The Dodgers mourned the loss of a beloved family member Friday, with the news that Tommy Lasorda passed away on Thursday at the age of 93.

While his loss was felt throughout the game, it hit especially hard to those whom he coached, managed or spent time with during his 71 years in the Dodgers organization.

• 'A legend': Baseball world mourns Lasorda

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts will never forget getting to share and embrace with Lasorda in Arlington after the Dodgers beat the Rays to clinch their first World Series title since Lasorda's 1988 squad.

"That's something we talked about," Roberts said. "I kind of made a promise to him that we would win [a World Series] before he left us. And he said he was going to stick around long enough for us to win a championship. So for him to make his way to Texas to be with us and see it in person speaks to his determination, his stubbornness, his compete, all of that."

Dodgers president and CEO Stan Kasten said the team will certainly honor Lasorda with fitting tributes this season. In fact, Kasten had told Lasorda that he wanted him to throw out the first pitch on Opening Day.

Kasten said he looks forward to a time when Dodgers fans can all gather -- post-pandemic -- to truly celebrate Lasorda's life.

"If these were normal times and we had a wake, it would be the funniest event of all time, because we all have our stories" Kasten said. "Every one of us has our own phenomenal memories. There will be a lot of words written about him and said about him, but to me there's one word that I will take more than any other and that's unique. I think unique is a word that's overused yet I think it really, really defines Tommy. He was a unique personality."

Right-hander Orel Hershiser, the ace of Lasorda's 1988 championship team, was given the nickname "Bulldog" by Lasorda in 1983 after failing to make the big league team out of Spring Training. He credited Lasorda with helping instill in him belief and confidence.

Towards the end of Lasorda's life, Hershiser spent time via FaceTime with his former manager sharing stories and memories.

"If you knew Tommy Lasorda you would know that every moment in his life was huge," Hershiser said. "Every game was huge, every at-bat was huge, every pitch was huge, every meal was huge. He had a great relationship with napkins and ties and shirts because everything was done with zest and everything was done over the top."

Current Astros manager Dusty Baker, who played for Lasorda from 1977-83, was in his wine cellar Friday morning when he received word that Lasorda had passed. He took a picture of a pair of Lasorda Family Wine bottles he had been given recently and told his wife that they were going to have Italian food for dinner in honor of Lasorda.

There was always food available in Lasorda’s office during his days as manager, and as a result Baker has made a habit of bringing food for his players over the years.

“He always made sure we had food, he knew everybody’s wife and he knew everybody’s child, which is the one thing I missed last year of not meeting the families,” said Baker, referring to last season's COVID-19 restrictions. “Whether it’s the mother and family and brother and sister or wife and children. … I never felt so removed from a family atmosphere like I’ve always had since Tommy was there.”

• Lasorda helped shape Baker as manager

That was just one of the many lessons that Baker took from his time with Lasorda.

“When I stick my neck out for a player I think can play, I learned that from Tommy,” he said. “When I bring in food for the players, I learned that from Tommy. That brought us all together. Tommy was ultimate positive thinker. I learned that from Tommy and my dad. He saved my career, actually, because that year [1977] he stuck his neck out for me, I hit 30 home runs, we went to the playoffs, I was the [NLCS] MVP. I was the very first MVP of the playoffs. Then from there, I went ahead and made the All-Dodger team all because Tom Lasorda stuck his neck out for me.”

Another former Dodgers player under Lasorda turned MLB manager, Bobby Valentine, offered his remembrance on Twitter: "Words cannot express my feelings. A friend and mentor for 52 years is no longer with us. Tommy no one will ever fill the void you left. Thank you for everything."

Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully, who was behind the mic for so many of Lasorda's career highlights, mourned the loss of his friend:

"His heart was bigger than his talent and there were no foul lines for his enthusiasm.”

Jaime Jarrín, another Hall of Fame broadcaster and the Spanish language voice of the Dodgers for 62 years, said his memories that include Lasorda "are amongst my most treasured."

Tommy Hutton, who played for Lasorda while coming up through the Dodgers' Minor League system, looked at him as a father.

"I have been blessed in this lifetime to have had two fathers," Hutton said. "My biological Dad and my baseball Dad. He scouted me, signed me and taught me the way baseball should be played. RIP Tommy Lasorda and [prayers] to your wife Jo and family."

Current Dodgers star pitcher Walker Buehler remembered Lasorda as "one of the most passionate and entertaining people I've been around in my life."

D-backs CEO and team president Derrick Hall, who started his front office career in the Dodgers' organization, rising to vice president of public relations, treasured the time he got to spend with Lasorda.

"I am so sad with the passing of Tommy Lasorda, who was such an important part of my life and career," Hall said. "I will cherish the meals, stories, laughs and travels forever. One of a kind legend."

Nobody ever took more pride in being a part of the Dodgers organization than Lasorda, and Roberts knows that he is now part of a group that’s responsible for carrying that forward.

“He just let anyone know the importance of putting on this uniform and what it means to be part of this organization,” Roberts said. “And I think that this is something that has been real for decades and it's our job now going forward to make sure that his legacy continues to live on. It encompasses a lot to be a Dodger and no one exemplified that more than Tommy."