For two decades of Los Angeles Dodgers history they were defined by manager Tom Lasorda. The manager, inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1997, “bled Dodger Blue” by his own proud admission. The Dodgers won games, pennants and championships and this post features links to articles that capture the heart of his best teams.
Lasorda took over in 1977 and promptly won the National League pennant each of his first two seasons. He made it back to the World Series in 1981 and this time won it. In 1988, his team won it all again.
These were his four pennant winners, but there were other memorable teams. In 1980, the Dodgers trailed the Houston Astros by three games with three to play, and swept the Astros three straight before losing a one-game playoff.
Lasorda won Manager of the Year in 1983 for leading his team to another NL West title, before losing to the Philadelphia Phillies in the NLCS. And in the era after realignment and expanded playoffs, he made it to October in 1995.
The links below walk you through the many highs and occasional lows of his four best teams. From the epic rally in Game 3 of the 1977 NLCS, to Bob Welch’s dramatic strikeout of Reggie Jackson in the 1978 World Series to Kirk Gibson’s stunning home run in the 1988 World Series, to the greatness of players like Orel Hershiser, Steve Garvey, Ron Cey, Davey Lopes, Tommy John, Don Sutton and many more, it’s all there.
Los Angeles Dodgers history is filled with rich lore, and the Tom Lasorda era is an essential part of that history.
1977: Winning The NL West
1977 NLCS
1977 World Series
1978: Winning The NL West
1978 NLCS
1978 World Series
1981: Strike-Shortened Season
1981 NLDS
1981 NLCS
1981 World Series
1983: Winning The NL West
1983 NLCS