Former longtime Los Angeles Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda died Thursday at age 93. The charismatic skipper and ex-pitcher left quite an impression on baseball during his 71 years with the Dodgers organization.
Here are some of Lasorda's most memorable moments.
All-Star Game tumble
During the 2001 All-Star Game at Safeco Field in Seattle, a broken bat from Vladimir Guerrero sent National League third base coach Lasorda tumbling to the ground in hilarious fashion.
Unharmed, Lasorda quickly sprung to his feet, received an ovation from the crowd, and was later presented with a chest protector by Barry Bonds.
Mascot battles
Lasorda had some run-ins with mascots, and two stand out above the rest.
On Aug. 28, 1988, Lasorda got into a fight with the Phillie Phanatic after the mascot drove an all-terrain vehicle around the field while displaying a dummy of Lasorda that had been generously stuffed in the stomach.
After Lasorda tried to roll the Phanatic's ATV off the field, the mascot continued to insult the manager's weight behind his back. Lasorda turned and charged the Phanatic, beating it to the ground with the dummy.
About a year later, on Aug. 23, 1989, Lasorda was responsible for getting Montreal Expos mascot Youppi! ejected from a game.
Lasorda didn't appreciate some of the antics taking place on top of his dugout, including Youppi! pretending to fall asleep in a pair of pajamas.
It was the first time in MLB history a mascot was ejected from a game.
Reggie Jackson hip incident
During Game 4 of the 1978 World Series between the Dodgers and New York Yankees, Lasorda's fiery side was on full display after it appeared that Reggie Jackson stuck his hip out to deflect a ball, causing a run to score.
Lasorda was livid for several minutes about the play, and it wound up being a difference-maker; the Yankees won the contest by a run to even the series, which they eventually also won.
He didn't forget the incident, and Lasorda even brought it up three decades later by calling Jackson a cheater as the two men sat in together on a broadcast.
The '88 World Series
The 1988 World Series was memorable for so many reasons.
From his hilarious pasta-spread interview with Bob Costas to deciding to let Kirk Gibson hit in Game 1, Lasorda was front and center for all of it.
The skipper's locker-room speech and celebratory words after clinching the '88 Fall Classic will live on in the minds of Dodgers fans forever.
Hall of Fame induction speech
Lasorda was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1997 by the Veterans Committee and delivered an unforgettable speech full of heart-warming memories, incredible stories, and fantastic one-liners.
"Baseball - you've gotta love it!" Lasorda exclaimed about the sport he considered the best in the world.
Lasorda entered Cooperstown a two-time Manager of the Year, four-time pennant winner, and two-time World Series champion with 1,599 career wins.
(Video source: MLB.com)
