Davey Lopes, a speedy four-time All-Star who won the World Series in his fourth attempt with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1981, has died Wednesday at the age of 80 after a battle with Parkinson’s disease, the team said.
Lopes played 10 of his 16 MLB seasons with the Dodgers and led the National League in steals twice. He formed one of the most famous infields in baseball history, playing alongside Dodgers first baseman Steve Garvey, third baseman Ron Cey and shortstop Bill Russell.
After he playing career ended in 1987, Lopes served as a coach from 1988 to 2017, including serving as manager of the Milwaukee Brewers from 2000 to 2002 and winning another title as the first base coach of the Philadelphia Phillies in 2008.
Lopes stole 77 bases to lead the majors in 1975, including a stretch of 38 in a row without being thrown out. The following season, he again led MLB with 63. He still ranks 26th all-time in the category with 557, with a success rate of 83%.
Lopes also played for the Athletics, Chicago Cubs and Houston Astros during his career, hitting .263 with 155 home runs, 1,023 runs scored and 614 RBIs. His coaching career also included stops with the Dodgers, Washington Nationals, Baltimore Orioles and San Diego Padres.
