LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers today announced longtime Minor League manager, coach and mentor John Shoemaker will receive the second annual Tommy Lasorda I Bleed Dodger Blue Award, an honor given to a member of the Los Angeles Dodger community that embodies the passion, enthusiasm and love for the Dodgers that Tommy Lasorda possessed. The award will be presented by Tommy's daughter, Laura Lasorda, during pregame ceremonies on Friday, September 22, before the 7:10 p.m. game against the San Francisco Giants on what would have been Lasorda's 96th birthday.
“Being selected as this year’s recipient of the Tommy Lasorda I Bleed Dodger Blue Award is an incredibly humbling honor,” said Shoemaker. “The legacy of Tommy Lasorda will live forever, as he was the greatest baseball ambassador the game could ever have. The passion and love for his players, staff, fans and organization was incomparable. I love Tommy Lasorda and I love the Dodgers, and I cherish this recognition.”
The Dodgers drafted Shoemaker out of Miami University of Ohio in 1977 (of note: the Chicago Bulls also drafted Shoemaker in the sixth round of the 1978 NBA draft). In the spring of ’78, Shoemaker had his first encounter with Lasorda. “I was a Minor League player my first Spring Training in 1978,” he said. “We were playing an intrasquad game on Field No. 2 at Vero Beach. … Tommy came over to see who I was and offer his wishes to have a great career.”
Shoemaker played in the organization from 1977-1980, batting .282 with a .394 slugging percentage, before shifting gears in 1981 when Minor League Field Coordinator Guy Wellman called him into his office at Dodgertown and asked Shoemaker if he’d like to become a Minor League coach. Shoemaker has gone on to manage 3,457 games for 29 seasons in the Dodger organization across six levels, winning 1,777 games and three league championships (1996, 2001, 2005) and guiding 12 different teams to the postseason (including this year’s Single-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes). In 2015, Shoemaker was named the “Captain” of the Dodger Player Development system, and has worn a “C” on his jersey since. Even more importantly, Shoemaker served as an invaluable mentor and tutor of countless Dodger minor leaguers. Under his watch, more than 100 of those prospects developed the excellence and resilience to become Major Leaguers. Also in 2015, Shoemaker won Minor League Baseball’s Mike Coolbaugh Award for showing outstanding baseball work ethic, knowledge of the game and skill in mentoring young players on the field."
“John has been a crucial part of this organization and a big reason why we have been so successful,” said Dodger President and CEO Stan Kasten. “Tommy’s influence on Shoe is so apparent. If you look at the amount of talent that has emerged from his tutelage and mentorship, you can see why he’s our Minor League captain and more than deserving of this award.”
Said Laura Lasorda: “I am so thrilled to present the second annual I Bleed Dodger Blue Award on behalf of my dad to John. He is an exemplary member of the Dodgers’ organization and truly epitomizes the spirit and love of the game like my father.”
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.
The Dodger legend went on to compile a 1,599-1,439 record as the team’s manager and was elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1997. His Hall of Fame 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.”