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Davey Lopes, a four-time MLB All-Star known for pushing bags while on the basepaths, has died. He was 80.
The Los Angeles Dodgers, with whom Lopes played most of his 16-year career, released a statement Wednesday confirming his death.
“The Dodgers are mourning the loss of Davey Lopes, who died today at the age of 80. Lopes was a member of the team’s record-setting infield in the 1970s and 1980s and one of the finest 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 Sports/Getty Images)
“Our condolences go out to his family and friends.”
Lopes secured a World Series during his years in Los Angeles when he was part of the 1981 squad that won it all. It was also the fourth season in a row that Lopes made the National League All-Star team.
He also played for the Oakland Athletics, Chicago Cubs, and Houston Astros after his time with the Dodgers, doing so until age 42 before taking up coaching.
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A late bloomer in terms of debut age, Lopes played his first game for the Dodgers at age 27 in 1972. And right after retirement, Lopes remained in the MLB, serving as bench coach for the Texas Rangers from 1989-91.
From there, he would bounce around to the Baltimore Orioles and San Diego Padres in various roles until landing as manager of the Milwaukee Brewers.
Lopes held that post from 2000-02 and went 144-195 in the three seasons before he was dismissed. He returned to the Padres to serve as their first base coach before holding the same position with the Washington Nationals and Philadelphia Phillies.
Davey Lopes of the Washington Nationals stands in the dugout before game three 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, nearly half a century, of him making an impact on America’s pastime.
But perhaps his biggest impact was being part of a Dodgers’ infield that has gone 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, an MLB record according to the Elias Sports Bureau. The next closest is 623 games, set by the Cubs in the 1960s.
Lopes was also a speed demon on the basepaths, tallying 557 stolen bases, which ranks him 26th all-time. He led the league while with the Dodgers in back-to-back seasons in 1975 (77) and 1976 (63).
In 1975, Lopes set an MLB record with 38 consecutive stolen bases without being caught, which was later broken by Vince Coleman in 1988.
Davey Lopes strikes 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 Sports/Getty Images)
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In the field, Lopes received a Gold Glove Award in 1978 while providing solid defensive work for whatever team he played for throughout his career.
Lopes slashed .263/.349/.388 with a .737 OPS for his career and collected 1,671 hits, 232 doubles, 155 home runs and 614 RBI in 1,812 games.
