Four years after he retired as a major league manager, Lasorda guided the lightly regarded U.S. Olympic baseball team to a gold medal at the 2000 Sydney Games. AdvertisementFormer Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda argues with umpire and television personality Larry King during an old-timers game in 2013 at Dodger Stadium. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)Despite his 1,599 victories and the Dodgers’ World Series titles in 1981 and 1988, Lasorda was never considered a great innovator or tactician. Lasorda became a scout for the Dodgers in 1961, then in 1965 became a manager in the Dodgers’ minor league system. And when Claire and Russell were fired as general manager and manager, respectively, Lasorda was appointed the interim general manager.

Source: Los Angeles Times January 08, 2021 17:00 UTC