Norristown-born Tommy Lasorda bled Dodger blue and made baseball history

Tommy Lasorda was born on Sept. 22, 1927, in Norristown, Pa. His parents Sabino and Carmella were born in Tollo in Abruzzo. Many Italian Americans from the Philadelphia area are Abruzzese. I myself was born in Philadelphia and my mother’s family Giorgi come from Colli Di Barete, a small paese near L’Aquila in Abruzzo.

Lasorda began his baseball career as a lefty pitcher in 1945. Afterwards he joined the military for two years. In 1948 he returned to semi-pro baseball to play for the Schenectady Blue Jays. His return was highlighted with a 25-strikeout performance vs. the Amsterdam Rugmakers in a 15-inning game. He pitched for several teams during the next 10 years including KC Athletics and Brooklyn Dodgers. In 1960 he began his career off the field as a scout for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Lasorda remained a scout for Dodgers until 1966 for three years. In 1969 he became manager of the Spokane Indians, the Dodgers AAA affiliate . His record was 71-73. The following year he won the title in the Pacific Coast League with a record of 94-52. This team included future MLB manager Bobby Valentine who led the Mets as the 1986 World Series Champion. Coincidentally, Valentine’s former teammate was Red Sox Bill Buckner who misjudged a grounder in the same World Series. Lasorda remained in Spokane a few more years and in 1973 became third-base coach under the reign of Walter Alston, the longest tenured manager in Dodgers history.

Lasorda continued his role as third-base coach until 1977 when Walter Alston retired. His first two years 1977-78 he sadly defeated my beloved Phillies two times to capture the NL pennant. The Dodgers pitching staff included 20-game winner Tommy John. He was the first pitcher to have a UCL (ulnar collateral ligament) elbow reconstruction in 1974. Consequently, this surgery carries his namesake.

Lasorda was the first manager to win the NL pennant his first two years as manager. However, in 1981 he finally won the World Series vs. the archrival Yankees and again in 1988 became World Series Champion which featured the iconic Kirk Gibson home run in Game 1 in 1988 against future Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersley of the Oakland A’s.

Lasorda became a Hall of Fame manager in 1997 and finished with an outstanding winning record of 1599-1439. He was also a longstanding friend of the father of catcher Mike Piazza. He advised the Dodgers to pick Piazza on the 62^nd round of the 1988 MLB draft. Piazza was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2016.

He continued his involvement in baseball by winning the Gold Medal as manager of the 2000 Olympic USA Baseball team in Sydney. Tommy Lasorda embodies the essence of being an Italian American. He was bigger than life and a true ambassador of baseball to the world. He is known for many famous quotes:

• “The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a man’s determination.”

• “If you don’t love the Dodgers, there’s a good chance you may not get into Heaven.”

• “Baseball is like driving, it’s the one who gets home safely that counts.”

Adesso lo sa.