Remembering Davey Lopes
Davey Lopes, the Dodgers infield fixture who spent over 50 years in baseball, died on Wednesday at age 80. Here are a few more remembrances of his life and career. Lopes’ former teammates and fellow members of The Infield that played together for 8 1/2 seasons Ron Cey and Steve Garvey talked with Jack Harris […]
24 September 2014: Dodgers third base coach Davey Lopes consoles with Los Angeles Dodgers Second base Dee Gordon (9) [7422] after being pulled from the game during a Major League Baseball game between the San Francisco Giants and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Chris Williams/Icon Sportswire/Corbis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) Davey Lopes, the Dodgers infield fixture who spent over 50 years in baseball, died on Wednesday at age 80 . Here are a few more remembrances of his life and career.
Lopes’ former teammates and fellow members of The Infield that played together for 8 1/2 seasons Ron Cey and Steve Garvey talked with Jack Harris at the California Post : “He controlled the game at times with his base-stealing capabilities,” Cey said. “He wreaked havoc on defenses … His contributions were immense. ” From former Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti , who hired Lopes to coach first base in Los Angeles: “Davey was a winner in life & on the field.
After an outstanding playing career, he became a coach – the best 1st base coach I ever saw: secondary leads, pitch tips, cutting your steps 1st to 3rd…he looked and taught players to look for every advantage. 1 of 1. ” From former Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner : “Such a straight shooter and a great baseball mind.
I’ll never forget being on 1st base for 3 or 4 pitches and him looking right at me and saying, ‘What the hell are you waiting for? Go! ’” From former Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp : “Thank you Davey for being one of the best mentors ever.