TOMMY LASORDA

ALASKA BASEBALL ALUMNI HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2023
Day Three Inductee

ALASKA BASEBALL ALUMNI HALL OF FAME

2022 saw the first class of the AKGPA Hall of Fame inducted during the month of April. The inaugural group were drawn from players, executives, mascots, and personnel directly involved with baseball in Fairbanks, Alaska. Listed below is the first class in its entirety:

THE ’22 TWENTY: Dan Pastorini, Bill Lee, Dave Kingman, Morganna the Kissing Bandit, Tom Seaver, Dave Winfield, Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, Jason Giambi, Bowie Kuhn, Andy Messersmith, Alvin Davis, Bob Boone, Sean Timmons, Allan Simpson, Bruce Robinson, Rod Dedeaux, H.A. (Red) Boucher, Hap Dumont, and Don Dennis.

2023 will see the induction of a new member into our Ball Hall every day during the month of April until the class is complete on the 20th.

Join us during the month of April for our second countdown of the Alaska Goldpanners Alumni Association Hall of Fame – Class of 2023.

’23 TWENTY HALL OF FAME, DAY THREE INDUCTEE:

TOMMY LASORDA

Thomas Charles Lasorda (September 22, 1927 – January 7, 2021) was an American professional baseball pitcher and manager. He managed the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1976 through 1996. He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame as a manager in 1997.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:

– 5x Int’l Lg Champ as Pro Pitcher
– Struck out 25 & GWRBI in Can-Am Game
– 5x MiLB Champ as Manager
– 2x MLB World Series Champ
– 2x NL Manager of Year
– Vice President, Los Angeles Dodgers
– MLB Hall of Fame Class of 1997

NEWS CLIPPINGS

– Farewell, Don Sutton: (https://www.dodgerthoughts.com/2021/01/19/farewell-don-sutton/)

The longtime organization man and most recently the Dodgers’ third-base coach, Lasorda was obviously no stranger to Sutton. The pair had even traveled together all the way to Fairbanks, Alaska, before spring training in 1967 to conduct baseball clinics in the middle of February.

– Wikipedia: Tommy Lasorda (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommy_Lasorda)

– Baseball Reference: Statistical History (https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/lasorto01.shtml)

– NBC Hall of Fame: (https://baseballhall.org/hall-of-famers/lasorda-tommy)

Tommy Lasorda’s Scouting Report on Tom Seaver
What Pitchers can Learn from Tom Seaver
(Excerpt)

By Gene Coleman, Ed. D., RSCC*E, FACSM

(http://baseballstrength.org/tommy-lasordas-scouting-report-on-tom-seaver-what-pitchers-can-learn-from-tom-seaver/)

If Tommy Lasorda had his way, Tom Seaver would have been inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame wearing Dodger Blue. On March 23, 1965, Lasorda’s last year as a scout for the Dodgers, he reported (see scouting report below) that the 20-year-old Seaver was athletic, had a pitcher’s body (6’ and 185 pounds), a real good, live fastball (93 mph), good arm action, good command, is aggressive and “wants to beat you”. He was correct in saying that Seaver’s curve ball acted more like a slider. Sandy Koufax would later tell a young Nolan Ryan that Seaver’s drop and drive delivery, kept him from getting on top of his curve ball, but allowed him to have a terrific slider.

Like many great baseball players, Tom Seaver was a multi-sport athlete growing up. He was born in Fresno, CA in 1944 and took up organized sports playing basketball and Little League Baseball as both a pitcher and outfielder. He played high school baseball and basketball at Fresno High School and was All-City in both sports his senior year (1962). Although he was a blue chipper in two sports, and a life-long USC fan, he was a late bloomer physically and he received little attention from college coaches.

Receiving no scholarship offers, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserves. After 6 months of active duty in the reserve, and a couple of months shy of his 19th birthday, he tried out for the Fresno City College baseball team in the fall of 1963. When he took the mound, the previous six months of basic trainer had produced a taller, more mature pitcher, with 30 pounds of muscle and more strength and confidence. His coach at Fresno JC said his first pitch off the mound was 90 mph and earned him a spot of the Rams roster. In the spring of 1964, freshman, Tom Seaver was the ace and MVP of the Fresno City College team.

His 11-2 record against stiff competition at Fresno, drew the attention of USC legendary coach, Rod Dedeaux. In Dedeaux’s opinion, he had gone from high school “suspect” to college “prospect”. Unfortunately, USC had only five available scholarships and since Seaver had only one year of college experience, he would have to earn a scholarship by proving himself by pitching for the Fairbanks, Alaska Goldpanners in the legendary Alaskan Summer Collegiate League. His success on the mound in Alaska, including a win and grand slam in the National Baseball Championships, his will to win and superior concentration earned him a scholarship to USC.

He enrolled at USC in the fall of 1964 as a pre-dental student, posted a 10-2 record and was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 10th round of the first Major League Draft in June 1965. Rick Monday was the first pick that year. The Dodgers’ scout, Tommy Lasorda, offered $2,000. Seaver countered with $70,000. Lasorda came up with $3,000, Seaver said no and Lasorda replied “Good luck in your dental career.”

He returned to Alaska in the summer of 1965 and USC in the fall of 1965. The Atlanta Braves drafted him in 1966 in the first round of the secondary June draft (20th overall). He signed with the Braves for $40,000 and then things got crazy. His contract with the Braves was voided by Baseball Commissioner, William Eckert, because USC had played two games before he signed, although Seaver had not played in either game. With pro ball out of the picture, he decided to finish the college season, but because he had signed a pro contract, the NCAA ruled him ineligible despite the fact that the contract had been voided. After his father complained to the Commissioner about the unfairness of the situation and threatened a lawsuit, the Commissioner ruled that other teams could match the Braves offer. The Commissioner then set up a lottery drawing among three teams (Phillies, Indians and Mets) that were willing to match the Braves’ terms, reached in a hat and pulled out the Mets’ name. So, as a result of a series of questionable rules and the luck of the draw, Tom Seaver, one of the greatest pitchers of all time, became a New York Met and received a $50,000 signing bonus.

LASORDA AND SUTTON’S ALASKA ITINERARY
By H.A. (Red) Boucher
2/17/1967

(Click on Image for Full View)

Check back tomorrow as we unveil the latest ’23 TWENTY inductee.