RIP Lasorda
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As a lifelong Yankee fan I always cherished the rivalry of yesteryear with the Dodgers.
Tommy Lasorda and his bigger than life personality was certainly part of that.
He did truly bleed Dodger blue and was a great ambassador of America's favorite pastime.
Plus he always accredited himself with designing Jacques Plante's first goalie mask. A little slice of Canadianna there.
Tommy Lasorda and his bigger than life personality was certainly part of that.
He did truly bleed Dodger blue and was a great ambassador of America's favorite pastime.
Plus he always accredited himself with designing Jacques Plante's first goalie mask. A little slice of Canadianna there.
No it's proper to post it here.
Tommy Lasorda was a charismatic manager the polar opposite to the analytical Walter Alston, whom he replaced. He was also known for cleaning out Italian Delis, I'm surprised he made it to 93.
Maybe nutritionists know shit.
Tommy Lasorda was a charismatic manager the polar opposite to the analytical Walter Alston, whom he replaced. He was also known for cleaning out Italian Delis, I'm surprised he made it to 93.
Maybe nutritionists know shit.
Lasorda was a pitcher in the Dodgers organization.
Without looking it up I believe he pitched only about 40 some innings at the major league level. Mostly a career minor leaguer.
He did pitch for the Montreal Royals though who were the Dodgers AAA affiliate at the time.
Supposedly he designed the mask to Plante on a bar napkin when the two were having a late night dinner at a popular Montreal eatery.
But if he wasn't in baseball, nobody would know who he is. He never made any impact away from the game such as guys like Ali, Jackie Robinson or Jim Brown.
This belonged in baseball.
No, Lasorda was a mediocre hard-throwing left-hander who pitched 26 games badly in the major leagues. He struck out 37 over 58.1 innings but also walked 56. In his first and last start for Brooklyn in 1954, he was really bad, with three wild pitches. He did not last out the first inning. The rest of his pitching career was just as bad. He was much better as a manager. He also played for four years for the Montreal Royals post Jackie Robinson.
Quite a few Dodgers made their way to the Show via Montreal.
When a member mentioned that he was involved in a mask for Plante I speculated maybe based on the catcher's mask.
On June 8, 1955, the Brooklyn Dodgers optioned rookie left-handed pitcher Tommy Lasorda to Montreal to make room for another southpaw, one Sandy Koufax, be called up for the first time.
Given Lasorda's pitching record compared to Koufax's I would say the dodgers made the right move ..lol
Given Lasorda's pitching record compared to Koufax's I would say the dodgers made the right move ..lol
A long, interesting article on the life & death of Lasorda's son, Tommy Jr., which touches on his relationship with his father. https://thestacks.deadspin.com/the-brief-life-and-complicated-death-of-tommy-lasordas-485999366
Speaking of Sandy Koufax, his other half Don Drysdale spent some time in Montreal. BTW: There is a rumour about why Drysdale died at the relatively young age of 56.
"He was one-half of what many consider to be the best pitching duo in big league history. Hurling alongside Sandy Koufax, Don Drysdale amassed 209 wins and regularly led the National League in hit batsmen during his 14 big league seasons."
Don Drysdale played in Montreal and later died in the city - Cooperstowners in Canada
He was one-half of what many consider to be the best pitching duo in big league history. Hurling alongside Sandy Koufax, Don Drysdale amassed 209 wins and regularly led the National League in hit batsmen during his 14 big league seasons. But while intimidation was a key part of his game, the...
cooperstownersincanada.com
Speaking of Montreal, I was there for the Olympics. One of the best times I ever had. I even have an official Great Britain warm up jacket that I got from a British swimmer. I remember one night....
Anyways, we should get back on topic.
Lasorda ranks 22nd on the all-time win list for managers, with a career record of 1,599-1439 for a winning percentage of .526 and a playoff winning percentage of .508
The next active manager behind Lasorda is Joe Maddon, #38 with 1,278 wins.
I read a snippet and it said that his son died of AIDS. TL denied that his son was gay and claimed that he died of cancer. Tommy came from a different era.
