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Davey Lopes Los Angeles Dodgers, Davey Lopes Los Angeles Dodgers in action during a baseball game.
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Davey Lopes Los Angeles Dodgers, Davey Lopes Los Angeles Dodgers in action during a baseball game.
It has not been a good couple of days for the Los Angeles Dodgers family. First, one of the Dodgers’ clubhouse leaders, Miguel Rojas’s father, passed away. And now a 2-time World Series winner has as well.
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“The Dodgers mourn the loss of Davey Lopes, who passed away today at age 80,” the Dodgers reported.
The Dodgers confirmed that legend Davey Lopes died at 80. He spent 10 seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers and also coached them from 2011 to 2015. His return to the Dodgers back then improved the baserunning, and the team’s efficiency also went up under his guidance.
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His bond with baseball lasted for over 45 years, including coaching teams like the Rangers, Orioles, and the Padres. He also managed the Brewers from 2000 to 2002. He also worked as a baserunning coach with the Phillies, other than the Dodgers. But he will mostly be remembered as a player.
The Dodgers mourn the loss of Davey Lopes, who passed away today at age 80. Lopes was a member of the team’s record-setting infield of the 1970s and 1980s and one of the finest basestealers in MLB history. Our condolences go out to his family and friends. pic.twitter.com/dJkOk0CWbP
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) April 8, 2026
In 1973, Dodgers manager Walter Alston made a bold move and put Davey Lopes at 2nd, Bill Russell at shortstop, Steve Garvey to 1st, and Ron Cey at 3rd. This same infield stayed together for the next 8 seasons. During that stretch, the Dodgers won the World Series in 1981, beating the Yankees. But other than that, they made the World Series 3 more times.
During his time as a player, Lopes stole a total of 557 bases with an 83% success rate, making him one of the most successful in the history of the game. Fans will always remember him stealing 5 bases in a single game in 1974. During the 1981 postseason, he went 10 for 10 stealing bases.
He also added a lot of power for a leadoff hitter and hit 28 homers in the 1979 season. Fans will also remember his off-field fight with prostate cancer. But they will always look back at how he beat it and reached remission by Opening Day, ultimately helping coach the Phillies to a 2008 World Series championship
At the end of the day, Davey Lopes will be remembered for his speed, discipline, and 45 straight years serving baseball, even through his own battles.
Dodgers fans mourn the loss of legend Davey Lopes
The fans had not even recovered from the loss of Miguel Rojas’s father, and they had to deal with the loss of a club legend like Davey Lopes.
“Damn, rip Davey,” echoed fans, recalling an infield that stayed together 8.5 seasons. The Garvey, Lopes, Cey, and Russell group started 833 games for the Los Angeles Dodgers, posting a .598 winning percentage. They reached four World Series and won in 1981, proving that the unit was truly “untouchable back then.”
“Thank you for your base coach service to the Phillies,” reflects a stint where efficiency peaked. In 2007, the Phillies successfully stole bases 87.9% of the time (138 out of 157 tries). That mark ranked best in MLB and remains one of the highest single-season success rates ever.
While Lopes was their coach from 2007 to 2010, the team had the best stolen base success rate in the league every single year. Many experts believe this smart baserunning was a huge reason why the Phillies won the 2008 World Series.
“Oh man, one of my all-time favorites” fits a player central to the 1981 triumph. The Dodgers beat the Yankees in six games, winning four straight after dropping the first two. Davey Lopes stole 10 bases in that postseason, setting a record without being caught once. In Game 6, Los Angeles won 9-2, sealing their first championship since the 1965 season.
“Been a Dodgers fan since 72” matches a career debuting in 1972 after five minor seasons. On August 24, 1974, he stole five bases against St. Louis, a rare feat. In the 1981 postseason, he reached base consistently, setting up rallies across six World Series games.
“First base coach and stolen-base guru on Dusty’s Nats coaching staff” fit his 2016 return. Under Dusty Baker, the Nationals won 95 games and took the NL East in 2016. Reports noted Washington hired him specifically to “jump-start” a more aggressive running game approach. Spring numbers showed results early, with the Nationals going 23 for 24 on steals.
Davey Lopes leaves behind numbers, but Walter Alston’s gamble proved timeless, not accidental at all. The Phillies and Dusty Baker’s Nationals show his mind translated across eras without fading relevance. If “untouchable” was ever earned, Lopes made it look routine.
Written by
Edited by
Arunaditya Aima