Los Angeles Celebrates Tommy Lasorda's 90th Birthday

LOS ANGELES, CA — The Los Angeles City Council Friday honored former Los Angeles Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda, who turned 90 last month.

"He hasn't just been a champion for the Dodgers in L.A., but he's been baseball's ambassador to the rest of the country and to the rest of the world," Councilman Paul Koretz said.

Lasorda managed the Dodgers from 1976 to 1996, guiding the team to four World Series appearances, including championships in 1981 and 1988. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1997.

"I've had great, great days and helped develop a lot of players and had rookies of the year, most valuable players, and I was proud to represent the greatest city in the United States of America, Los Angeles," Lasorda said.

"I will always feel like I was born here, because I moved out here from Pennsylvania about 67 years ago, so I think I am really an Angeleno. Thank you for the honor. May God bless each and every one of you. And if the Dodgers don't win this time, I think I'm gonna kill myself," he quipped, referring to the team's latest push into the postseason.

Lasorda is in his 68th season with the Dodgers and has been a pitcher, scout, coach, manager and front office executive. He joined the organization in 1948 when he was taken by the Brooklyn Dodgers from the Philadelphia Phillies in the minor league draft.

Lasorda -- who underwent surgery in May to replace a pacemaker -- is in his 11th season as a special adviser to the club's chairman.

City News Service; Photo: Tommy Lasorda and Magic Johnson watch during the first inning of Game 3 of the National League baseball championship series against the Chicago Cubs Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2016, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)