An inauspicious Start

Tommy Lasorda is one of the truly beloved figures in Dodgers history. With eight division titles, four NL pennants and World Series championships in 1981 and '88, it's no surprise he's been inducted in Baseball's Hall of Fame. But his playing career was a different story, let's just say that despite coming up alongside such legends as Koufax and Drysdale in the Dodger farm system, his talents didn't quite match theirs. And to be fair, he's always poked fun at the back of his baseball card -- and jokes that it took someone as good as Sandy Koufax to take his place on the big league roster.
On May 5th, 1955 at Ebbets Field, Lasorda made his first start -- but lasted just an inning. The young lefty tied a record with three wild pitches, walked two and struck out two before being lifted by manager Walter Alston, although he gave up just one run. Clem Labine and Ed Roebuck took things the rest of the way, and with Roy Campanella driving in the go-ahead run in the bottom of the 8th, the Dodgers escaped with a 4 - 3 win.

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