Lasorda shares stories about Zimmer

6/7/14: Tommy Lasorda joins the broadcast and discusses his memories with Don Zimmer as fellow players, coaches and managers
Check out m.mlb.com/video for our full archive of videos, and subscribe on KZbin for the best, exclusive MLB content: / mlb
About MLB.com:
Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig announced on January 19, 2000, that the 30 Major League club owners voted unanimously to centralize all of Baseball's internet operations into an independent technology company. Major League Baseball Advanced Media (MLBAM) was formed and charged with developing, building and managing the most comprehensive baseball experience available on the internet. In August 2002, MLB.com streamed the first-ever live, full length MLB game when the Texas Rangers and New York Yankees faced off at Yankee Stadium. Since that time, millions of baseball fans around the world have subscribed to MLB.TV, the live video streaming product that airs every game in HD to nearly 400 different devices. MLB.com also provides an array of mobile apps for fans to choose from, including At Bat, the highest-grossing iOS sports app of all-time. MLB.com features a stable of club beat reporters and award-winning national columnists, the largest contingent of baseball reporters under one roof, who deliver over 100 original articles every day. MLB.com also offers extensive historical information and footage, online ticket sales, official baseball merchandise, authenticated memorabilia and collectibles and fantasy games.
Major League Baseball consists of 30 teams split between the American and National Leagues. The American League, originally founded in 1901, consists of the following teams: Baltimore Orioles; Boston Red Sox; Chicago White Sox; Cleveland Indians; Detroit Tigers; Houston Astros; Kansas City Royals; Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim; Minnesota Twins; New York Yankees; Oakland Athletics; Seattle Mariners; Tampa Bay Rays; Texas Rangers; and Toronto Blue Jays. The National League, originally founded in 1876, consists of the following teams: Arizona Diamondbacks; Atlanta Braves; Chicago Cubs; Cincinnati Reds; Colorado Rockies; Los Angeles Dodgers; Miami Marlins; Milwaukee Brewers; New York Mets; Philadelphia Phillies; Pittsburgh Pirates; San Diego Padres; San Francisco Giants; St. Louis Cardinals; and Washington Nationals.
Visit MLB.com: mlb.mlb.com
Subscribe to MLB.TV: mlb.tv
Download MLB.com At Bat: mlb.mlb.com/mobile/atbat
Get tickets: mlb.mlb.com/tickets
Official MLB Merchandise: mlb.mlb.com/shop
Join the conversation!
Twitter: / mlb
Facebook: / mlb
Instagram: / mlb
Google+: plus.google.com/+MLB
Tumblr: drawntomlb.com/
Pinterest: / mlbam

[@longrider9551]

Don Zimmer saved a dying girls dream in my presence. My daughters best friend was a 13 year old girl named Erin and was battling Leukemia. Both of the girls were diehard Yankee fans and I brought them to one of the Yankee World Series parades to see their team. We arrived early and were lucky enough to catch some of the team members milling about enjoying coffee in the streets of lower Manhattan. Erin's favorite player was Paul O'neill and he was 20 feet away from her. Erin removed her Yankee cap which made it evident she was sick as she had no hair. She strained her voice and yelled Paul, Paul can you sign my hat!. To my my dismay he shrugged his shoulders and said he was under contract and COULD NOT sign an autograph!!! I could not hold back and barked you should be ashamed, he turned and walked away. DON ZIMMER witnessed this and in an instant he was on bended knee at Erin's side. His reaction immediately erased what had just happened. Don Zimmer then took Erins hat, signed it and WROTE HIS HOME TELEPHONE NUMBER. He hugged her and told her anytime you want to talk baseball you call me sweetheart. I still tear up every time I tell this story, six months later Erin passed away. That man was a class act.

[@rla1000]

Touching story. Sorry about your daughter's friend.

[@dariowiter3078]

Wow, that's beautiful! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ 😁😁😁😁😁

[@stupaul3233]

Very classy indeed! Disappointed that a fine player like Paul would give the cold shoulder to a sick and dying girl! God Bless Don! Class act! I wonder if he reprimanded Paul for that?

[@stupaul3233]

Sorry to hear about Erin! My belated condolences to you, your daughter and to her friend’s family!

[@longrider9551]

@@stupaul3233 Yes it was a very sad story she came from a broken home and she was my unofficial adopted daughter she practically lived in my house , came on vacation with us, and I tried to give her the things in life that every child is entitled to thank you for your comment

[@brettrobertson2538]

Lasorda is the best

[@jonathanbruce9658]

Had the opportunity to meet Tommy in the early 90s and was one of the nicest genuine people I have ever met great passion for baseball the Dodgers and life I will never forget what a great human he was

[@michaelharrison1425]

I did too, but in the late 80's. The Dodgers were in Atlanta to play the Braves in the last series of a season. Neither team had a successful season or would be going to the playoffs, and the whole series would be rained out. Lasorda was hanging out in the hotel lobby with his good friend (Hawks coach) Mike Fratello. I was so impressed with what classy gentlemen both of them were. Humble and grounded and polite, they made wonderful memories for those of us fortunate to share the room with them.

[@jfowler7604]

It doesn't matter who your team is......when we loose Tommy, we'll all lose a bit of our baseball hearts.

[@buckeyechuck4064]

No better Ambassador for baseball than Lasorda

[@stuartdamon3610]

GIANTS fan here! I love Tommy Lasorda! ❤️ There was not a better ambassador for the game. And as our nemesis, we loved to hate him. ( But we always loved and respected him on the down-low).

[@dalethelander3781]

@@stuartdamon3610 Yes there was. Ernie Banks.

[@mikeycapp1]

I have never been a great fan of baseball, however I appreciate the strategy that is involved in the game, but one thing I know for sure Tommy Lasorda really had a way of telling a story, he was a great communicator.

[@phixxxer11]

If u don't like Tommy u don't like Christmas. Miss ya Tommy.

[@kayo7082]

I do not like Christmas but I loved Tommy

[@scootscootriot1020]

Tommy was a Dodger for so long. His blood was even Dodger Blue.

[@dougcapehart]

"My wife said, 'You love Baseball more than you love me!' I said, 'But Honey, I love you more than Football or Basketball!'"

[@dariowiter3078]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@phixxxer11]

Impeccable timing on that joke.

[@sitbone3]

Sombrero...I’m still laughing.

[@roberthimmelman3816]

Sombrero, great story, Tommy!

[@donaldwatson3176]

Love Tommy!

[@DJM78787]

Long live Tommy Lasorda!

[@U2BEMatchmaker]

I still remember Tommy Lasorda and Don Zimmer.

[@Noticerofthings]

You’re lying

[@cwpo1973]

Literal lol. So awesome.

[@Dodgers_2]

He’s in the hospital right now get well Tommy!!!

[@LesterMoore]

I encourage ball fans to buy and read Lasorda's 1985 book. You'll be well entertained and smiling all the way through your trip with Tommy.

[@bored7743]

Was still sharp here

[@mrt1626]

Ah! Tommy was so full of it!!!!!!!!

[@deme30883]

Oh tommy I like when you speak your mind about the vagiants

[@BrentJohnson]

@Redwood Giant Oh, here come the Giant fans... Same playing field, more difficult post season... I guarantee you would not be spewing the same tune if it was the Giants there, prove me wrong. You can toss around your astrisk all you want, the Dodgers were the best team in 2020, period. I like rivalries, but when you become so mired in your stance and can't give a salute to your sports rival, your stock is worth less than pennies. As much as it was like acid in my mouth, I was rooting for the NL during those years. Let's shake hands, congratulate each other when it's do, and look forward to next season.

[@TL2354]

About who?

[@jimmyfischbeck9872]

Only Lasorda could make a P.O.S. like Tampa Bay vs. Seattle interesting.

[@stevemayes50]

😂

[@U2BEMatchmaker]

Sombrero is Spanish for hat.

[@dariowiter3078]

Exactly, which is the punchline of the story. 😁

[@jameshudson169]

*me and him

[@waynesilva9157]

That's the funniest joke I ever heard.

[@filemonruiz7363]

Sombrero 😂

[@desertTRUTH]

Watching Lasorda demonstrate what real baseball is compared to the scene on the field: pajama pants that are too long, winter gloves on both hands, cheesy long sleeve undershirts, full body armour, scruffy grooming like they don't know what razors 🪒 are. Ugh. And the fidgeting with gloves, obnoxious chewing softball sized gum, everything else. Get in the batter's box and hit!

[@joebarr725]

Aside from fashion, do you any other complaints about baseball?

[@desertTRUTH]

@@joebarr725 I said get in the box and hit

[@TL2354]

You’re a bore

[@t-squared6406]

good storyteller,not a great person,no not trying to be judgemental,just saying he isn't the saint everybody thinks he is but who am I,who cares,just saying!

[@miken7750]

how do you know

[@t-squared6406]

@@miken7750 not as good as portrayed

[@t-squared6406]

@@miken7750 my friends and I had a running joke about how mean he was to us many times for no reason,never was kind to us,but he had his legacy and pasta!!!!

[@brad1368]

Most people aren't as good as portrayed. Just about everyone has flaws in their personal lives that they don't always lead with in a conversation. As long they aren't doing anything seriously illegal or terrible, a la Bill Cosby, I don't see what the big deal would be. People aren't perfect.