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Davey Lopes, a four-time MLB All-Star known for sliding bags on the base paths, has died. He was 80 years old.
The Los Angeles Dodgers, with whom Lopes played most of his 16-year career, released a statement Wednesday confirming his death.
“The Dodgers mourn the loss of Davey Lopes, who passed away today at the age of 80. Lopes was a member of the team’s record-breaking infield in the 1970s and 1980s and one of the greatest base stealers in MLB history.
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Davey Lopes of the Los Angeles Dodgers takes batting practice at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California, circa 1978. (Focus on sport/Getty Images)
“Our condolences go out to his family and friends.”
Lopes won a World Series during his years in Los Angeles, as he was part of the 1981 team that won it all. It was also the fourth consecutive season that Lopes made the National League All-Star team.
He also played for the Oakland Athletics, Chicago Cubs and Houston Astros after his stint with the Dodgers, until the age of 42 before becoming a manager.
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Lopes was a late bloomer in terms of starting age, playing his first game for the Dodgers at age 27 in 1972. And right after his retirement, Lopes remained in the MLB, serving as bench coach for the Texas Rangers from 1989 to 1991.
From there, he joined the Baltimore Orioles and San Diego Padres in various roles until becoming manager of the Milwaukee Brewers.
Lopes held the position from 2000 to 2002, going 144-195 in those three seasons before being fired. He returned to the Padres to serve as first base coach before serving in the same position with the Washington Nationals and Philadelphia Phillies.
Davey Lopes of the Washington Nationals stands in the dugout before Game 3 of the National League Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California on October 10, 2016. (Patrick McDermott/Washington Nationals/Getty Images)
Lopes finally retired from coaching in 2017, marking 45 consecutive years, or nearly half a century, that he had made an impact on America’s pastime.
But perhaps his greatest impact was being part of a Dodgers infield that went down in history as one of the greatest four-man teams to play the game. While Lopes played second base, he was accompanied by first baseman Steve Garvey, third baseman Ron Cey and shortstop Bill Russell.
In Lopes’ 1,139 games at second base for the Dodgers, he played 833 with the other three, which is an MLB record, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. The next closest is 623 games, hosted by the Cubs in the 1960s.
Lopes was also a speed demon on the basespaths, totaling 557 stolen bases, which ranks him 26th all-time. He led the league with the Dodgers in consecutive seasons in 1975 (77) and 1976 (63).
In 1975, Lopes set an MLB record with 38 consecutive stolen bases without being caught, a record which has since been broken by Vince Coleman in 1988.
Davey Lopes bats during batting practice before a Major League Baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California, circa 1980. Lopes played for the Dodgers from 1972 to 1981. (Focus on sport/Getty Images)
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On the field, Lopes won a Gold Glove Award in 1978, while providing solid defensive work for the team he played for throughout his career.
Lopes slashed .263/.349/.388 with a .737 OPS for his career, collecting 1,671 hits, 232 doubles, 155 home runs and 614 RBIs in 1,812 games.
