Tommy Lasorda: My Way

by Colin Gunderson, Joe Torre (Foreword)

Tommy Lasorda believed that winning wasn't about being the best, but about believing you are the best and that philosophy runs throughout Tommy My Way . Author Colin Gunderson takes readers through Lasorda's days as a player and the manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, including their two World Series Championships in 1981 and 1988. It also provides fans with a peek at what makes Lasorda his relationship with his father, Sabatino, whom he emulated; his childhood growing up in Norristown, Pennsylvania, working odd jobs; and his unfailing work ethic. That work ethic helped him become one of baseball's most successful managers as he won the World Series twice, won four National League pennants and eight division titles with the Dodgers. In this book, fans will recall some of their favorite Lasorda anecdotes, and will also be privy to new information and rich background on this national baseball treasure, including memories from an All-Star roster of Dodgers stars.

Genres: Sports, Biography, Baseball

256 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2015

Reviews

[Lance · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this collection of stories on the former Dodger manager. I picked it up during the Hall of Fame weekend ceremonies as Lasorda signed copies of the book. Full review is posted here:

http://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/201...

[Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. I'm a Yankee fan and should be irked by this jolly joe but could never help but enjoy and admire him. What a great baseball man. Many funny Tommy tales. I am glad he has been around the game so long.

[Sam Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished one the best books I have ever read. Tommy Lasorda, My Way. Just released. Incredible! I have been a Dodger fan for many decades and Tommy has been associated with the Dodgers for more decades than me and still is as I write this. If and when you read this book the tears will well up in your eyes if not than your HEART is smaller than dried up pea. Quotes: If you’re so concerned with the door that just closed, you'll never see the door in front of you. Three types of players. Make it Happen; Watches it Happen; Wonders what Happened. The difference between the possible and the impossible is a person’s determination.
Regardless what age you are between 13 and 113, what sex you are, what color you are, what religion you are, this book is definitely for you. If you don't read this book you have lost what you could have learned. Every school system in our country should have every student thirteen and over read Tommy Lasorda, My Way and write a report on it. What a magnificent contribution to our educational system. We need to start somewhere.
Sam Black

[Reid Mccormick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unlike most professional sport teams, the Los Angeles Dodgers do not have a mascot. But they do have Tommy Lasorda. No one bleeds Dodger Blue like Tommy Lasorda. I think history can debate his effectiveness as a strategist. I think history can debate his managerial approach. But the one thing it cannot debate is his energy, devotion, and passion for Dodger baseball.

My Way is a great book. It does not try to be anything more than a simple book about a simple man. This book is far from pretentious or flowery. It does not try to psychoanalyze Lasorda or parallel his managerial years to the ongoing identity of American society - trust me, these are common narratives in baseball books.

This book is about Tommy. It is told by the people who love Tommy - which is everyone who has ever met Tommy. If you love Tommy Lasorda, you will love this book. If you love the Los Angeles Dodgers, you obviously love this book. If you love great sport stories, you will love this book.

[Colin Gunderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is it wrong to give my book five stars? I hope kit because I love it and hope you do too. It is a compilation of stories about baseball's goodwill ambassador, Hall of Famer, Tommy Lasorda. I interviewed more than 30 of his players and a few of his closest friends and asked for their favorite Tommy stories. I used the stories to highlight his life, career, the lessons he taught, the lives he touched, and his impact on the Dodgers and the game of baseball. It's Tommy from the people that knew him the best.

It's available now, and I hope you readers get as much joy from it as I did by writing it.

Thanks for your support!

Tommylasordamyway.com

Facebook.com/tommylasordamyway

[Joe L. Beck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Sports book

This book is a tribute to Tommy Lasorda. His personsality, knowledge of the baseball and his way of managing players and friends can only be called unique intertwined with the Dodger Way.

[Andrew Pron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dodger Blue

Interesting way to tell the Tommy Ladorda story. I enjoyed the book very much! It was terrific to hear from so many of his former players.

[Daniel A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I gave this a five because I am a diehard Dodgers fan. I will be honest, the book could have covered some more information about Tommy. I would have loved to hear more about his time as a general manager. The book really focuses on the people that he touched and the 'Dodgers way' as opposed to him, although a lot of that goes hand in hand.

[Michael Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story of Dodger baseball manager Tom Lasorda, told by Lasorda and some of the men who played for him. Very uplifting book buoyed by the always optimistic Lasorda. A fun trip down memory lane with Vin Scully, Ron Cey, Peter O'Malley, Lanny Harris, Ralph Avila.

[michael rike]

Good read

Learned a lot reading about stories of those who were in tommies life. Life long dodger fans should buy this book