August 4, 2012

Tommy Lasorda Story

Someone asked Bobby Valentine this morning what was the best advice he received from Tommy Lasorda. This led to a great story. Lasorda managed Bobby in rookie ball, where Bobby played very well, as did the team. That earned Tommy a promotion to AAA manager. The next season, Valentine was headed to A Ball when a series of injuries and call ups left Lasorda short a player, and he wanted Valentine. Bobby played outfield in rookie ball, but Lasorda stuck the 19 year old at shortstop, where he fielded poorly. He fielded so poorly that the other players got together and demanded that Valentine be demoted.

Lasorda called a meeting. All the players including Bobby were in the clubhouse, and Valentine knew it had something to do with him. Lasorda started swearing at the players, and told each of them to go get a pen or pencil and a piece of paper, then get an autograph from Valentine, because he was going to be a star when the others were out of baseball “carrying a lunch pail to work.” Lasorda went into his office and slammed the door, and all the players did what Tommy said, and got an autograph from Valentine.

I don’t know how much Bobby embellished the story, but he told it very well.

2 thoughts on “Tommy Lasorda Story

  1. Devon

    A quick look at the ’69 Spokane Indians (Bobby V’s first AAA club), reveals no recognizable names to me except Valentine & Bill Buckner. Altho, Buckner was also just 19 & played just 36 games, so he probably wasn’t even on the team ’til later in the season. So it seems Lasorda was right… none of them were ever as big as Bobby V. I didn’t look at their career WAR’s though, so maybe I’m off by 1 or 2 guys… still, Bobby V’s pretty much the only name people recognize to this day.

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  2. Ryan D.

    Bobby V. is a credit to baseball like Tommy Lasorda.

    He’ll always be the man with the fake mustache and Led Zeppelin gear.

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