One of the greatest baseball managers of all-time, Tommy Lasorda, won 1,599 games and two World Series managing the Los Angeles Dodgers from 1976-1996.
A key contributor on both of those World Series teams was catcher Mike Scioscia, who currently is the longest-tenured manager in all of baseball with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
At 1,596 wins with the Angels, Scioscia is coming up on passing his former skipper for 20th on the all-time wins list as a manger.
As that approaches, Lasorda had high praise for Scioscia, calling him one of the best managers and players, via Jeff Fletcher of the Southern California News Group:
“I was worried about him beating me out,” Lasorda said by phone on Monday. “It took a better man than me. He is great. I am happy for him. He is one of the greatest managers and greatest players that God ever put on this earth. I’m so proud of him.”
While Lasorda is rooting for Scioscia to have success with the Angels, Scioscia knows that Lasorda will always bleed Dodger Blue:
“He supported me incredibly as a player,” Scioscia said. “I know he wants us to do well, but he’s very quick to point out, not as well as the Dodgers. He’s made that very clear.”
Scioscia has the Angels playing good baseball so far this season as at 26-21. All signs point to them remaining in contention for a postseason spot as the year carries on.
They take on the Dodgers in the annual Freeway Series, first at Angel Stadium from July 6-8, and then back at Dodger Stadium from July 13-15. Lasorda will certainly be in attendance to congratulate Scioscia, although as Scioscia knows, he will be rooting for the Dodgers.
