Tommy Lasorda Quotes

Think about each pitch like you think about women, then select one which is particularly appealing.

We're all put here for a reason. And one little movement changes your way of life.

My son wasn't gay. No way.

Everybody wants to win, but everybody doesn't win.

You have got to love what you're doing. No matter what it is. Whatever you undertake in life, if you don't love it, and you don't enjoy it, you are making a big mistake. You have got to love what you are doing. You have to appreciate what you are getting, and you have to do it to the best of your ability.

I bleed Dodger blue and when I die, I'm going to the big Dodger in the sky.

The saddest day of the year is the day baseball season ends.

I'm sick and tired of people saying that taking drugs is a sickness. When you put something of your own free will in your own body knowing that it's harmful against the body, it's against the law and all it will do is lead you down the path of destruction, that is a weakness.

People say you can't go out and eat with your players. I say why not.

Pressure is a word that is misused in our vocabulary. When you start thinking of pressure, it's because you've started to think of failure.

I firmly believe that there is a God. I firmly believe that there is a Heaven. And I firmly believe that if you go there, it's gonna be great.

I've been Catholic all my life, and there's one thing I've never understood. Why didn't the Corinthians write back?

If you love your job, you haven't worked a day in your life.

I've had heroes in my life - Joe DiMaggio, Babe Ruth.

About the only problem with success is that it does not teach you how to deal with failure.

I've never used one word of profanity in front of my wife, or my daughter, or my granddaughter ... or anybody else's wife.

You get an opportunity to do something for your country, you better get out and do it.

I was fortunate enough to coach the U.S. Olympic team in Australia.

All last year we tried to teach him (Fernando Valenzuela) English, and the only word he learned was million.

When I took the job as the manager of the Olympic team, I didn't take it because I was a Dodger. I did it because I was an American, and I wanted to bring that gold medal where it belongs in baseball, the United States. And that's exactly what our team did.

The best possible thing in baseball is winning The World Series. The second best thing is losing The World Series.

I'm so excited I had a seven-car police motorcycle escort. I've had escorts before, but nothing like this ... I'm really in awe, coming here and seeing so many cars, so much enthusiasm.

Nothing succeeds like - failure.

They could never beat me in Springfield. I loved that old ballpark. If I could have pitched there all my career, I'd be a 300-game winner.

Sports has kept me on the straight and narrow path.

He (Darryl Strawberry) is not a dog; a dog is loyal and runs after balls.

My theory of hitting was just to watch the ball as it came in and hit it.

I'm telling you, I don't like cheaters.

Guys ask me, don't I get burned out? How can you get burned out doing something you love? I ask you, have you ever got tired of kissing a pretty girl?

I managed the Dodgers for 20 years. It's hard to believe that there are only four guys in the history of baseball who managed the same team for 20 years or more. One was owner of the team, Connie Mack. Another was part owner of the team, John McGraw. Then there was my predecessor, Walter Alston, and me. It's amazing. In the 20 years I managed the Dodgers, 210 managers were fired.

It is a great honor to be inducted into the Pacific Coast League Hall of Fame. When you honor me with this distinction, you really honor the players who put me there. All of the honors I receive became a reality only through the contributions of my players. In addition to myself, you also honor my family and the Dodger organization. I accept this recognition with pride and gratitude.

Baseball is like driving, it's the one who gets home safely that counts.

Caltech honored me
they named an asteroid after me. There's only two of them up there with names. One of them is Walter Cronkite. The other is Tommy Lasorda.

You can wake up every day and make today better than the last.

Grownups have to say 'please,' too.

It's still the best game in town because you don't have to be big to play, and everybody plays. Even your grandmother probably played baseball.

If he raced his pregnant wife he'd finish third.

When you're not playing up to your capability, you gotta try everything, to motivate, to get them going. All of them have to be on the same end of the rope to pull together. It's playing for the name on the front of the shirt, not the back. Individualism gets you trophies and plaques. Play for the front, that wins championships. I try to remind them of that.

The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a person's determination.

Ernie Banks was a great great player and when he no longer could play, he became a great ambassador for the game. He represented the game with the highest of class and dignity. Everybody loved Ernie Banks. He enjoyed baseball, life and people. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family. We have truly lost a baseball giant.

There are three types of baseball players: Those who make it happen, those who watch it happen and those who wonder what happens.

Listen, if you start worrying about the people in the stands, before too long you're up in the stands with them.

I am so happy and proud to learn of Hideo Nomo's election to the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame. He was quite a pitcher and competitor, but he is also a very special and caring person.

Sometimes you've just got to let an umpire know that you're not satisfied with his decision. That they've missed the play in your opinion. Not that it's going to do you any good, but you've got to let them know.

My goal is to live to be 100.

Everything I have, I owe to baseball and the Dodgers.

I motivate players through communication, being honest with them, having them respect and appreciate your ability and your help.

No, we don't cheat. And even if we did, I'd never tell you.

The gym teacher's name was Mr. Caruso. Mr. Caruso did
not speak English. He spoke 'Gym.' One day I was playing
basketball and Mr. Caruso told me I would have to get
an athletic supporter. He didn't express himself exactly
that way, though. He said, 'Hey, you, one day you're gonna
go up for a rebound and the family jewels aren't gonna
go with ya.' I had no idea what he was talking about.
Next day I showed up for practice without my watch and
my mezuzah. He said, 'Did ya take care of the family jewels?'
I said, 'I left 'em in my locker.' Took us a half hour to
revive Mr. Caruso.

One time I was doing a speech to a group of kids, and just before I get there, I see this little kid crying. I found out they just lost a game, and he was the losing pitcher. I went over there, put my arm around him, and said, 'What are you crying for? When major league players lose, they don't cry.'

Always give an autograph when somebody asks you.

I didn't even graduate from high school. I've never told anybody that before. I got my degree later, when I was in the army.

A second-guesser is one who doesn't know anything about the first guess, and he's one who needs 2 guesses to get one right.