The baseball world is mourning the loss of Davey Lopes, a Los Angeles Dodgers legend and one of Major League Baseball’s most electrifying base stealers, who passed away at the age of 80.
The Los Angeles Dodgers were informed of Lopes’ death in Rhode Island by his former wife, Lin Lopes. His passing marks the end of an era for one of the game’s most iconic infielders.
Lopes was a four-time All-Star during his 10 seasons with the Dodgers and played in four World Series, including the 1981 championship-winning team. He still holds the franchise record for most games played at second base with 1,134, and his 1,145 games batting leadoff rank second only to Maury Wills' 1972. Lopes quickly became a cornerstone of a legendary infield alongside Steve Garvey, Bill Russell, and Ron Cey, starting together for over 8 consecutive years.
Known for his speed and precision on the bases, Lopes stole 418 bases as a Dodger, the second-highest total in franchise history behind Wills. He holds the franchise record for career stolen-base success rate at 83.1% (minimum 100 attempts). Some of his most memorable feats include stealing four bases in a single game in 1974, tying a National League record with five steals just 20 days later, and setting a then-MLB record with 28 consecutive stolen bases without being caught in 1975.
Lopes led the majors in steals in 1975 with 77 and in the National League in 1976 with 63, continuing his dominance throughout the late 1970s. In 1978, he had a standout World Series, starting Game 1 with two home runs against the New York Yankees and earning a Gold Glove that season.
After leaving the Dodgers, Lopes played for the Oakland Athletics, Chicago Cubs, and Houston Astros, finishing his career with 557 stolen bases — ranking 26th in MLB history — and a .263 batting average in 1,812 games, with 155 home runs, 614 RBIs, 232 doubles, and 50 triples.
Lopes remained deeply involved in baseball after his playing days, managing the Milwaukee Brewers from 2000 to 2002 and coaching for the Baltimore Orioles, San Diego Padres, Washington Nationals, Philadelphia Phillies, and returning to the Dodgers as the baserunning and first-base coach from 2011 to 2015. He also won a second World Series as the Phillies’ first-base coach and finished his career coaching the Nationals in 2016–2017.
Davey Lopes is survived by his brothers, Patrick and John, and sisters, Jean, Judith, Mary, and Nina. His impact on the Dodgers, the game of baseball, and generations of fans will be remembered forever.
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