In 1996, Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda retired after nearly eight decades with the boys in blue. Lasorda coached the Dodgers from 1976-1996 and retired with a 1599-1439 record, four National League Pennants, and two World Series championships. His own baseball career began with the Phillies in 1945. After two years of military service, Lasorda played for the minor league Schenectady Blue Jays and was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1954. After playing two years in Los Angeles, Lasorda finished his playing career with the Kansas City Athletics. He spent a season working as a Dodgers scout then became a third base coach under Walter Alston. When Alston retired in 1976, Lasorda took his place. As manager, Lasorda took the team to the National League championship twice and became the first NL manager to win pennants in his first two seasons. After hanging up his Dodgers hat, Lasorda stayed involved in baseball, most notably, coaching the U.S. Olympic Baseball Team to a gold medal in the 2000 Sydney Games.
Today in Sports History: July 29
