Tommy Lasorda

Lore & Background

Lasorda played in MLB for the Brooklyn 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 uniform number 2 was retired by the Dodgers.

In Their Own Story

The late afternoon sun casts long shadows across the warning track at Dodger Stadium as Tommy Lasorda paces the dugout steps, his cap pulled low over his eyes. The roar of the crowd is a physical weight, but he meets it with a grin that has weathered decades of pressure. He leans on the railing, watching a young pitcher warm up in the bullpen, offering a silent nod of encouragement that speaks volumes without a single word shouted. In this moment, the noise fades into background static; there is only the game, the team, and the unbreakable bond between the man in the blue jacket and the players wearing his colors.

Reader's Guide

Lasorda's managerial career was spent entirely with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He compiled a 1,599–1,439 record, won two World Series championships (1981 and 1988), four National League pennants, and eight division titles. He managed nine players who won the NL Rookie of the Year Award.

Did You Know?

• Lasorda struck out 25 batters in a 15-inning minor league game in 1948, setting a professional record.
• He is the winningest pitcher in Montreal Royals history with a 107–57 record.
• Lasorda managed the Dodgers for 20 seasons, from 1976 through 1996.