MWL1 Great Lakes Loons

Tommy Lasorda Returns to Midland

Published on May 18, 2010 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Great Lakes Loons News Release


MIDLAND, MI - This week, Hall of Famer and Los Angeles Dodgers great, Tommy Lasorda will make his sixth visit to Dow Diamond since 2006. Lasorda, who arrived in Midland Monday evening, will take a few days out of his busy schedule to spend time with the Great Lakes Loons coaches, players, and fans.

Lasorda will be in attendance Tuesday, May 18 and Wednesday, May 19 for two Loons games against the Bowling Green Hot Rods. Prior to the games from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00, Lasorda is scheduled to be available to participate in a Meet and Greet with Loons fans. Time and availability for the Meet and Greet are subject to change. First pitch for the games is set for 7:05 p.m.

The Great Lakes Loons honored Lasorda at Dow Diamond on August 11, 2009 by retiring the Hall of Fame manager's uniform number and renaming a premium outdoor seating area 'Lasorda's Landing.' Since his last visit, 'Lasorda's Landing' has been redecorated with pictures and a visual timeline of Lasorda's career.

Lasorda - considered to be the premier ambassador for the game of baseball - first visited the region in 2006 to announce the Loons partnership 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 Dodgers organization for Owner & Chairman Frank 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.

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