Baseball ambassador Tommy Lasorda, the Norristown native who steered the Los Angeles Dodgers to World Series victories, has died. He was 93, writes Beth Harris, the Associated Press, on WHYY.

Lasorda was born in 1927 in Norristown, attending Norristown High School in the early 1940s. His career took off when signed with the Phillies as an undrafted free agent in 1945, missing the ’46 and 47’ seasons while serving in the Army.

When returning to the team in 1948, his pitching arm caught the eye of the Dodgers, playing for their farm team. His life-long goal was to be a major league pitcher, which he achieved with the Dodgers.

In 1961, Lasorda retired and became a Dodgers talent scout, realizing what he really wanted was to be an MLB manager, especially if he could lead the Dodgers to the World Series. He achieved this feat in 1977, in his first season as manager.

He was inducted into baseball’s Hall of Fame on 1997, then guided the United States Baseball Team to a Gold Medal at the 2000 Sydney Games.

Lasorda’s career revolved around baseball, managing teams in All-Stars games, with his fiery personality.

He liked to say he “Bled Dodger Blue.” He is survived by his family and his wife, Jo.

Read more about the life of Norristown legend Tommy Lasorda here.