My Two Indelible Memories of Tommy Lasorda

2) Watching Tommy Dress Down An Arrogant Rookie 

A couple years earlier, the Dodgers had called up a young and promising left-hand hitting rookie during mid-season, who had some early success and became an instant favorite with Dodger fans.  I was working as the batboy one night while he was on deck when then Dodger manager, Walter Alston, called him back into the dugout for a pinch hitter.

Angry with Alston’s decision, the rookie made the mistake of showing up the Dodger skipper by throwing his bat and helmet down in the on-deck circle in front of 50k fans.  Alston rarely showed emotion and didn’t after the incident.

When the inning was over I ran up into the clubhouse to get something out of my locker and the rook was in there changing his clothes.  Just him and I, alone in the clubhouse.

All of a sudden, Tommy Lasorda storms in screaming at the kid,

You mother f__ker, don’t you ever show up your manager like that again.  Never, ever!  You ain’t shit.  You can’t hit yourself out of your underwear, much less major league hitting.  You sock sucker.  If you ever do that again I will rip your head off and crap down your throat.” 

‘Nuff said,  I think the rookie got the message and learned to repsect his managers.