“Considered by many to be the most popular baseball ambassador, Lasorda spent 71 seasons in the Dodger organization with Dodger Blue running his veins,” the team said.
Lasorda, who won World Series titles as manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1981 and 1988, participated in the Brooklyn Dodgers system in 1954 and 1955. He took over as manager of Los Angeles in 1976, a job that he held for 20 years, winning two National Manager of the Year awards along with these two world championships. He also led the team to 1,599 victories during his time as coach and was the first National League coach to win two pennants in the first two seasons.
After retiring in 1996, he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1997.
“Sometimes I sit here and I can’t believe it. Blue sky on earth,” he said. “He said, ‘Hey, if you want to get to heaven, you have to go through Dodger Stadium.’
He said he wanted to be buried under the mound of the pitcher, the position he used to play.
“And when there’s a little leftist fighting, he’ll hear a voice.” Slow down, son. Concentrate. You can do it. You have to believe in yourself. ”And he will look around (and say),“ Someone is talking to me! On? Who is this guy talking to me about? ”And it will be Tom Lasorda, under that mound of pitching,” Hall-of-Famer, a left-wing pitcher, told CNN.
Tributes are being taken for the man, whose No. 2 jersey was removed by the team in 1997.
Dodgers owner and president Mark Walter said: “He was a great ambassador for the team and baseball, a mentor for players and coaches, he always had time for an autograph and a story for his many fans and he was a good friend. love you very much “.
Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully said he would also remember Lasorda’s “unlimited enthusiasm” and determination.
“Tommy would get up in the morning full of beans and keep that up as long as he was with no one else,” he said.
Lasorda is survived by his 70-year-old wife, Jo; his daughter, Laura, and granddaughter Emily Tess.
CNN’s Lauren M. Johnson contributed to this report.