Davey Lopes, the no-nonsense, base-swiping second baseman on a historic Dodgers infield that performed collectively for a report 8½ seasons, died Wednesday at age 80, the Dodgers introduced.
The primary 10 years of Lopes’ 16-year main league profession have been spent with the Dodgers, and he returned to the group in 2011 to function first-base coach for 5 years. Lopes was a four-time All-Star who received two stolen base titles, one Gold Glove and helped the Dodgers to 4 World Collection, together with the championship in 1981.
Taken within the second spherical of a 1968 Dodgers draft haul thought of probably the most gifted in baseball historical past, the 5-foot-9, 170-pound Lopes rose from a rough-and-tumble Rhode Island upbringing to develop into the staff’s on a regular basis second baseman and leadoff batter by 1973.
Lopes performed outfield within the minor leagues however grew to become a part of a daring transfer by Dodgers supervisor Walter Alston earlier than the 1973 season: Lopes would transfer to second base, Invoice Russell from middle area to shortstop and Steve Garvey from third to first base. Ron Cey can be put in at third. The Dodgers moved longtime coach and scout Monty Basgall — referred to as an distinctive infield teacher — from the entrance workplace to the sphere to assist the gamers alter to their new roles.
The quartet took the infield collectively for the primary time within the second sport of a doubleheader towards the Cincinnati Reds in a sold-out Dodger Stadium on June 23, 1973. They caught collectively via their 1981 World Collection championship season, after which Lopes was traded to the Oakland Athletics for Lance Hudson, a utility participant who by no means made the foremost leagues.
Lopes continued to play nicely, not retiring till 1987 at age 42. He stole 557 bases and was profitable in 83% of his makes an attempt, top-of-the-line charges in main league historical past. He additionally displayed energy for a leadoff batter, hitting 155 residence runs, together with a profession excessive of 28 for the Dodgers in 1979.
Though Lopes’ lifetime batting common was .263, he had a wonderful eye, strolling almost as many occasions as he struck out and logging a wonderful .349 on-base share. He scored 1,023 runs in 1,812 profession video games.
As video games progressed, Lopes usually batted after the pitcher, who was on the backside of the order. He grew to become adept at stalling ways that gave pitchers ample relaxation in the event that they’d simply returned to the dugout after operating the bases.
Instances assistant sports activities editor Houston Mitchell, a lifelong Dodgers follower, described what occurred subsequent: “Lopes was a magician at losing time to offer the pitcher an opportunity to towel off and funky down a bit. Particularly if there have been two out. Lopes would spend an additional second or two within the on-deck circle. He’d take his time getting the spherical weight off his bat. Then he would slowly stroll to the batter’s field.”
David Earl Lopes was born Might 3, 1945, and raised in East Windfall, R.I., a city of Irish, Portuguese and Cape Verdean immigrants in search of jobs in factories and alongside the waterfront. Considered one of 12 kids, Lopes was a toddler when his father died. Lopes’ mom, Mary Rose, labored as a home.
Lopes typically described his upbringing as tough, referring to his neighborhood as a “ghetto” and describing it to Instances columnist Jim Murray as “roaches, rats, poor dwelling situations, medication as prevalent as sweet.”
“If it hadn’t been for sports activities, there’s no telling what I’d be or the place I’d be,” Lopes instructed The Instances’ Ross Newhan in 1973. “All I needed to do is step off the porch to a alternative of all of the stuff you affiliate with a ghetto.”
Lengthy earlier than he grew to become an achieved base stealer, Lopes mentioned he grew to become an skilled at shoplifting. “I by no means stole something main, simply garments and baseballs and bats,” he instructed Murray.
Lopes wanted an grownup position mannequin and one got here alongside within the coach at an opposing highschool, Mike Sarkesian, who grew up in a Windfall tenement however grew to become the basketball coach and athletic director at Iowa Wesleyan School the yr Lopes graduated from highschool.
“No matter I missed by having not likely had a father, Sarkesian offered,” Lopes instructed Newhan. “He may relate to my issues, my surroundings. The drive, the willpower, to not give in to the ghetto, to make one thing of my life, stems from my relations with him.”
Sarkesian recruited Lopes to play baseball at Iowa Wesleyan. Two years later, Sarkesian grew to become athletic director at Washburn College in Topeka, Kan., Lopes went with him. Lopes was taken by the San Francisco Giants within the eighth spherical of the 1967 MLB draft however opted to return to Washburn, the place he performed baseball and basketball nicely sufficient to be inducted into the college’s Corridor of Fame in 1987.
The Dodgers drafted him within the second spherical a yr later and Lopes signed for $10,000. He skipped spring coaching his first two minor league seasons to finish his lessons at Washburn and graduated in 1969 with a level in elementary schooling.
Lopes spent the 1968 and 1969 seasons at Class-A Daytona Seashore, and married Linda Lee Vandover throughout his first season. The night time earlier than the marriage he broke up no-hitters in each video games of a doubleheader with late-inning hits.
A promotion to triple-A Spokane got here in 1970. His supervisor was Tommy Lasorda and the staff was distinctive, posting a report of 94-52. Amongst his teammates have been Garvey and Russell in addition to different future main leaguers Invoice Buckner, Bobby Valentine and Tom Paciorek.
Lasorda recalled Lopes as so shy he wouldn’t communicate to anybody. “It took two years, however he lastly got here round,” Lasorda mentioned. “[He] lastly acquired to the purpose the place he felt he belonged.”
Lopes confirmed enchancment on the plate his second yr at Spokane, batting .306 with Cey as a teammate. The Dodgers moved their triple-A affiliate to Albuquerque in 1972 and in his third season at that degree Lopes exhibited the mix of energy and pace that will be his calling card, posting a slugging share of .476 whereas stealing 48 bases.
5 years within the minor leagues after having attended school meant Lopes was 27 when he made his main league debut that September. He was the opening day second baseman the next yr and turned 28 a month into the season.
Lopes rapidly made up for misplaced time, his stolen base totals growing in every of his first three full seasons from 36 to 59 to 77. On Aug. 24, 1974, he stole 5 bases in a sport towards the St. Louis Cardinals, turning into the primary NL participant to take action since 1904.
It wasn’t lengthy earlier than the very best catcher in baseball, the Reds’ Johnny Bench, lauded Lopes, saying, “He’s the very best there’s at stealing. Lopes not solely has the data and pace, but in addition the short acceleration. He has every part.”
The as soon as reticent Lopes additionally confirmed management qualities as early as 1976, when a throw by new Dodgers outfielder Dusty Baker had missed the cutoff man.
“We don’t play that method,” Lopes instructed Baker.
“Hey, I nearly threw him out.” the Dodgers newcomer replied.
“We don’t play that method,” Lopes emphasised.
“I’d by no means had a participant get in my face like that, and I didn’t prefer it an excessive amount of,” Baker recalled of the incident. “I appeared up and the entire staff was coming over to again up Davey.”
Lopes was standard with followers as nicely. In 1980, he obtained 3,862,403 votes to guide all MLB gamers and begin at second base within the All-Star Recreation at Dodger Stadium. That was his third of 4 consecutive All-Star appearances.
The Dodgers have been constant winners with Lopes, Garvey, Russell and Cey anchoring the infield, however misplaced the World Collection in 1974 to the Athletics and in 1977 and ’78 to the Yankees. In 1981, nonetheless, they broke via, successful the Fall Basic for the primary time since 1966 by defeating the Yankees in six video games.
“They will do something they need with us now,” mentioned Lopes, who set a report by stealing 10 bases in 10 makes an attempt that postseason. “I’ve acquired the ring. They will’t take that away from me.”
Teenager Steve Sax, nonetheless, did take his job. Lopes, 36, was traded to the A’s through the offseason. He was hardly via, enjoying one other six seasons and even stealing 47 bases in 99 video games in 1985 for the Chicago Cubs to develop into the primary 40-year-old participant to steal extra bases than his age.
Lopes retired after the 1987 season and spent the subsequent 4 years as a coach below Valentine with the Texas Rangers. Subsequent he coached for 3 years below one other former teammate, Baltimore Orioles supervisor Johnny Oates, and for 4 years with the San Diego Padres below Bruce Bochy.
In 2000, Lopes acquired his shot at managing, signing a three-year cope with the Milwaukee Brewers, who posted dropping data in his first two seasons. When the Brewers received solely three of their first 15 video games in 2002, Lopes was fired.
“Lots of people discouraged me from taking [the Brewers job] as a result of they thought I used to be simply setting myself up for failure,” Lopes instructed The Instances’ Ross Newhan, sensing the chances have been catching as much as him, “however I used to be decided to point out them I may do it.”
Lopes returned to the Padres as a first-base coach from 2003-2005. He spent one season because the Washington Nationals’ first-base coach and baserunning adviser, and he served in the identical capability for the Phillies from 2007 to 2010.
The Phillies led the foremost leagues in stolen base share thrice throughout his tenure and received the 2008 World Collection championship, however that season started with a severe well being difficulty for Lopes. Days earlier than spring coaching, he was recognized with prostate most cancers. It was in remission by opening day.
In 2011, Instances columnist Invoice Plaschke lobbied for the Dodgers so as to add Lopes to the teaching workers. Normal supervisor Ned Colletti did simply that. Lopes displayed an empathy for younger gamers, saying, “I’ve been there, I do know what it’s like once you’re younger and you have to know anyone is masking your again. Generally you are feeling misplaced, and also you want a coach or supervisor to alleviate that.”
Lopes served as Dodgers first-base coach for 5 years — instantly bettering the staff’s base-stealing prowess — earlier than closing out his five-decade baseball profession in 2017 as a coach for the Nationals below his previous teammate Baker.
“I’m not doing a lot. I’m retired, taking it simple,” Lopes mentioned about retirement on a podcast. “It was not a tough choice to make, however one I used to be sort of hesitant to make. But it surely all works out.
“I acquired the chance to play, handle or coach for a protracted, very long time. I’m extraordinarily grateful. I used to be one of many fortunate ones within the massive leagues for 45 straight years. That’s a very long time. I’ve no complaints.”
Lopes is survived by two brothers, Patrick and John, and 4 sisters, Jean, Judith, Mary and Nina.
