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Yesterday β€” 8 April 2026Main stream

Davey Lopes, Dodgers Great and Legendary Base Stealer, Dies at 80

Los Angeles Dodgers great Davey Lopes has died at the age of 80.

β€œThe Dodgers mourn the loss of Davey Lopes, who passed away today at age 80,” the team announced Wednesday morning. β€œLopes was a member of the team’s record-setting infield of the 1970s and 1980s and one of the finest basestealers in MLB history. Our condolences go out to his family and friends.”

The Dodgers mourn the loss of Davey Lopes, who passed away today at age 80. Lopes was a member of the team’s record-setting infield of the 1970s and 1980s and one of the finest basestealers in MLB history. Our condolences go out to his family and friends. pic.twitter.com/dJkOk0CWbP

β€” Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) April 8, 2026

Lopes played for the Dodgers from 1972 to 1981, and he served as a coach for the team from 2011 to 2015.

He also played for the Oakland Athletics, Chicago Cubs and Houston Astros.

Furthermore, he managed the Milwaukee Brewers for three seasons and coached for six other teams, including the Dodgers.

With the Boys in Blue, he was a four-time All-Star, two-time National League steals winner and one-time Gold Glove winner. He also won the 1981 World Series.

He won another World Series as a coach for the Philadelphia Phillies.

Feb 23, 2011; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers first base coach Davey Lopes (12) during spring training at Camelback Ranch. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports

What Was Davey Lopes Like as a Player?

Over his 16-year career, Lopes hit .263/.349/.388 with 155 home runs and 614 RBIs.

Perhaps his best skill, though, was stealing bases. He led the National League twice in that category with 77 in 1975 and 63 in 1976, but that was just part of a seven-year streak in which he finished in the top six of the NL in steals each season, per Baseball Savant.

Over the course of his career, he stole 557 bases, the bulk of them for the Dodgers.

β€œLopes established himself as one of the most prolific base stealers to wear a Dodger uniform,” the team said in a news release. β€œHe stole 418 bases as a Dodger, the second-highest career total in franchise history behind Maury Wills (490). Lopes holds the franchise record with an 83.1 percent career success rate (minimum 100 steals).”

Lopes also tied the NL record for most steals in a single game with give against the St. Louis Cardinals on Aug. 245, 1974.

He also scored more than 100 runs in a season twice and more than 90 in two other years.

The team added that Lopes was β€œknown as one of the best baserunning coaches in the game.”

He is survived by two brothers, Patrick and John, and four sisters, Jean, Judith, Mary and Nina.

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