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Tommy LaSorda Waiting For World Series Win Before Kicking The Bucket

By Paulo Acoba

Sep 18, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Frank Sinatra Jr. talks with Tommy Lasorda before the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Pittsburgh Pirates at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 18, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Frank Sinatra Jr. talks with Tommy Lasorda before the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Pittsburgh Pirates at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /
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Tommy LaSorda has devoted his entire life to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Now he wants just one more World Series before leaving this world.

For a man who has clearly marked his legacy as the face of the Dodgers with two World Series wins in   under his watchful leadership of over 20 years, it has to frustrate the 88-year-old baseball Hall Of Famer when he has to witness his beloved team for the better part of three decades miss out on the World Series year after year. And there’s no better living reminder of what the Dodgers could become as a true baseball dynasty then the ever evolving shrine that is Tommy LaSorda’s personal office.

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LaSorda sat down with ESPN and gave a somewhat personal tour of what his office stands for. Not only is it packed to the gills with over 60 years of baseball memorabilia that includes photographs with celebrities, eleven honorary doctorate degrees and a letter from President Ford, LaSorda also has something very unique packed in there.

His own tombstone ready and waiting.

However, before LaSorda goes to that other “big show” in the sky,he does have one final wish.

"“I want to see a championship flag flying on that pole out there,” he said, pointing to the outfield. “It better be this year because I’m getting closer, you know what I mean? It’s getting to be day by day with me, and I want to see the Dodgers win before they put that tombstone to use.”"

This past couple of years have seen a strong Dodgers team build on seasons past with six National League West division titles in the last ten years. For 2015, “redemption” seems to be the keyword for the Dodgers and that all starts with pitcher Clayton Kershaw, who bears the scars of losing two elimination games twice in a row to the same team ( St. Louis Cardinals in 2013 and 2014.)

For the Dodgers to make good on LaSorda’s wish, Kershaw will need to be the shutdown ace he is during the regular season. Having Zack Greinke playing a brilliant second fiddle will surely bring in enough motivation to dominate when it counts. After all, LaSorda himself called them both the modern day Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale. While everyone else is waiting for Kershaw to fall apart, his ERA leading up to Game One of their division series against the Mets says otherwise.

For the time being, we’ll have to wait and see if history won’t repeat itself in regards to the Dodgers and their recent postseason success. If the two giants at the top of the rotation can put it together and carry the team, Los Angeles could certainly provide Tommy LaSorda the send-off he’s looking for.

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