Tommy Lasorda (1927-2021)

Tommy Lasorda, the fiery Hall of Fame manager who guided the Los Angeles Dodgers to two World Series titles and later became an ambassador for the sport he loved during his 71 years with the franchise, has died. He was 93. The Dodgers said Friday, Jan. 8, 2021, that he had a heart attack at his home in Fullerton, California. Lasorda was named field manager of the 1969 Spokane Indians.

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Fri., Jan. 8, 2021

Manager Tommy Lasorda poses in September 1969 during his first season, one year before Spokane’s PCL title.

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In this Oct. 19, 1981 photo, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Tom Lasorda celebrates after the Dodgers beat the Montreal Expos for the National League title in Montreal. Tommy Lasorda, the fiery Hall of Fame manager who guided the Los Angeles Dodgers to two World Series titles and later became an ambassador for the sport he loved during his 71 years with the franchise, has died. He was 93. The Dodgers said Friday, Jan. 8, 2021, that he had a heart attack at his home in Fullerton, California.

Grimshaw Associated Press
In this April 4, 1984 photo, Jo Lasorda, wife of Los Angeles Dodgers' manager Tommy Lasorda, leans up to give him a good luck kiss on the start of his 35th season with the Dodger organization, in Los Angeles . Tommy Lasorda, the fiery Hall of Fame manager who guided the Los Angeles Dodgers to two World Series titles and later became an ambassador for the sport he loved during his 71 years with the franchise, has died. He was 93. The Dodgers said Friday, Jan. 8, 2021, that he had a heart attack at his home in Fullerton, California.

Lennox Mclendon Associated Press
Feb. 6, 1969. Tommy Lasorda was field manager for the Spokane Indians in 1969.

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Key members of the 1970 Spokane Indians included, from left, manager Tommy Lasorda and players Bobby Valentine, Steve Garvey, Bill Buckner, Tommy Hutton and Bob O’Brien.

Courtesy Photo
Oct. 7, 1971. Tommy Lasorda was named field manager of the Spokane Indians in 1969.

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Jul. 21, 1971. Tommy Lasorda during a Spokane Indians game.

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In this Oct. 20, 1988 photo, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda, right, and Fred Claire, Dodger Vice President, hoist the World Series trophy following their team's 5-2 win over the Oakland Athletics in Oakland, Calif.. Lasorda, the fiery Hall of Fame manager who guided the Los Angeles Dodgers to two World Series titles and later became an ambassador for the sport he loved during his 71 years with the franchise, has died. He was 93. The Dodgers said Friday, Jan. 8, 2021, that he had a heart attack at his home in Fullerton, California.

Associated Press
In this June 10, 2015 photo, Hall of Fame manager Tommy Lasorda waves to the crowd before a baseball game at Yankee Stadium in New York. Tommy Lasorda, the fiery Hall of Fame manager who guided the Los Angeles Dodgers to two World Series titles and later became an ambassador for the sport he loved during his 71 years with the franchise, has died. He was 93. The Dodgers said Friday, Jan. 8, 2021, that he had a heart attack at his home in Fullerton, California.

Kathy Willens Associated Press
In July 16, 1979 photo, Baseball Commissioner Bowie Kuhn, background, pretends to put a choke hold on Los Angeles Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda during practice for the All-Star Game in Seattle. Tommy Lasorda, the fiery Hall of Fame manager who guided the Los Angeles Dodgers to two World Series titles and later became an ambassador for the sport he loved during his 71 years with the franchise, has died. He was 93. The Dodgers said Friday, Jan. 8, 2021, that he had a heart attack at his home in Fullerton, California.

Associated Press
In this Oct. 29, 1981 photo, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda goes through congratulatory mail after the Dodgers won the 1981 World Series is in his office in Los Angeles. Tommy Lasorda, the fiery Hall of Fame manager who guided the Los Angeles Dodgers to two World Series titles and later became an ambassador for the sport he loved during his 71 years with the franchise, has died. He was 93. The Dodgers said Friday, Jan. 8, 2021, that he had a heart attack at his home in Fullerton, California.

Rasmussen Associated Press
In this Sept. 21, 1977 photo, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Tom Lasorda gets a champagne bath from Doug Rau after the Dodgers clinched the National League West with a 3-1 win over the San Francisco Giants at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. Lasorda, the fiery Hall of Fame manager who guided the Los Angeles Dodgers to two World Series titles and later became an ambassador for the sport he loved during his 71 years with the franchise, has died. He was 93. The Dodgers said Friday, Jan. 8, 2021, that he had a heart attack at his home in Fullerton, California.

Associated Press
In this Sept. 7, 1996 photo, former Los Angeles Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda laughs as he reaches out for fans' hands on as he is driven around Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles for a farewell lap following a ceremony in his honor. Lasorda, who guided the Los Angeles Dodgers to two World Series titles and later became an ambassador for the sport he loved during his 71 years with the franchise, has died. He was 93. The Dodgers said Friday, Jan. 8, 2021, that he had a heart attack at his home in Fullerton, California. Resuscitation attempts were made on the way to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly before 11 p.m. Thursday.

Susan Sterner Associated Press
In this Feb. 14, 2014, photo, former Los Angeles Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda watches during spring training baseball practice in Glendale, Ariz. Los Angeles Dodgers say Hall of Fame manager Tom Lasorda has died.

Paul Sancya Associated Press
In this July 25, 1994 photo, Los Angeles Dodgers' manager Tommy Lasorda, right, talks with San Francisco Giants' Darryl Strawberry prior to their game at Candlestick Park in San Francisco This is the first time Strawberry has played against his former club, the Dodgers, who released him in May.

Eric Risberg Associated Press
In this Sept. 1, 1993 photo, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Tom Lasorda, right, argues with home plate umpire Eric Gregg after Lasorda was ejected in the first inning of the game against the Pirates in Pittsburgh.

Keith B. Srakocic Associated Press
In this Oct. 1, 1988 photo, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda runs to hug Kirk Gibson, center arm raised, as he is mobbed by teammates after hitting the game-winning two-run homer against the A's in the first game of the 1988 World Series.

Rusty Kennedy Associated Press
FILE - In this Feb. 14, 2014, file photo, former Los Angeles Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda watches during spring training baseball practice in Glendale, Ariz. Los Angeles Dodgers say Hall of Fame manager Tom Lasorda has been hospitalized. The team says the 89-year-old is resting comfortably, but didn't provide any additional details on his condition, Saturday, May 20, 2017. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File) ORG XMIT: NY155

Paul Sancya
In this April 11, 2018, photo, former Los Angeles Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda attends a news conference in Los Angeles.

Damian Dovarganes Associated Press