Dodgers to present inaugural Tommy Lasorda I Bleed Dodger Blue Award to legendary LA councilwoman Roz Wyman

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers today announced the creation of the _Tommy Lasorda I Bleed Dodger Blue Award_, which will be given to a member of the Los Angeles community that embodies the passion, enthusiasm, and love for the Dodgers that Tommy Lasorda possessed. The inaugural honor will go to Rosalind “Roz” Wyman, the key figure in bringing the Dodger franchise to Los Angeles in 1958. She fought tirelessly to create an opportunity for the Dodgers to move across the country to Los Angeles. The award will be presented by Tommy's daughter, Laura Lasorda, during pregame ceremonies on September 22 before the 7:10 p.m. game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on what would have been Lasorda's 95th birthday.

“The name ‘Tommy Lasorda’ is synonymous with the Dodgers, so it’s only fitting that we introduce a new award which encompasses his incredible passion for the organization,” said Stan Kasten, President & CEO, Los Angeles Dodgers. “For the inaugural award, we have selected Roz Wyman because without her, there might never have been a Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team. Her persistent pursuit and dedication to ensuring the team came to Los Angeles embodies the concept of the Tommy Lasorda I Bleed Dodger Blue Award to a tee.”

In 1953, a 22-year-old Wyman became the youngest person and second woman ever elected to the Los Angeles City Council and served the city in that capacity until 1965. A diehard baseball fan, it was her passion to bring Major League Baseball to the “City of Angels” and her persistence of the Brooklyn Dodgers and owner Walter O’Malley finally bore fruit in 1957 when O’Malley agreed to a helicopter ride over downtown Los Angeles. The rest is history.

Wyman has been a season ticket holder at Dodger Stadium since the baseball cathedral opened its doors in 1962. When the elder O’Malley died in 1979, his son and former Dodger owner Peter O’Malley presented her with a “master key” to the stadium which still hangs in her den.

A graduate of the University of Southern California, Wyman was also influential in helping the Giants move from New York to San Francisco while also helping the Lakers make the move to Southern California from Minneapolis.

“To be a part of Tommy’s legacy is a great honor. He was a very dear friend of mine and I’ll always remember him for telling me ‘If it wasn’t for Roz Wyman, I would be a shoe salesman’,” said Roz Wyman. “From the O’Malley family to the Walter family and all of the current owners, the Dodgers continue to have the best ownership group in MLB. Like Tommy, I have been bleeding Dodger blue since 1958 but this 2022 Dodger team is very special. As Dave Roberts told us, see you at the World Series!”

Regarded by many as baseball’s most popular ambassador, Lasorda spent 71 seasons in the Dodger organization with Dodger Blue running through his veins. He spent his last 14 years in the organization as the special advisor to the chairman but made his name in Los Angeles at “Blue Heaven on Earth” as the Dodger manager from 1977-95. Lasorda was the fourth skipper in baseball history to guide the same franchise for 20 years, during which he won eight division titles, four N.L. pennants and World Series championships in 1981 and 1988.

On September 29, 1976, Lasorda was promoted to Dodger manager following Alston’s retirement at the end of the season. Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully asked Tommy if he felt any pressure replacing Alston and Lasorda responded, "No, Vin, I'm worried about the guy who's gonna replace me. That's the guy who's gonna have it tough."

The lifelong Dodger went on to compile a 1,599–1,439 record as Dodger manager and was elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1997. His plaque reads: “One of baseball’s most engaging personalities and a great ambassador for his sport. Managed Dodgers with an impenetrable passion, claiming to ‘Bleed Dodger Blue’. In his 47th season with the Dodgers organization when he retired as manager. Fourth manager in history to guide same franchise 20 years, during which he won eight division titles, four N.L. pennants and World Series championships in 1981 and 1988. 61 post-season games managed ranks third most in history.”