Former Los Angeles Dodgers manager and baseball ambassador Tommy Lasorda is expected to be released from a hospital after suffering a heart attack in New York, the team confirmed Tuesday.
Lasorda, 84, was in New York to represent the Dodgers at the MLB draft this week but was admitted to a local hospital after suffering what it called a “mild” heart attack. He was taken to New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center for treatment where doctors inserted a stent to correct a blocked artery in Lasorda’s heart.
“The doctors confirmed I do bleed Dodger Blue,” Lasorda joked in a press release from the Dodgers. “I’m looking forward to being back at the stadium to cheer on the Dodgers.”
He is said to be comfortable and is expected to be released Wednesday.
TMZ, which broke the news of Lasorda’s heart attack, reported that people attending the draft suspected something might be wrong when Lasorda was not there to announce the Dodgers’ draft picks.
Lasorda, who managed the Dodgers for 20 years, retired from the team after a heart attack in 1996. He compiled a 1,599-1,439 record in his tenure, which included two World Series titles (1981 and 1988), four National League pennants and eight division championships.
Lasorda has worked in the team's front office
since his retirement and has been a constant presence around the Dodgers. He
was with them in spring training this year and drew a nice ovation at Dodger
Stadium last week when he was at a game and his picture was shown on the
videoboard.
At the 2000 Sydney Olympics,
Lasorda managed the U.S. team to a gold medal in baseball.
Last September, in honor of
Lasorda's birthday, current Dodgers manager Don Mattingly had Lasorda serve as
an honorary coach in a game against San Francisco. He presented the lineup card
to the umpires before the first pitch.
The Associated press contributed to this report
