I often say I have been a Dodger fan since I was in the womb. It seems like an exaggeration, but it is really true. I don’t remember a time that I have not loved the Dodgers. When I was two years old, Tommy Lasorda became the manager of the Dodgers. My first memories of baseball include Tommy. He is one of the reasons I will always bleed Dodger blue. He was a constant present in the dugout. You knew when he was mad and you knew when he was happy. Seeing him jump and skip out to the field after Kirk Gibson hit his 9th inning home run in game one of the 1988 World Series is always one of my favorite memories. I saw him take the mound with Orel Hershersier in 2018 to recreate that 1988 magic on opening day. Even though, it was from a distance I loved seeing Tommy. I never had the honor of meeting Tommy Lasorda, but I feel like he is a part of my family. When I heard the news that he had died, I cried. I am teary eyed as I write this. I turned on MLB and saw the outpouring of love for him and I cried harder. Then I had the thought this is silly, why are you crying. I tried to push back the emotion, but then later I realized Tommy Lasorda has always been a fixture in my life. I watch most games on television, but I loved when I would catch glimpses of Tommy. It was a reminder he was still here and still bleeding Dodger blue. Tommy Lasorda is a baseball legend. He loved the game of baseball and he loved the Dodgers. He was an ambassador for the sport. Even though he led the Dodgers to four pennants, two world series championships, his greatest accomplishment he said was winning the gold medal at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia. Tommy started his career with the Dodgers in 1949 as a pitcher. He spent most of his time in the minor leagues. He made one start for the Brooklyn Dodgers, but was quickly sent back to the minors to make room for a guy named Sandy Koufax. In 1961, he was hired as a scout and then became a minor league manager in 1965. In 1976, he became the manager of the Dodgers. He was a fixture in the dugout. His confrontations with the umpires were legendary. His lips were easy to read and my dad said Tommy was using motivational buzz words. He was not a fan of mascots and almost killed the Phillie Phanatic. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vX4L2LHGs98) Tommy had a larger than life personality. He was a great motivator, but could also cut you down to size. I loved everything about Tommy. He once said, “I bleed Dodger blue, and when I die I am going to the big Dodger in the sky.” Dodger stadium is blue heaven on earth and now Tommy is with the big Dodger in the sky. I will miss you Tommy. I will keep rooting for the Dodgers win or lose and will always bleed Dodger Blue.