Davey Lopes, Dodgers Base Stealing Icon, Passes Away at 80
LOS ANGELES — Davey Lopes, a celebrated figure in the Los Angeles Dodgers' record-setting infield of the 1970s and 1980s and renowned as one of baseball's premier base stealers, died on Wednesday at the age of 80. The Dodgers organization was notified of his passing in Rhode Island by his former wife, Lin Lopes.
A Stellar Career with the Dodgers
Lopes enjoyed a remarkable 10-year tenure with the Dodgers, earning four All-Star selections and participating in four World Series, including the championship victory in 1981. He holds the franchise record for most games played at second base with 1,134 appearances. Additionally, his 1,145 games batting leadoff rank second in Dodgers history, trailing only Maury Wills' 1,279.
Making his MLB debut on September 22, 1972, at age 27, Lopes quickly became a cornerstone of the team. The following season, he joined Steve Garvey, Bill Russell, and Ron Cey to form an infield that started together for an impressive 8 1/2 consecutive years, setting a standard for durability and teamwork.
Mastery on the Basepaths
Lopes established himself as one of the most prolific base stealers in baseball history. He stole 418 bases as a Dodger, the second-highest career total in franchise history behind Wills' 490. Notably, Lopes holds the franchise record with an 83.1% career success rate for steals, among players with at least 100 attempts.
His base-stealing prowess was highlighted by several record-breaking performances. On August 4, 1974, Lopes became the first Dodger since Wills to steal four bases in a single game. Just 20 days later, he tied the National League record with five steals against the St. Louis Cardinals. In 1975, he set a then-MLB record with 28 consecutive steals without being caught.
Lopes led the majors in steals in 1975 with 77 and topped the National League in 1976 with 63. His efficiency remained evident in 1978, when he stole 45 bases in 49 attempts.
Postseason Success and Later Career
In the 1978 World Series, Lopes delivered the best performance of his postseason career, hitting two home runs in Game 1 against the New York Yankees. That same season, he earned a Gold Glove award for his defensive excellence.
After his time with the Dodgers, Lopes played for the Oakland Athletics (1982-84), Chicago Cubs (1984-86), and Houston Astros (1986-87). Over his career, he stole 557 bases, ranking 26th in MLB history, while batting .263 in 1,812 regular-season games. His offensive contributions included 155 home runs, 614 RBI, 232 doubles, and 50 triples.
Coaching and Legacy
Following his playing days, Lopes transitioned to coaching and managing. He served as manager of the Milwaukee Brewers from 2000 to 2002 and coached with several teams, including the Baltimore Orioles, San Diego Padres, Washington Nationals, Philadelphia Phillies, and Dodgers.
He won a second World Series as the Phillies' first-base coach before returning to the Dodgers as the baserunning and first-base coach from 2011 to 2015. Lopes concluded his major league career as the Nationals' first-base coach in 2016 and 2017.
Davey Lopes is survived by his brothers, Patrick and John, and sisters, Jean, Judith, Mary, and Nina. His legacy as a dynamic player and respected coach continues to resonate throughout the baseball community.
