The Life and Legacy of Tommy Lasorda: Looking back at the career and lifetime of one of baseball’s greatest managers

Last month, the baseball world lost several of its icons, including Los Angeles Dodgers legend Tommy Lasorda, who passed away due to heart failure at age 93 on January 7, 2021. Despite a short-lived and sub-par career as a player, Lasorda goes down in baseball history as one of the best managers ever with two World Series championships as the Dodgers manager for 20 years. Lasorda’s physical talent never shined as an MLB player, but his energy and philosophies about the game made him the most accomplished manager in Dodger history.

Tommy Lasorda began his career in the MLB in 1954 as a pitcher for the Dodgers but never settled into the big leagues. Teams traded him around the league for the next two years, and following a short stint with Kansas City and the New York Yankees, his MLB playing career concluded in 1956, although he played four more years in the minor leagues. Though his career was mediocre, his competitive spirit certainly did not diminish following his playing days, and he was known for his fiery and energetic personality. After he retired, Lasorda rejoined the Dodgers as a scout. Following the retirement of Walter Alston, Lasorda became the manager of the Dodgers in 1976.

During his two decades as a manager, Lasorda cemented his legacy as one of the best all-time MLB executives. His skills and achievements were so exceptional that he stayed with the same team for two decades, a feat that is unprecedented for most baseball managers. He used his competitive and fiery spirit to motivate his team and his philosophical and thoughtful approach to lead his players. In regards to his strategy as a manager, Lasorda explained, “Managing is like holding a dove in your hand. If you hold it too tightly you kill it, but if you hold it too loosely, you lose it."

Lasorda certainly knew how to bring his team together and led the Dodgers to win National League pennants in 1977 and 1978 and World Series championships in 1981 and 1988. He managed more than 3,000 games, had a .526 career winning percentage, and acquired nearly 1600 wins, placing him in the top 30 of all time. Following his retirement after the 1996 season, Lasorda was elected into the MLB Hall of Fame in 1997, becoming the at-the-time 15th manager to receive the honor. To honor his commitment to the team, the Dodgers retired his number 2 in 1997.

Lasorda’s devotion to the Dodgers organization never ceased throughout his 71-year career. He dedicated his life to the team, even saying that he “bleeds Dodger blue”. The loss of Lasorda is a major one for Los Angeles and the rest of the baseball world. The world should admire Lasorda’s dedication and accomplishments as Lasorda joins “the big Dodger in the sky”.