The Artful Dodger Author:Tommy Lasorda, David Fisher How "the son of an Italian immigrant, a runny-nosed little left-handed pitcher with a decent curve ball" made it from hard times in Norristown, Pa., to glory days in Chavez Ravine. Ever since replacing Waiter Alston at the end of 1976 season, the cheerful, garrulous Lasorda has been a media darling. — He chronicles his life h... more »ere here: success as a Triple A pitcher (notably for Montreal), success in the Caribbean Winter League (he got to chat with Fulgencio Batista), success as a Dodger scout, success managing the Spokane and Ogden farms teams, and, of course, success in L.A. (pennants in '77, '78, '81, and World Series rings in '81). The ""Big Dodger in the Sky"" has been kind to Lasorda: even his wife Jo is outstanding ("I was getting a beautiful woman who could cook"). Lasorda does have some good anecdotes to pass along (an incredible triple play in his last game as a player, a Cuban umpire who pulled a gun on him--in front of home plate), and he's comically modest about his major league pitching career (life-time record, 0-4).« less