The Los Angeles Dodgers have a rich history of players and managers, and after Vin Scully, arguably no one person is more synonymous with the franchise than Hall of Fame manager Tommy Lasorda.
Over the years he has been a mainstay during parts of Spring Training and games at Dodger Stadium. Lasorda additionally traveled to Dallas to watch the Dodgers defeat the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 6 of the World Series.
Unfortunately, being present for the organization’s first championship since Lasorda’s 1988 Dodgers was followed shortly after by an admittance to an intensive care unit at a local hospital.
Lasorda had been steadily recovering and reportedly hoped to be home before Christmas, but instead was kept in the hospital, per Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group:
Lasorda remains hospitalized in Orange County. The 93-year-old former Dodgers manager has been hospitalized for more than six weeks now. He was moved out of intensive care in early December and there was some hope that he might be released for the holidays. But Lasorda’s doctors have opted to keep him in the hospital where his condition can be monitored.
Details behind Lasorda’s stint in the hospital have not been provided by the family or the team. This is a fourth time since 2016 that the Hall of Famer has been hospitalized.
The first was in August of 2016, then again in May and October of the following year. The incident in May 2017 also required time in the ICU. Additionally, Lasorda suffered a mild heart attack while in New York for the 2012 MLB Draft.
Lasorda led the Dodgers to four National League pennants, two World Series and finished with a 1,599-1,439 record. He was named NL Manager of the Year in 1983 and 1988, and has maintained ties to the organization for 70 years as either a player, coach, scout, manager, executive or special advisor.
Roberts felt supported by Lasorda
Prior to this year, Lasorda was the last manager to guide the Dodgers to a World Series championship. As the team looked to end the drought, Lasorda and other Dodger icons lent support every step of the way.
“Those guys from the ’80s, the guys prior, obviously Tommy, Orel, Ron Cey, Boomer, Gibby, they have all been great and supportive to us,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after winning the World Series.
“But to have our own moment, I think is great for the city of Los Angeles, great for the Dodgers, and I think they’re happy too. I know they’re happy. I guess burden is a word, but I’m just happy we finally did it.”
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