Davey Lopes, Dodgers infield star, dies at 80
Davey Lopes, a four-time Major League Baseball All-Star and one of the game's premier base stealers, died at age 80. The Los Angeles Dodgers, with whom he spent most of his 16-year playing career, confirmed his death in a statement Wednesday. The club described him as a member of its record-setting infield from the 1970s and 1980s and one of MLB's finest base stealers.
Lopes debuted with the Dodgers at age 27 in 1972 and played there through 1981, helping the team win the World Series that year. His final All-Star selection came in 1981, his fourth straight. He later played for the Oakland Athletics, Chicago Cubs and Houston Astros until age 42.
At second base, Lopes joined first baseman Steve Garvey, third baseman Ron Cey and shortstop Bill Russell for 833 games with the Dodgers, an MLB record according to the Elias Sports Bureau. He stole 557 bases in his career, ranking 26th all-time, and led the National League in 1975 with 77 and in 1976 with 63. That year, he set a major league mark with 38 consecutive steals without being caught, later broken by Vince Coleman in 1988. Lopes won a Gold Glove at second base in 1978. Career numbers include a .263 batting average, .349 on-base percentage, .388 slugging percentage, .737 OPS, 1,671 hits, 232 doubles, 155 home runs and 614 RBI over 1,812 games.
After retiring as a player, Lopes coached for 45 straight years until 2017. He served as bench coach for the Texas Rangers from 1989-91, worked with the Baltimore Orioles and San Diego Padres, managed the Milwaukee Brewers from 2000-02 with a 144-195 record, and was first base coach for the Padres, Washington Nationals and Philadelphia Phillies.
