Vin Scully, Bobby Valentine and More Honor Tommy Lasorda: 'No One Will Ever Fill the Void You Left'

Baseball lost one of its most dynamic and legendary managers in major-league history when Tommy Lasorda died on Thursday night.

AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File

Baseball lost one of its most dynamic and legendary managers in major league history when Tommy Lasorda died on Thursday night. He was 93.

The Dodgers announced on Friday that he suffered a sudden cardiopulmonary arrest at home the night before and was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. 

As the Dodgers' manager from 1976 to '96, Lasorda led the club to eight division titles, four National League pennants and two World Series championships (1981 and 1988), captivating fans and his players with his bold and loud personality. Lasorda, a two-time Manager of the Year winner, amassed a record of 1,599–1,439 to rank 22nd all-time in wins.

Following a heart attack in June 1996, he retired from managing the Dodgers the next month and was inducted as a skipper into the Hall of Fame in 1997.

After the Dodgers released the news of Lasorda's death, Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully released a statement on the former manager and his passion for baseball.

"There are two things about Tommy I will always remember," Scully said. “The first is his boundless enthusiasm. Tommy would get up in the morning full of beans and maintain that as long as he was with anybody else.

"The other was his determination. He was a fellow with limited ability and he pushed himself to be a very good Triple-A pitcher. He never quite had that something extra that makes a major leaguer, but it wasn't because he didn't try. Those are some of the things: his competitive spirit, his determination, and above all, this boundless energy and self-belief. His heart was bigger than his talent and there were no foul lines for his enthusiasm."

Several players and teams across the sports world took to social media to honor Lasorda and his impact on baseball.

Mean ever word of this...pic.twitter.com/nIbRkrTVK5

— Orel Hershiser (@OrelHershiser) January 8, 2021

Tommy Lasorda, this wonderful man, Hall of Famer in baseball and in life, this is him, so much joy. So much love he had for baseball, for the @Dodgers . To win, to love this game, to live and play with joy was his message to us. Rest in peace in Blue Heaven, sir and thank you. 🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/45iXnAurYU

— Kenley Jansen (@kenleyjansen74) January 8, 2021

RIP Tommy!! Will never forget all the great conversations, the memories, the stories! Last couple of years, I’d look forward to 6pm before every home game. Getting to talk to you for 5-10 minutes, always made my day! We will all miss you Tommy! 💙 pic.twitter.com/j3VuhyNoFZ

— Enrique Hernández (@kikehndez) January 8, 2021

A legend on and off the field.

We join the @Dodgers and the baseball world in mourning the loss of Tommy Lasorda. pic.twitter.com/uPyuOJ806s

— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) January 8, 2021

I have been blessed in this lifetime to have had two fathers. My biological Dad and my baseball Dad. He scouted me, signed me and taught me the way baseball should be played. RIP Tommy Lasorda and 🙏🙏to your wife Jo and family

— Tommy Hutton (@THUT14) January 8, 2021

Words can not express my feelings. A friend and mentor for 52 years is no longer with us. Tommy no one will ever fill the void you left. Thank you for everything. R.I.P.

— Bobby Valentine (@BobbyValentine) January 8, 2021

I will miss our conversations about the Dodgers & the Lakers. He meant the world to the Dodgers organization, MLB, and to the city of Los Angeles. He will always be known to Dodger Nation as “Mr. Dodger.” Cookie and I are praying for the entire Lasorda family. May he RIP.🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/fu8OIwqSWo

— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) January 8, 2021

Hall of Fame Dodgers Manager, LA icon, and my great friend Tommy Lasorda passed away late last night. For the last 8 years I’ve sat next to Tommy at every Dodgers game and he taught me invaluable lessons on the strategy and history of baseball. pic.twitter.com/6RxmoQ7Che

— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) January 8, 2021

RIP to the ONE and ONLY Tommy Lasorda .... he WAS the @Dodgers .... he bled Dodger Blue ... baseball will truly miss Tommy and what he meant to millions of fans. RIP. pic.twitter.com/3Yc4eDfsg6

— Dan Plesac (@Plesac19) January 8, 2021

RIP Tommy Lasorda! https://t.co/VoABBy4FFQ

— Chipper Jones (@RealCJ10) January 8, 2021

Nobody lived, breathed, and slept baseball more than Tommy Lasorda.

He was more than just a World Series-winning manager for those great L.A. teams in the ‘80s. He BLED Dodger blue. He was a true gentleman, along with being a champion and Hall of Famer. https://t.co/XdPRf27ntS

— Alex Rodriguez (@AROD) January 8, 2021

Commissioner Rob Manfred on the passing of Tommy Lasorda: pic.twitter.com/dZCshI4lbV

— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) January 8, 2021

We mourn the passing of Hall of Fame manager Tommy Lasorda. He was 93. pic.twitter.com/fkPf67iH7h

— MLB (@MLB) January 8, 2021

The baseball community has lost a legend and one of the game’s great personalities. Our hearts go out to the Lasorda family and the entire Dodgers organization. https://t.co/5lAj09V87o

— Oakland A's (@Athletics) January 8, 2021

We join the baseball community in mourning the loss of the great Tommy Lasorda. #BiggerThanBaseball 🧡💙 https://t.co/gbDUrnwmt2

— New York Mets (@Mets) January 8, 2021

The Hall of Fame remembers Class of 1997 inductee Tommy Lasorda. https://t.co/Fxvj9FAkOS pic.twitter.com/aGRqPJSAuL

— National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum ⚾ (@baseballhall) January 8, 2021

We honor a Los Angeles icon, a 71-season veteran, and a Dodger forever. Rest In Peace, Tommy 💙 pic.twitter.com/2TkSNCQGxX

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) January 8, 2021

#FightOnForever, Tommy Lasorda.

The #TrojanFamily sends its condolences to the @Dodgers and the Lasorda family on the loss of an LA icon. pic.twitter.com/ioJdSE3u8d

— USC Trojans (@USC_Athletics) January 8, 2021

Rest In Peace to the legendary Tommy Lasorda.

Thinking of our @Dodgers family today 💙 pic.twitter.com/Lj5oSddr9Y

— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) January 8, 2021