Tommy Lasorda, legendary Los Angeles Dodgers manager, has passed away

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Lasorda suffered a sudden cardiac arrest at home on Thursday evening. Less than an hour later, he was pronounced dead at 10:57 PM, the team said said in a statement.

“Considered by many to be baseball’s most popular ambassador, Lasorda spent 71 seasons in the Dodger organization with Dodger Blue in his veins,” the team said.

Major League Baseball too issued a statement express grief by saying, “We mourn the passing of Hall of Fame manager Tommy Lasorda.”

Lasorda, who won World Series titles as manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1981 and 1988, pitched in the Brooklyn Dodgers system in 1954 and 1955. He took over as manager of the Los Angeles in 1976, a job he took 20 years. winning two National League Manager of the Year awards along with those two world championships. He also led the team to 1,599 wins during his time as a manager, and was the first National League manager to win two pennants in the first two seasons.

After retiring in 1996, he was inducted into the baseball Hall of Fame in 1997.

Lasorda was known for his unbridled love for the Dodgers. In a 2013 interview with CNN at Dodger Stadium, Lasorda said simply, “I love this place.”

‘Sometimes I sit here and I can’t believe it. Blue heaven on earth, ”he said. “I used to say ‘Hey, if you want to go to heaven, you have to go through Dodger Stadium’.”

He liked it so much, he said, he wanted to be buried under the throwing mound – the position he used to play.

“And if some little left-handed man struggles out there, he’ll hear a voice.” Take it easy, son. Concentrate. You can do it. You have to believe in yourself. And he’ll look around (and say), ‘Somebody’s talking to me! Where? Who is this man talking to me?’ And it will be Tom Lasorda, under that throwing mound, ”the Hall-of-Famer, himself a left-wing pitcher, told CNN.

The tribute is pouring in for the man whose # 2 jersey was retired by the team in 1997.

Mark Walter, owner and chairman of Dodgers, said: “He was a great ambassador for the team and baseball, a mentor to players and coaches, he always had time for an autograph and story for his many fans and he was a good friend. be missed. “

Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully said he would also remember Lasorda’s “boundless enthusiasm” and determination.

“Tommy got up full of beans in the morning and kept it up as long as he was with someone else,” he said.

Lasorda is survived by his wife of 70 years, Jo; their daughter, Laura, and granddaughter Emily Tess.

CNN’s Lauren M. Johnson contributed to this report.

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