Dodgers to Present Tommy Lasorda I Bleed Blue Dodger Blue Award to Longtime Dodger Steve Yeager
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers today announced that longtime catcher Steve Yeager will receive the third 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 Sunday, September 22, before the 1:10 p.m. game against the Colorado Rockies on what would have been Lasorda's 97th birthday.
“It’s a tremendous honor to receive an award named after Tommy Lasorda, who did so much for the organization and Major League Baseball and impacted the lives of so many young men in his career,” said Yeager. “Many of those guys had long careers playing and many stayed in coaching, like myself. He touched so many lives and made us all better for it.”
“We are pleased to present the Tommy Lasorda I Bleed Blue Award to Steve Yeager,” said Stan Kasten, President & CEO, Los Angeles Dodgers. “Steve is a bonafide World Series hero, and for more than 50 years, he has exemplified the best qualities of Tommy in becoming a leader and mentor to generations of Dodgers.”
In the capstone of a 14-year career with the Dodgers from 1972-85, Yeager hit the game-winning home run in Game 5 of the 1981 World Series, propelling him to tri-MVP honors (shared with Ron Cey and Pedro Guerrero) in leading the Dodgers to their first championship since 1965. In four World Series overall, the clutch performer batted .298/.323/.579/.902 with four home runs and 10 RBI in 21 games.
Behind the plate, Yeager was a stalwart. He ranks third on the all-time Dodgers list for games caught (1,181), despite being on the receiving ends of some of the most vicious home-plate collisions in Dodger history. In addition, following a life-threatening throat injury from a shattered bat that struck him while in the on-deck circle, Yeager also co-created with Dodger trainer Bill Buhler the plastic neck flap that would become standard issue for Major League catchers.
Yeager began his Dodger career at age 18 following his fourth-round selection in the 1967 amateur draft. After playing five years in the minor leagues, Yeager made his MLB debut on August 2, 1972 at age 23. To a large extent, Yeager was the fifth infielder complementing the famed 1970s Dodger infield of Steve Garvey, Davey Lopes, Bill Russell and Cey, catching the majority of Dodger games during that period. Offensively, Yeager compiled a Major League career .228 batting average with 102 home runs and 410 RBI in 1,269 regular-season games, topped by a 16-homer season in 1977 with a .779 OPS.
Through it all, Yeager was a strong mentor for both Dodger catchers and pitchers. After his playing career, Yeager became a longtime coach and manager in the Dodger minor league system and at Dodger Adult Camps. He also appeared in and served as a technical advisor for the Major League movie franchise, playing the role of Coach Duke Temple.