LA Sports Hub
Fansided

Los Angeles Dodgers: Mt. Rushmore

By Evan Lovett

Apr 15, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers line up for the National Anthem to commemorate Jackie Robinson Day before the game against the Seattle Mariners at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 15, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers line up for the National Anthem to commemorate Jackie Robinson Day before the game against the Seattle Mariners at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 8
Next
Apr 2, 2015; Anaheim, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers former manager Tommy Lasorda before the game against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 2, 2015; Anaheim, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers former manager Tommy Lasorda before the game against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

Tommy Lasorda

Lasorda was a hard-scrabble, left-handed pitcher that pitched 13 innings with the Dodgers in the early 1950’s before being cast aside for Koufax and other, more talented arms.

Lasorda hung around in pro baseball through 1960, at which point he became a scout and subsequently, minor league manager. He reached the big league club again under legendary manager Walter Alston, who took to the firebrand and installed him as his third-base coach.

More from LA Sports Hub

His gregarious personality was the perfect complement to the recalcitrant Alston and he immediately garnered the respect of the clubhouse.

Upon Alston’s retirement, Lasorda was named manager and immediately took the Dodgers to back-to-back World Series in 1977 and 1978.

Though he lost both to the New York Yankees, Lasorda kept the Dodgers on track and exacted revenge in 1981, winning the Dodgers first title in 15 years. Lasorda’s ebullient personality and on-field success earned him legions of fans in Los Angeles.

His colorful personality fit the city perfectly, and just when it seemed that he lost his magic touch, 1988 happened. A club more known for hijinks than performance somehow cobbled together 94 wins and a National League title, only to meet the feared and athletically superior New York Mets, who also had the home field advantage.

With some deft managing, the Dodgers dismantled the Mets to move on to the World Series, where they were the largest underdogs in decades. A shrewd call to pinch hit Mike Davis and subsequently, Kirk Gibson, led to the homerun that is universally lauded as the Greatest Moment in Los Angeles Sports history.

Lasorda continued to manage the Dodgers until 1996, when he retired due to heart concerns. Lasorda’s contribution to baseball, as well as the Dodgers, was honored both in 1997 when he was elected to the Hall of Fame, but also in 2000 when he was selected to manage the Olympic baseball team, which he led to a gold medal over highly-favored Cuba.

Home/Los Angeles Dodgers