By: Kelly Byrnes
I am a Dodgers fan and I bleed Dodger Blue.
I learned this from no other than Tommy Lasorda himself.
Growing up in the San Fernando Valley, I knew of two larger than life figures besides my dad, Vin Scully and Tommy Lasorda. Lasorda passed away today at the tender age of 93.
Today is not an easy day for me. Seems silly to be this upset about someone I didn’t know on a personal level, but I grew up watching Tommy lead the Boys in Blue. I remember when watching Dodger games, he would give interviews before and after games and I would stop in my tracks to listen to him. He was so passionate about the Dodgers and baseball; he believed in his guys and you could tell without a doubt he loved baseball, and above all, his Dodgers. When I went to Dodger Stadium as a kid, I always wanted to meet Tommy but I had no such luck. I moved from the San Fernando Valley to Washington state in the fall of 1999 and all hope of meeting Tommy had gone out the door.
Fast-forward to around 2005. I was married and had a baby around 1 year old. I still bled blue and loved the Dodgers, but it was tough because I rarely got to see them play on TV and they rarely played in Seattle. I remember being at work one day and I came across a piece of mail that said Tommy would be in the Northwest for a fundraising event at a local high school. I couldn’t believe it and the event happened to be in the tiny town of Kalama, WA. Seriously it’s a small town, google it. I live only 15 minutes from Kalama and I had to go. I don’t remember the cost but that didn’t matter to me; it probably did to my wife but she gladly bought two tickets and we went together.
The day came and I got to be in the same room as Tommy Lasorda! As we got to the high school, I was still in shock that I was going to get to meet Tommy. As we walked in the gym there were signs that said, “No asking Mr. Lasorda for autographs.” I was bummed but it was a fundraiser, so I understood that. There were balls available to purchase for autographs, and I did buy one, but what I really wanted was a picture with Tommy.
When he came out to the podium to talk I was in awe. He told joke after joke and story after story, and I was on cloud nine. It was like I was a kid again, stopped in my tracks listening to him talk. The guy could really speak. Of all the things he talked about the one I remember the most was a joke he told. He said, “You want to know why most Italian guys in New York are named Tony? Because when they came over on the boat they had stamped on their foreheads, To NY”.
His speech ended, and he stood up there at the podium talking to the event coordinators and people far more important than me. I remember thinking, “how am I going to get a picture with him, should I just go up there?” I already paid for tickets, bought a couple items, had dinner and listened to him speak. What’s the worst that could happen? They’ll kick me out. Of a high school fundraiser? I don’t think so.
I walked up there (which was the hardest thing I had probably done since asking my wife to be my girlfriend) and asked Tommy for a picture. He was so friendly, and we talked for a few minutes; he even signed a baseball card. By the time we were done chatting there was a line of people and he took time for each one of them.
I spent time today on Twitter watching videos of him and reading all the great remembrances of him. Tommy, you were a great ambassador for the game of baseball and I thank you.
But what I really thank you for, Tommy, is teaching me about what “Blue Heaven on Earth” means and how to bleed Dodger Blue.
I am a Dodgers fan and I bleed Dodger Blue!
*I really wish I had the picture of Tommy and I, but I’m in the process of moving and 90% my house is packed up. One day when I get everything unpacked, I will add the picture to this post*