Stretch of 5 Freeway dedicated to Dodgers great Tommy Lasorda
LOS ANGELES - Hall of Fame Dodgers great Tommy Lasorda officially has a stretch of the 5 Freeway dedicated in his name.
A ceremony and sign unveiling was held Saturday morning during the opening ceremonies of the West Fullerton Little League at James Carter Field.
The California legislature passed a bill in 2021 to designate a section of the freeway in Fullerton, from Ball Road to the 91 Freeway, as Tommy Lasorda Memorial Highway.
Lasorda lived in Fullerton since the Dodgers headed west in 1958. He won two World Championships, four National League championships, eight division titles and 1,599 games.
"Fullerton held a very special place in Tommy's heart, and we know how proud he would be to be standing here today," said Stan Kasten, president & CEO of Los Angeles Dodgers, in a statement.
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The bill honoring Lasorda was authored by Los Angeles and Orange County representative, Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva.
"Tommy Lasorda embodied the spirit and love of the game of baseball, dedicating his life to the game by managing one of the most successful baseball franchises and encouraging the success of his players," said Quirk-Silva in a statement. "It was Lasorda's humanitarianism and spirit of goodwill towards kids everywhere that made him a legend."
The Los Angeles Dodgers partnered to help fund this permanent memorial in Fullerton. The exact location of the sign is Southbound I-5 before Lincoln Avenue and Northbound I-5 before Ball Road.
Lasorda managed the Dodgers from late in the 1976 season to midway through the 1996 season, when he retired at age 68 after suffering a heart attack. He guided the Dodgers to World Series championships in 1981 and 1988, four National League pennants, eight National League West titles and a 1,599- 1,439 record. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1997.