Former LA Dodgers Manager Tommy Lasorda Has Died
Former LA Dodgers Manager Tommy Lasorda has died. On Thursday, January 7, 2021, the baseball world lost a legend. The
Taylor Samec
Former LA Dodgers Manager Tommy Lasorda has died. On Thursday, January 7, 2021, the baseball world lost a legend. The 93-year-old Hall of Fame manager suffered a heart attack late Thursday night and was transported to the hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. His time of death was 10:57 p.m
This is not the first time Lasorda was sent to the hospital. He was battling health issues in November but seemed to be getting better. On November 15, 2020, the Dodgers announced Lasorda was hospitalized and in intensive care. He spent seven weeks in the hospital but was released days before his death and was resting comfortably at home.
Rob Manfred, the MLB commissioner, released this statement regarding Lasorda’s death, “Tommy Lasorda was one of the finest managers our game has ever known. He loved life as a Dodger.” Tommy Lasorda was well known in the baseball community, and his death has saddened many people worldwide.
The sports world and various celebrities show their love to the late Dodgers manager by posting on social media and reminiscing their memories with Lasorda. Some people who have paid tribute to Tommy Lasorda include Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, Magic Johnson, Los Angeles Angels, and more. They all posted pictures of Lasorda and captioned them with a nice message of how much he will be missed and how he impacted the world of baseball.
Who Was Tommy Lasorda?
Tommy Lasorda is considered a legend in the world of baseball. He played in the MLB as well as manage the Los Angeles Dodgers. He began his baseball career playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Kansas City Athletics until he became a coach in 1973. He coached the Los Angeles Dodgers for three years before becoming the manager for the team. He led the Dodgers to win two World Series during his time as manager.
Lasorda was a great coach until the very end. His final game as manager was a 4-3 victory against the Houston Astros at Dodger Stadium on June 23, 1996. He ended up retiring after suffering a heart attack the day after the game against the Houston Astros. After his retirement, Tommy Lasorda was named Vice President of the Dodgers.
Throughout his career, Lasorda received many honors and awards. However, the most impressive was his induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1997, and before his death, he was the oldest living Hall-of-Famer. The latest honor Lasorda received was The University of Pennsylvania upgrading their baseball field and naming it after Lasorda in 2020.
Everyone loved Lasorda because he always spoke his mind and had a colorful personality. He will be missed, and the baseball world will not be the same without him. His 93 years of life were full of love and Dodger blue. Tommy Lasorda has died but his legacy will live on.
The Lasorda’s
Tommy Lasorda leaves behind his wife, daughter, and grandchild. Tommy Lasorda and his wife Jo Lasorda married in April 1950 and lived in Fullerton, California, for most of their married life. Since Lasorda’s death on Thursday, his wife Jo has not made any statements.
The couple had two children together, Tommy Lasorda Jr. and Laura Lasorda. However, their son Tommy Jr. died of AIDS in 1991. To honor their son’s death, the couple named a gymnasium in Yorba Linda, California, The Thomas Lasorda Jr Field House.
Their daughter Laura Lasorda is often not in the spotlight and lives a normal life with her daughter, Emily Tess. However, Laura did release a statement regarding her father’s death, “On behalf of the family, thank you for all the calls, messages and media coverage of the passing of our beloved husband, father, and grandfather Tommy Lasorda.”
Tommy Lasorda’s Legacy
Tommy Lasorda has died, but his legacy will continue. Following Lasorda’s death, the city of Los Angeles lit up in blue to honor Tommy Lasorda. Some of the places lit up in Dodger blue include the Staples Center, City Hall, Banc of California Stadium, and more. These iconic places glowed in honor of the great Tommy Lasorda.
In a year where everyone must social distant and nothing is normal, the city lights up in a color that defines the Dodgers to honor the late Dodgers manager and remember his time with the infamous baseball team.
Baseball players everywhere will remember his impact on the sport. He loved baseball and the Dodgers; he knew how special the sport and team were. The current manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Dave Roberts, released a statement regarding the death of Tommy Lasorda, “He let anyone know the importance of putting on the Dodger uniform and what it means to be a part of this organization, and I think this is something that has been real for decades.” Tommy Lasorda took the sport seriously and encouraged all his players to respect the uniform and play their best.
Tommy Lasorda’s death is sad news for the baseball community, but he will be forever remembered.