The Los Angeles Dodgers announced that Dodger manager Tommy Lasorda will
retire as manager of the Dodgers, but will remain with the organization
as Vice President. Lasorda recently was voted into the Baseball Hall of
Fame. Lasorda has been loyal to the Dodgers for 47 years, and they have
given the same loyalty back to him. “I'm grateful to my coaches, the greatest
coaching staff a manager could have; I'm grateful to my trainers, the finest
training staff in baseball; and I'm grateful to all of my players who made
it possible for me to enjoy my 20 seasons.”
There have been 210 managerial changes in baseball during Lasorda's 20
seasons. He has a lifetime managerial record of 1,599-1,439 (.526). Lasorda's
1,599 wins place him 13th on the all-time wins by managers list. He managed
his 3,000th game this season on May 10 at St. Louis, and moved past Dick
Williams (3,023) for 12th place on the all-time games managed list on June
6 vs. Pittsburgh. In his 20 seasons at the helm he has managed the Dodgers
to two World Championships, four National League pennants, and has been
atop the Western Division eight different seasons. He is tops for the most
NL games managed in baseball at 30 and holds the major league record with
16 wins in NL games. His 61 postseason games managed rank second all-time,
behind Casey Stengel. He also managed the N.L. All-Star team on four different
occasions, compiling a 3-1 record.
Lasorda, 68, has won numerous awards, including 1988 N.L. Manager of the
Year by Baseball America and Co-Manager of the Year by Sporting News. He
was named Manager of the Year by UPI in 1977 and by AP in 1977 and 1981.
He has been a Dodger player, scout, minor league manager and major league
coach.(His first managerial job was with the Pocatello Indians in 1965).
Eight of the Dodgers' record 15 Rookies of the Year were managed by Lasorda,
more than any other big league skipper in history. As Tommy moved up to
the major league ranks, so did most of his minor league players, including
Bill Buckner, Ron Cey, Steve Garvey, Davey Lopes, Bill Russell and Steve
Yeager. Ten times in his managerial career the Dodgers have drawn more
than 3-million fans to Dodger Stadium.
TOPICS:
Motivation, Teamwork, Leadership, Sports, Winning
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