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MWL1 Great Lakes Loons

Lasorda's Uniform Number Retired

August 11, 2009 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Great Lakes Loons News Release


MIDLAND, MI - The Great Lakes Loons honored Los Angeles Dodgers Hall of Fame Manager and Special Advisor to the Chairman Tommy Lasorda Tuesday night at Dow Diamond by retiring the Hall of Fame manager's uniform number - ensuring that no player will ever wear the No. 2 in team history - and renaming a premium outdoor seating area "Lasorda's Landing." The ceremony honoring Lasorda occurred before Tuesday's game against Fort Wayne on the field at Dow Diamond.

The new Lasorda's Landing premium seating area was formerly known simply as the Landing. It is located on the end of the third base side of the suite level and is a covered open-air group seating area. Beginning in 2010, Lasorda's Landing will be redecorated with pictures and memorabilia of Lasorda's career.

Also prior to Tuesday's game, Lasorda spent 45 minutes meeting with Loons fans, posing for pictures and signing autographs.

The Loons are in their third season as the Dodgers' Class A Midwest League affiliate. Lasorda - considered to be the premier ambassador for the game of baseball - is currently making his fifth visit to Mid-Michigan since 2006. He first visited the region in 2006 to announce the Loons' affiliation with the Dodgers in a press conference at Saginaw's Fashion Square Mall.

Lasorda compiled a 1,599-1,439 record and won two World Championships, four National League pennants and eight division titles in an extraordinary 20-year career as the Dodgers' manager. He ranks 16th with 1,599 wins and 12th with 3,038 games managed in Major League history. His 16 wins in 30 NL Championship Series games managed were the most of any manager at the time of his retirement in 1996. His 61 postseason games managed rank fifth all-time behind Bobby Cox, Joe Torre, Tony LaRussa, and Casey Stengel. He is only one of four managers to manage the same team for 20 years or more, joining Walt Alston, Connie Mack and John McGraw, and one of only two mangers in baseball history to lead his team to the World Series in his first two seasons as manager, joining Gabby Street of the Cardinals in 1930-31.

In his current position, Lasorda reports directly to the Office of the Chairman, serving as an advisor on all areas of the Dodger organization for Owner & Chairman Frank McCourt and Vice Chairman & President Jamie McCourt. Lasorda's current responsibilities include scouting, evaluating and teaching minor league players, acting as an advisor and ambassador for the Dodgers' international affiliations, and representing the franchise at more than 100 speaking engagements and appearances to various charities, private groups and military personnel each year. He has spoken to troops at more than 40 military bases around the world.

The Great Lakes Loons are the third-year Single-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers and members of the Midwest League. For more information about the Loons, visit Loons.com or call 989-837-BALL.

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