Fullerton, Calif., mayor Bruce Whitaker and Tollo, Italy Mayor Angelo Radica signed a letter of intent to become Sister Cities in honor of Tommy Lasorda and his parents, Sabatino, an immigrant from Tollo, and Carmella.
The signing will be done virtually at Fullerton City Hall on Sept. 22, which is Lasorda’s birthday, and a delegation from Tollo will attend the event.
“The City of Fullerton celebrates Tommy Lasorda, a 68-year resident of southwest Fullerton; a baseball ambassador of worldwide renown; a notable celebrity and highly recognizable personality; Member of the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame who earlier this year, in his own words ‘went to meet the big Dodger in the sky,’” Whitaker said.
The festivities will feature the planting of an Italian olive tree by the Fullerton Sister City Association next to the magnolia, flowering cherry, and black pine trees, which symbolize Fullerton’s relationships with each of our sister cities (Morelia, Mexico; Fukui, Japan; and Yongin, South Korea).
There will also be a press conference at American Park Baseball Field proclaiming Sept. 22 as Tommy Lasorda Day and a screening of the National Italian American Film Forum Award-winning Italian American Baseball Family documentary, which features Lasorda. Film director Roberto Angotti will be present at the event.
The city has also invited former and current MLB front office personnel, managers, coaches and players close to the Lasorda family to join the festivities. San Diego Hall of Fame Champions Sports Museum official Hall of Fame artist Christopher Paluso will be on hand to sign his limited-edition Tommy Lasorda commemorative posters.
Lasorda, who died on Jan. 7 in Fullerton, made an impact on the Los Angeles Dodgers organization that few can match. The club has been honoring his legacy by wearing a No. 2 patch on their jersey and at the beginning of the season, they held a tribute before their second home game.
Dodgers celebrate Lasorda
The Dodgers’ celebration of Lasorda early in the season featured multiple players honoring the Hall of Fame manager with a video tribute.
There also is a display of Lasorda artifacts under the pavilion in center field as part of the team’s renovations.
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