TOMMY LASORDA QUOTES
American baseball player & manager (1927- )
There are three types of baseball players: those who make it happen, those who watch it happen, and those who wonder what happens.
TOMMY LASORDA
attributed, Sportswit
I've been able to dine with presidents, with leaders of corporations, traveled for 14 years with (financier and philanthropist) Michael Milken, who has taught me so much about life. Hanging around with them, it's nothing I could have believed in grade school. I could be with all of them? Milton Berle, Don Rickles, Dean Martin ... this former third-string pitcher from the Norristown High baseball team and the son of an Italian immigrant? I really am in awe when I think that has happened to me. What a life.
TOMMY LASORDA
Los Angeles Daily News, July 14, 2013
I motivate players through communication, being honest with them, having them respect and appreciate your ability and your help.
TOMMY LASORDA
attributed, Dad's Playbook: Wisdom for Fathers from the Greatest Coaches of All Time
Listen, if you start worrying about the people in the stands, before too long you're up in the stands with them.
TOMMY LASORDA
attributed, The Gigantic Book of Baseball Quotations
There are parents out there screaming as if their kid is going to be in the big leagues someday. C'mon. I chew them out if I see that. Maybe they've got their own idea how to do things, but it's wrong. Just be with the kids. Let 'em make errors. Give them all a chance. It's not about winning. It's spirit, togetherness.
TOMMY LASORDA
Los Angeles Daily News, July 14, 2013
I don't like the pitch count! How are you gonna develop your arm? If you're a track man you say, "Hey, you can't run too much." Or if you're a boxer you say, "Hey, you can only box three rounds." It's not right!
TOMMY LASORDA
interview, Boomer & Carton, March 7, 2013
No matter how good you are, you're going to lose one-third of your games. No matter how bad you are, you're going to win one-third of your games. It's the other third that makes the difference.
TOMMY LASORDA
attributed, The Gigantic Book of Baseball Quotations
No, we don't cheat. And even if we did, I'd never tell you.
TOMMY LASORDA
Parade Magazine, January 1, 1989
When we win, I'm so happy I eat a lot. When we lose, I'm so depressed, I eat a lot. When we're rained out, I'm so disappointed I eat a lot.
TOMMY LASORDA
Forbes Magazine, 2004
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?
TOMMY LASORDA
attributed, Winning Words: Classic Quotes from the World of Sports
I can't remember the first game but I know you were assigned to different teams, the red team, the yellow team, the blue team, all different colors. There were 26 different colors. Also, if you had a sore arm, you wore a gray cap. If you had a bad leg, you wore white socks. This way, if you're hitting the ball and you didn't hustle, they would know it's because you had a bad leg.
TOMMY LASORDA
interview, American Sportscasters Online
If you'd see my schedule, you'd know I have no time to slow down.
TOMMY LASORDA
Los Angeles Daily News, July 14, 2013
People felt sorry for me that I don't get a medal. I said, "Hey, I got my medal when I saw them put the medal around our players." I said, "I got my medal when they raised that American flag, and I got my medal when they played our national anthem." You know, I cried. I cried because I know that I had done something for my country.
TOMMY LASORDA
interview, Boomer & Carton, March 7, 2013
ALWAYS give an autograph when somebody asks you.
TOMMY LASORDA
attributed, Five Seasons
I wasn't quite sure how a player got to the big leagues. As far as I knew, he was just there one day.
TOMMY LASORDA
The Artful Dodger
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.
TOMMY LASORDA
"Sideline Psychology: 18 Life Lessons from the World's Greatest Coaches", Men's Health, November 2007
Think about each pitch like you think about women, then select one which is particularly appealing.
TOMMY LASORDA
attributed, The Gigantic Book of Baseball Quotations
The average age of our bench is deceased.
TOMMY LASORDA
attributed, The Gigantic Book of Baseball Quotations
My theory of hitting was just to watch the ball as it came in and hit it. As I realized years later, that is still the finest theory of hitting yet devised.
TOMMY LASORDA
The Artful Dodger
My God, look at the words people use today. They use profanity like it's nothing. Christ almighty.
TOMMY LASORDA
Los Angeles Daily News, July 14, 2013