Lasorda Makes The Smithsonian
Hall of Fame manager Tommy Lasorda had his portrait hung at the National Portrait Gallery of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C. this morning, capping off a season of many honors for the longtime Dodger.
"I am proud and honored by this very special recognition," Lasorda said last week. "I have been honored many times in the past, and am appreciative of them all, but to be included in the National Portrait Gallery is very special, and very humbling."
From the Dodgers' press release:
By having his portrait in the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery, Lasorda will join Dodger stars who have their picture in the collection: Don Drysdale (1962), Leo Durocher (1947 & ‘63), Walter Alston (in a gelatin silver print with Casey Stengel and Dwight Eisenhower, 1956 and with Casey Stengel, 1956), Sandy Koufax (1963), Gil Hodges (with John Reardon, Ed Fitzgerald and Charles Edwards, 1947), Branch Rickey (1945), Jackie Robinson (1947, ’49, & ‘83), Wilbert Robinson (1930), and the 1955 Dodgers team photo (1955).
Artist Everett Raymond Kinstler has painted more than 1,200 portraits of well-known personalities and public figures. The Portrait Gallery’s collection includes paintings and sketches including Katharine Hepburn , Tony Bennett , Richard Nixon , Norman Rockwell and Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Lasorda sat for the portrait at Kinstler’s National Arts Club studio in New York City in June 2009.
Dodger General Manager Ned Colletti and Manager Joe Torre were in attendance, as well as former Dodger Steve Garvey, Jamie McCourt, and Commissioner Bud Selig, among others. The Dodgers play the Washington Nationals tonight at 4:05pm.
Be sure to click on that photo to see other photos from the event.
As if spending his 82nd birthday having a portrait of him hung at The Smithsonian wasn't enough, Lasorda will also join Dodger fans online at Dodgers.com for a chat later today, at 2pm!
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They do have never-ending pasta there :)
by Eric Stephen on Sep 22, 2009 11:26 AM PDT up reply actions
My favorite photo of the other photos (click on the photo above to see all) is the one of Lasorda with his four brothers. Its always amazing to see that many living siblings that old.
http://www.truebluela.com/photos/lasorda-makes-the-smithsonian/281078
That is a lot of Lasorda's.
Who could get a word in edgewise with that group! What a group for a mother to raise. I hope my brother and I grow old together like this.
by Ian Capilouto on Sep 22, 2009 11:56 AM PDT up reply actions
Richard Simon of the LA Times has a nice closing quote from Tommy:
“Somebody out there asked me what’s next for you?” Lasorda said. "I said, ‘heaven.’ "
For all the flack that Lasorda takes,
when he is gone it will be like when Vin Scully is gone. There will never be a guy like that again. Those types of personalities are disappearing from baseball it seems.
by Ian Capilouto on Sep 22, 2009 11:52 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs
Its a great gallery
If you are ever in DC and want to see a place where art and history go hand in hand, go to the National Portrait Gallery. Its really a great place to spend a few hours, the presidential portraits alone (including the famous Washington portrait) is worth the trip by itself. It was the one place I wanted to see on my last trip there and it was well worth the visit.
I hope we have some of that vintage Tommy/Steve mojo this October
Steve had 8 postseason homers under Tommy. Not bad.
"I just want to thank all the troops..."
I’ll never forget that DT outing earlier this year and all of wondering where Tommy would go with that story!
Someone should have had a camera on me
And my near inability to contain laughter when he was talking about the visit.
“…The important thing was that I had an onion on my belt, which was the fashion at the time…”
I could not look at you, or I would have lost it.
by Eric Stephen on Sep 22, 2009 2:27 PM PDT up reply actions
I knew that quote would goad you two into commenting! :)
Congrats on the nuptials, too!
by Eric Stephen on Sep 22, 2009 2:27 PM PDT up reply actions

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