UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Monday, August 18, 1997
17B
Dodgers retire former manager Tommy Lasorda's uniform number
Honor comes weeks after Hall induction
The Associated Press
LOS ANGELES — The familiar No. 2 worn by Tommy Lasorda between 1977 and 1996 will never be.
other than the former Los Angeles Dodgers manager.
Lasorda became the ninth man in franchise history to have his number retired when the Dodgers did so in a 31-minute ceremony before a cheering crowd of 46,711 at Dodger Stadium.
"Tonight, we give you the greatest possible compliment by the Dodgers," team owner Peter O'Malley told Lasonda before the Dodgers lost to the Cincinnati Reds 5-3.
Among others who spoke were longtime announcer Vin Scully.
general manager Fred Claire, current manager Bill Russell, Hall of Fame umpire Doug Harvey, former Cincinnati and Detroit manager Sparky Anderson and former shortstop Pee Wee Reese.
"Tonight is one of the most prestigious nights of my life," Lasorda said. "I never got a base hit, I never hit a home run, I never struck anybody out. Whatever success I achieved as manager of the Dodgers became a reality because of the contributions of our players. They are the ones who put me in the Hall of Fame. They are the ones who made it possible for my number to be retired tonight."
"I've only played for two managers here in Los Angeles — Walter Alston and Tom Lasorda," Russell said. "Tommy, it was only a matter of time before you made the Hall of Fame. I'm just glad I was a small part of your success, and I just hope to keep the tradition going."
There were also video-taped messages shown from former Dodgers stars Fernando Valenzuela and Kirk Gibson.
In March, Lasorda was elected to the
Tommy Lasorda
male of fame by the veterans com-
mittee, and was inducted at Coopers-
town, N.Y., on Aug. 3. He managed
the Dodgers for 19 1/2
seasons before retiring July 29,
1996 because of health concerns.
Lasorda, who turns 70 next month, is completing his 48th year in the Dodger organization. Following his retirement as manager, he was named a team vice president.
The Dodgers won 1,599 games, two World Series, four NL pennants and eight division titles under
Lasorda, who succeeded Alston, another Hall of Famer, following the 1976 season. Alston managed the team for 23 years.
Lasorda and Alston (No.24) are the only two former managers to have their numbers retired by the Dodgers.
The Dodgers have also retired the numbers of seven players — Reese (1); Duke Snider (4); Jim Gilliam (19); Sandy Koufax (32); Roy Campanella (39); Jackie Robinson (42), and Don Drysdale (53). All are in the Hall of Fame except Gilliam.
"There's nothing like the Hall of Fame, but this is a special thing for me because nobody will ever wear that uniform number again." Lasorda said earlier this week. "When you stop and think of all the people who have worn the uniform of the Dodgers over the years, it's quite an honor that they think enough of me."
Nerve injury may end pitcher's career
McDowell intends to make comeback despite prognosis
The Associated Press
CLEVE兰德 — Jack McDowell stood tall on the mound, chest heaving and right arm twitching at his side, full of energy and innings and nasty split-fingered fastballs.
McDowell hasn't launched into his windup in months. The 1993 AL Cy Young Award winner said that his season was over, and doctors told him a rare elbow injury made his future in pitching uncertain.
"It scares me that no one can tell me anything about it," said McDowell, the Cleveland Indians pitcher who was diagnosed with nerve damage in his elbow. "You've got the best people in the world, and they
say they've never seen anything like it and can't give me any answers."
McDowell suffered several setbacks in trying to come back from minor surgery on his right elbow in May — the first operation of his nine-year career.
The latest problem, which befuddled some of sports' best doctors, forced him to do something he rarely did on the mound — throw in the towel.
McDowell has likely thrown his last pitch for the Indians, who are not expected to exercise his $4.8 million option for 1998. Renowned orthopedic surgeons James Andrews and Frank Jobe studied McDowell's test results and couldn't even tell the 31-year-old right-hander when he could pitch again.
"I know how I felt throwing," McDowell said. "I'll be back pitching. That won't be a problem."
McDowell had a piece of soft tissue removed from his right elbow
"I'll be back pitching. That won't be a problem."
Jack McDowell Cleveland pitcher
on May 20. The procedure by Andrews, who operates on thousands of top athletes, was expected to keep the pitcher out for about four weeks.
"They told me it was the least invasive surgery they've ever done on a pitcher," said McDowell, 3-3 with a 5.09 ERA in only 40 2/3 innings for the Indians this year.
team doctors a muscle on the outside of his elbow that was shrinking. Additional tests revealed nerve damage in the muscle doctors penetrated to remove the tissue from the elbow.
This week, McDowell showed
"That's the muscle they've gone through on thousands and thousands of pitchers and never had a problem whatsoever," McDowell said.
"I'm probably not going to stick around here," said McDowell, who gets a $550,000 buyout if the Indians don't exercise his option. "I haven't been much luck around here."
His manager had nothing but good things to say.
McDowell said he planned to return home to Van Nuys, Calif., and get ready to audition for another team this winter.
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"You have to admire Jack for as hard as he worked," Mike Hargrove said. "He tried everything under the sun to get back onto the field."
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