning in the majors. As we think of Tommy and recall his fun-loving, over-sized personality, I think we can all have a chuckle at his expense as we read it. I’m sure Tommy would be laughing along with us, as would many of the Dodgers who played for him and came to love him. An easy target, Tommy often served as the butt of many practical jokes instigated by his Dodger players. I also include some information about Tommy’s long career in the game.

Tommy Lasorda’s “Wild” First Major League Inning!

Not many fans realize that Tommy Lasorda was a great minor league pitcher, but on the major league level…well, not so hot. I guess we could say the first inning of Tommy’s very first game was an omen of things to come. Unfortunately, it proved to be a bad omen…

Tommy took the mound at Ebbets Field almost 66 years ago, May 5, 1955, for his first major league start. Maybe we can just write it off as “first innings jetters.” For whatever reason, Tommy proceeded to tie a record, but I’m sure it’s not one he’s proud of: Tommy threw not one…not two…but three (!)  wild pitches in his very first inning!

And then just to add insult to injury (or perhaps better, “injury to insult”), Tommy got spiked by the Cardinals’ Dodger Wally Moon covering the plate after uncorking one of his three wild pitches. He was in the showers after one inning. All-in-all, a rather inauspicious start for the future Hall-of-Fame manager.

However there were some bright spots: Tommy recorded two strikeouts in the inning, including whiffing the great Stan Musial as his first major league K. And even though Tommy was long-gone from the game, the Dodgers prevailed 4-3. “The Bums” went on to win the pennant and World Series in 1955. Tommy got a ring even though he didn’t play in the series.

Tommy spent parts of 14 seasons in the minors and posted a successful 136-104 record (.567) over 406 games, and 2166.2 innings, with 100 complete games. In the majors, he played three years (1954-’56) with the Brooklyn Dodgers (1954-’55), and the Kansas City Athletics (1956). Tommy went 0-4 with a 6.48 ERA over 58.3 innings in 26 games.

Of course, it’s as a highly successful manager where Tommy earned his Hall-of-Fame credentials. One of the most beloved figures in the game and a wonderful baseball ambassador, Tommy was at the Dodger helm for 20 seasons, with 3,041 games under his ample belt. He compiled a 1599-1439 record (.526). His 1599 wins rank 20th all-time. Tommy’s Dodger teams won four pennants, eight divisional titles, and two World Series championships (1981 and ’88).

He was a two-time Manager of the Year (1983 and ’88), and his #2 has been retired by the Dodgers. In 2009, he marked his sixth decade in one capacity or another with the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers organization, the longest non-continuous (he played one season with the Kansas City Athletics) tenure anyone has had with the team, edging Dodger broadcaster Vin Scully by a single season. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame as a manager in 1997.

Tommy is fondly remembered for many things: His love of life, country, and family; his love of Dodger baseball; and his love of Italian food, especially his favorite, a large bowl of linguine after a Dodger win. He is survived by his wife of 70 years,  Jo, their daughter, Laura, and granddaughter, Emily. Lasorda’s son, Tom Jr., died in 1991. Tommy’s passing continues the unfortunate streak of deaths of Hall-of-Famers that began last year. 

RIP Tommy Lasorda. You were a good man, and you will be missed.

Gary Livacari

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