Lasorda's Lifetime – so far

Tommy Lasorda went from being a marginal left-handed pitcher to a driven minor league manager to a Hall-of-Fame major league manager to an ambassador for baseball known the world over, all as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers. He turns 80 on Saturday.

Tommy and his wife, Jo, as newlyweds in the early 1950s.           Teammates Willie Mays and Tommy on a Cuban winter league team in 1950.

Tommy made his major league debut as a pitcher with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1954.           Tommy managed in the minors for many years, including from 1969-71 with Spokane, Wash.

Dodgers general manager Al Campanis was Tommy's good friend and mentor.           Tommy rubbed elbows with a lot of celebrities, including his close pal Frank Sinatra.   ;

Managing in the Dominican Republic in the '70s required extra protection, however jokingly. ;         Broadcasters Joe Garagiola and Vin Scully pose with Tommy before a 1981 World Series game.   ;

Tommy enjoyed every one of his 1,599 wins as a Dodgers manager, including this walk off home run by Joe Ferguson in 1980. ;         Tommy hoisting the World Series trophy in the clubhouse with Dodgers general manager Fred Claire in 1988.   ;

Tommy is Santa Claus during a Christmas charity event at the Mattel Children's Hospital.           Tommy was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1997, one year after he retired as Dodgers manager.

Tommy and Jo Lasorda on their 55th anniversary.           Tommy's granddaughter Emily Tess helps him blow out the candles during an 80th birthday party.

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Updated on Thursday, Sep 20, 2007 9:51 pm, EDT

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