Davey Lopes facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Davey Lopes |
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Lopes coaching for the Nationals in 2017
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| Second baseman / Manager | |||
| Born: May 3, 1945 East Providence, Rhode Island, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| September 22, 1972, for the Los Angeles Dodgers | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| October 4, 1987, for the Houston Astros | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .263 | ||
| Home runs | 155 | ||
| Runs batted in | 614 | ||
| Stolen bases | 557 | ||
| Managerial record | 144–195 | ||
| Winning % | .425 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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David Earl Lopes (born May 3, 1945) is an American former second baseman and manager in Major League Baseball (MLB). He was known for his speed and power as a player. He played for teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers, Oakland Athletics, Chicago Cubs, and Houston Astros. Later, he managed the Milwaukee Brewers.
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Early Life and Baseball Start
Davey Lopes was born and grew up in Rhode Island. He played baseball in high school at La Salle Academy and then in college for Iowa Wesleyan College and Washburn University.
He was first picked by the San Francisco Giants in the 1967 MLB Draft but didn't sign with them. The Los Angeles Dodgers then drafted him in 1968, and that's where his professional journey began.
Playing Career Highlights
When Davey Lopes first joined the Dodgers, he was a quiet person. His manager, Tommy Lasorda, helped him become more confident and a leader. Lopes was known for his amazing speed, which helped his team a lot. He played three seasons in the minor leagues before making it to the major leagues.
Making His MLB Debut
Lopes made his first appearance in Major League Baseball on September 22, 1972, with the Dodgers. His first hit came two days later against the San Francisco Giants. His first home run was hit in May 1973.
A Key Player for the Dodgers
Davey Lopes played nine seasons as the regular second baseman for the Dodgers. He was part of a famous infield with Steve Garvey (first baseman), Bill Russell (shortstop), and Ron Cey (third baseman). This group played together for over eight seasons!
Lopes was often the leadoff hitter, meaning he was the first batter in the lineup. He was one of the best base stealers in baseball history. He stole 557 bases in his career, which is one of the highest totals ever. What's even more impressive is that he was successful 83% of the time he tried to steal a base, which is a very high rate!
In 1975, Lopes set a record by stealing 38 bases in a row without getting caught. He led the National League in stolen bases in both 1975 (with 77 steals) and 1976 (with 63 steals).
Speed and Power
Lopes was special because he had both speed and power. In 1979, he hit a career-high 28 home runs. He was one of only a few second basemen in the National League to hit that many home runs in a season.
He was chosen for the All-Star team four times in a row, from 1978 to 1981. He also played in four World Series with the Dodgers, winning the World Series in 1981. In the 1978 World Series against the New York Yankees, he hit three home runs and had seven runs batted in.
Later Career Teams
Before the 1982 season, Lopes was traded to the Oakland Athletics. There, he teamed up with Rickey Henderson, and together they stole 158 bases, setting a new record for teammates in the American League.
He was later traded to the Chicago Cubs in 1984 and then to the Houston Astros in 1986. He continued to steal bases even as he got older, stealing 47 bases at age 40 and 25 at age 41, before he retired from playing in 1987.
Over his 16-season playing career, Davey Lopes had a batting average of .263, with 155 home runs and 614 runs batted in.
Coaching and Managing Career
After retiring as a player, Lopes became a coach. He worked for the Texas Rangers, Baltimore Orioles, and San Diego Padres.
In 2000, he became the manager of the Milwaukee Brewers. He managed the team for three seasons.
Coaching Success
Lopes rejoined the Padres as a coach from 2003 to 2005. He then coached for the Washington Nationals in 2006 and the Philadelphia Phillies from 2007 to 2010.
During his time with the Phillies, the team was excellent at stealing bases. In 2007, they had the best stolen base percentage in MLB history, stealing 138 bases out of 157 attempts (87.9% success rate!).
He returned to the Los Angeles Dodgers as a coach from 2011 to 2015 and then coached for the Washington Nationals again in 2016 and 2017. After the 2017 season, Lopes decided to retire from coaching.
Personal Life
Davey Lopes was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2008, but he recovered.
He is of Cape Verdean descent. There is a recreation center named after him in Providence, Rhode Island, where he grew up.
Amazing Achievements
- He was an All-Star player four times (1978–1981).
- He won a Gold Glove Award in 1978 for being an excellent defensive player.
- He led the National League in stolen bases twice (1975 and 1976).
- His 557 career stolen bases rank him 26th on the all-time list.
- He has the second-highest number of stolen bases in Dodgers history (413).
- In the 1978 World Series, he hit two home runs and had five RBIs in one game.
- He stole five bases in the 1981 NLCS.
- He stole four bases in the 1981 World Series.
- He once stole five bases in a single game in 1974, tying a National League record.
- In 1975, he set an MLB record by stealing 38 bases in a row without getting caught.
Images for kids
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Lopes with the Dodgers
