For all the success the Los Angeles Dodgers enjoyed on the field this past season, the year has been challenging and heartbreaking off it. Setting the pandemic aside, the organization has dealt with multiple deaths, and scares to Vin Scully and Tommy Lasorda.
In late September, former Dodgers outfielder Jay Johnstone passed away at the age of 74 after a battle with coronavirus (COVID-19). Less than one week later, famed left-handed relief pitcher Ron Perranoski passed away at his home in Vero Beach, Florida.
Back in April, Scully was hospitalized after falling at his home. He made a recovery, joked about the incident, and now is spreading his intellect and storytelling on social media. Then earlier this month it was revealed Lasorda had been placed in the intensive care unit.
According to Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group, the Hall of Fame manager is still hospitalized but has improved and heard from those close to him:
Dodgers icon and Hall of Fame manager Tommy Lasorda’s condition has improved but he remains in intensive care at a local hospital.
According to Dodgers spokesman Steve Brener, Lasorda is enjoying jello and FaceTime calls from former players and coaches and “getting better.” Lasorda was briefly on a ventilator after being admitted to the hospital on Nov. 8 but was taken off it a week ago now as his condition improved.
In May of 2017, Lasorda was hospitalized for a third time with a year’s span and it also saw the former Dodgers skipper spend time in ICU. In August of 2016 Lasorda was hospitalized and required 12 stitches after a fall at a memorabilia show in Atlantic City.
Then in October of that year he again was in the hospital for 10 days due to shoulder back issues, causing him to miss the Dodgers’ home games during the National League Division Series.
Roberts felt support from Lasorda
In guiding the Dodgers to a World Series this year, Dave Roberts became the organization’s first manager to do so since Lasorda was overseeing the heralded 1988 team. That year hung over this generation’s Dodgers but Roberts made it clear they always felt support from Lasorda, Kirk Gibson and Orel Hershiser, among others.
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