The Los Angeles Dodgers held their annual Old-Timers Game on Saturday, inviting some of the organization’s most-beloved figures back to Dodger Stadium for a turn-back-the-clock moment. Chief among them was Hall of Fame manager Tommy Lasorda.
He recently underwent surgery to replace a pacemaker, and only appeared at Chavez Ravine this week for the first time since the operation. Lasorda managed the home team in the Old-Timers Game, while Joe Torre led the visiting team.
Just as was the case last year, Cy Young winners Orel Hershiser and Fernando Valenzuela dueled on the mound, and current Dodgers manager Dave Roberts again participated.
He led off the game but was robbed of a hit when Hershiser made a leaping stab at a chopper back to the mound. Hershiser completed the impressive stop with a behind-the-back flip to Josh Beckett at first base.
Valenzuela made a similar grab in the bottom half of the inning, and even faked a toss behind his back before throwing over to first for the out.
The game featured some who are further removed from their playing days than others Jerry Hairston Jr. falls into the latter, and he delivered on his promise to hit a home run.
Though, it did come with some controversy as some believed Hairston’s line drive down the left-field line hooked foul.
The debate carried on while Hairston rounded the bases, complete with the same fist pump Kirk Gibson broke out after hitting a walk-off home run in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series.
