Lasorda, Tom (1927-2021), was one of the most successful and popular managers in baseball history. Lasorda spent his entire major league career managing the Los Angeles Dodgers, winning four National League pennants and two World Series. Lasorda’s good humor and outgoing personality made him popular with fans, players, and the media.
Thomas Charles Lasorda was born on Sept. 22, 1927, in Norristown, Pennsylvania. He began his baseball career as a pitcher, playing in the minor leagues from 1948 to 1961. He had several successful seasons in the minor leagues but failed in brief major league tryouts in 1954, 1955, and 1956. Lasorda became a scout for the Dodgers in 1961 and a minor league manager for the organization in 1965. He became manager of the Dodgers late in 1976. His teams won pennants in 1977 and 1978, making Lasorda the first manager to win pennants his first two full seasons. Lasorda’s Dodgers won both the pennant and the World Series in 1981 and 1988. He was named National League Manager of the Year in 1983 and 1988.
Lasorda retired as Dodger manager in 1996 for health reasons and became a vice president with the Los Angeles club. He was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1997. Lasorda died on Jan. 7, 2021.
