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!