Bobby Valentine joins Chris Russo to share and remember the legacy left behind of Tommy Lasorda. Bobby talks about Tommy's managerial times and how he was such a great leader and teacher in raising young baseball talent.
Let me tell you something about that special man, Bobby Valentine. I was a California Angels Bat Boy during Spring Training in Palm Springs for a 3-year stretch, 6th-8th Grades. Bobby, an Angel then, I guess took note that I didn't have a father, enjoyed my clubhouse demeanor, and observed my advanced athletic ability. He would from time to time pop in and cook me breakfast before school or dinner in the evening, talk some baseball, football, and remind me to apply myself in school. Like Tommy, Bobby is an amazing human being. I have never forgotten those days, nor I have ever stopped rooting for him personally or professionally. When I shared this story with Tommy Lasorda one of the remarks he made was, "That's Bobby. He has a heart of gold!"
Wow, Bobby just gave me a whole another prospective on how incredible Tommy Lasorda was. The world needs to hear Bobby Valentine talk about how great Tommy was.
It was a great privilege to have been at the pre-game ceremony when his number# 2 was retired by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1997. Hearing the great Vin Scully and fellow Hall of Famer Sparky Anderson speak at this ceremony, was a great. He said it will be something he will never forget, so will I. I was glad to be apart of that event in Los Angeles Dodgers history. There will never be anyone else who loved the Dodgers as much as Tommy Lasorda did, and there never ever be a great ambassador for the Dodgers and Baseball in whole. Rest Well Tommy!
Lasorda has been a great Ambassador for baseball for 45 years now it's possible another could pop up (other than our societal problems which would likely prevent it) But I'd like to point out that people were very likely saying those exact words in 1975 when Casey Stengel, baseball's first 'greatest ambassador ever', had passed away after 66 years in the game as player, World Series hero in 1923, manager (7 World Chamiopships) , coach and later, Vice President of the Mets. So just like Ripken breaking Lou Gehrig's unbreakable consectutive games played streak, it could happen again.
I went to the one of the last Dodgers spring training games 2020 and he was there! He was a Dodger through and through until his last days. *HOF#2 Tommy Lasorda*
I also bleed DODGER BLUE 💙 Thank you Bobby for being his friend all these years. Thanks for honoring him. I am so very happy he saw the 2020 DODGERS win the WORLD SERIES!!! 🙏 Welcome to Heaven Tommy. Thanks for all the memories. Thanks for the BLUE CREW newsletters when I was a kid in LA. 💃🏻
I never forget Tommy Lasorda talking to me and my dad for almost half an hour. All he had with him to give me was a Slimfast baseball card. It was such a great story to tell people.
Bobby V. knows the best of Tommy. Like he said, Bobby played for Tommy in DR, Venezuela, minor league, etc. The relationship and sentiment between them is hard for a young guy like Mad Dog to understand.
In 1970 Bobby Valentine was the best player on Lasorda's AAA Spokane Indians. That team included Steve Garvey, Davey Lopes, Bill Buckner and Bill Russell. Valentine hit .340/.902. I believe he would have been an All-Star caliber player if not for a horrible injury at Anaheim early in his career.
It was so much fun listening to Bobby Valentine share his stories about Tommy Lasorda. I was 15 years old when Tommy managed the Spokane Indians of the Pacific Coast League and Bobby Valentine was their starting shortstop and voted player of the year by the Spokane Indians fans. I believe that was the greatest minor league team in history. Garvey, Cey, Bobby Valentine, Lopes, Tommy Hutton, etc, The list goes on and on. God bless Tommy Lasorda and his family. I have been a lifelong Dodgers fan as a result of Tommy Lasorda. The Dodgers will miss him. But most of all baseball will miss him. Tommy was a true ambassador for the game!!!
In the late 80's Greg Litton of the Giants who was from Pensacola asked Tommy to attend some camp or benefit. Tommy flew out - I met Tommy at a watering hole in town and got his autograph.
Bobby V wanted to play for Tommy in the majors, but Walter Alston like Bill Russell better, even though Bobby V was a better SS. So Bobby V was traded and Russell played for Tommy.
@@stnlong73 Idiot! Based upon minor league stats, Valentine was a way better SS than Russell. Yes, Russell had a better major league career. But, at the time of the trade, 72 or 73, their major league stats were about the same.
