Tommy Lasorda: Hall of Fame Dodgers Manager and Two-Time World Series Ch

Tommy Lasorda was an American baseball manager and pitcher, best known for managing the Los Angeles Dodgers from 1976 to 1996 and for his larger-than-life personality. Born Thomas Charles Lasorda on September 22, 1927, in Norristown, Pennsylvania, he became one of baseball's best-known ambassadors.

Lasorda won World Series championships with the Dodgers in 1981 and 1988 and was named National League Manager of the Year in 1983 and 1988. The Dodgers retired his No. 2 in 1997, the year he was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame as a manager. He led the U.S. team to Olympic gold in Sydney in 2000.

Lasorda married Jo in 1950, and they had two children; their son Tom Jr. died in 1991. In 1989 he got Montreal's mascot, Youppi!, ejected from a game, the first mascot ejection in MLB history. He died of cardiac arrest in Fullerton, California, on January 7, 2021, at age 93. Remembered for his love of baseball and of the Dodgers, he famously said he bled Dodger blue.

Achievements: Won the World Series as Dodgers manager (1981, 1988), National League Manager of the Year (1983, 1988), inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame (1997), led the U.S. to Olympic gold (2000).

Birth: September 22, 1927 - Norristown, Pennsylvania.

Profession: Baseball manager and pitcher.

Interesting Facts: In 1948 he struck out 25 batters in a 15-inning minor league game, a professional record. His father was an Italian immigrant from Abruzzo.