The Tragic Death Of Tommy Lasorda
Beloved baseball icon Tommy Lasorda, who was known for his devotion as manager to the Los Angeles Dodgers, has died at the age of 93. According to NBC News, the Baseball Hall of Famer "suffered a sudden cardiac arrest at his home." Per the outlet, he was taken to a hospital where he later passed away. "Regarded by many as baseball's most popular ambassador, Lasorda spent 71 seasons in the Dodger organization with Dodger Blue running through his veins," the Dodgers shared in a statement on Jan. 8, 2021 (via NBC News). "He spent the last 14 as special adviser to the chairman."
Even in his old age, Lasorda was committed to his team and was always rooting for a victory. "Lasorda's wish to see another Dodgers World Championship was fulfilled last October, when he traveled to Arlington, Texas to witness the Dodgers 3-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 6 of the World Series," The Dodgers shared in their statement. In fact, Lasorda's attendance at the October 2020 game was the last time he was seen in public. The win marked the team's seventh world title and their first World Series championship since Lasorda lead the team to victory in 1988, according to NBC News.
Keep scrolling for more details about Lasorda's sudden death and his commitment to baseball.
Tommy Lasorda's commitment to baseball was like none other
The sudden death of Tommy Lasorda is a big loss for baseball. Per ESPN, Lasorda managed the Dodgers for 20 seasons and is perhaps best known for bringing a win to Los Angeles after beating rivals the New York Mets in 1988. As a result of his many accomplishments as a manager, he was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1997, and was the oldest living member of the exclusive club until his death, per NBC News.
Following the news of his passing, people all over the world have spoken out about the great loss. "Words can not [sic] express my feelings," former Mets manager Bobby Valentine wrote on Twitter. "A friend and mentor for 52 years is no longer with us. Tommy no one will ever fill the void you left. Thank you for everything. R.I.P." Paying homage to the baseball legend, Barstool Sports tweeted a photo of the former manager with his own quote: "I bleed Dodger blue and when I die, I'm going to the big Dodger in the sky."