Tommy Lasorda Recounts His Life in Baseball

There’s no doubt in my mind that if you have ever heard Tommy Lasorda tell one of his now infamous stories in person, you aren’t likely to forget it.

In a great new series of first-person accounts in the L.A. Tmes, Tommy Lasorda retells the highlights of his playing and manging career in a riveting way that everyone should take the time to read.

My personal favorite is when he describes his 1981 team – which featured Fernando Valenzuela and a host of Dodger-raised youngsters:

My 1981 Dodgers were an exciting team. They played baseball the way it should be played, with passion, hustle, desire and determination. Of course, those values were instilled into them as they developed in our farm system. Twenty-one of the 25 guys on our roster were Dodger products. I managed them in the minors when they were youngsters right out of high school.

The day before opening day, Jerry Reuss was scheduled to start but hurt his ankle running. I gave the ball to a 20-year-old rookie from Mexico, Fernando Valenzuela. He went on to pitch a shutout, and win eight straight games.

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