DODGER BLUE NO. 2 RETIRED; LASORDA LAUDED AT LOVE FEST BY LONG LIST OF LUMINARIES.

Byline: Kevin Acee Daily News Staff Writer

A standing ovation accompanied him to his seat. Florence Henderson screamed ``God bless you, Tommy,'' at the end of her rendition of the national anthem. Fred Claire gave him the most eloquent compliment of the evening.

Friday was truly Tom Lasorda's night.

With Dodgers president Peter O'Malley declaring, ``From now on, only you can wear No. 2,'' Lasorda's jersey was retired by the team for which he has worked the past 48 years.

Lasorda joined predecessor Walter Alston and players Roy Campanella, Don Drysdale, Jim Gilliam, Sandy Koufax, Pee Wee Reese, Jackie Robinson and Duke Snider to become the ninth Dodger to have his number retired.

Players from the Dodgers and Reds watched the half-hour pregame ceremony, which was emceed by longtime Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully and delayed the start of Friday's game by 20 minutes.

Reese and Snider were in attendance, sitting on the other side of the podium from Lasorda, as were Rachel Robinson, widow of Jackie Robinson, and Roxy Campanella, widow of Roy Campanella. Dodgers coach and former Lasorda player Reggie Smith sat behind Lasorda wearing a neck brace following surgery last month. Former Dodgers general manager Al Campanis, who suffered a stroke in March, was there. With help from Dodgers coach Mike Scioscia, Campanis stood to acknowledge a smattering of applause. Former players and current Dodgers employees Ron Cey and Rick Monday sat behind Lasorda. Lasorda's old friend and future Hall of Fame manager Sparky Anderson was in attendance.

Anderson, who also attended Lasorda's Hall of Fame induction two weeks ago, told the crowd Lasorda was the only player he ever played with in the minor leagues to be inducted into the Hall of Fame and now the only player he ever played with to have his number retired.

Former Dodgers Fernando Valenzuela and Kirk Gibson paid tribute via video. Both received loud applause.

Gibson told Lasorda he was grateful to have played for a Hall of Fame manager and been a part of the 1988 world championship team, one of two world titles won by Lasorda's Dodgers.

``I'm even more grateful,'' he said, ``for you being my friend and a friend to my family.''

Gibson retold the story of his pinch-hit homer in the '88 Series before he and his sons signed off with a chorus: ``We love our Uncle Tommy.''

Friday was all about people loving Tommy, about how there is no one associated with the Dodgers whom people love more unconditionally.

A few days before his induction into the Hall of Fame, a published report said Lasorda had been lobbying for Claire's job as general manager should Rupert Murdoch buy the Dodgers. Then, in a press conference following the induction ceremony, Lasorda said (in answer to a hypothetical question) that he would choose current Mets manager Bobby Valentine to manage a team he controlled. The combination of controversies caused Lasorda and the Dodgers much chagrin the past two weeks.

All was set aside Friday.

Perhaps trying to butter up the crowd, Scully introduced Claire as ``The man who brought Otis Nixon here.''

Boos were mixed in with the applause.

The ever-dignified Claire, who last week voiced his displeasure with Lasorda in the media and this week admonished Lasorda directly, told the crowd it had been his ``pleasure'' to work with Lasorda the past 30 years.

``One trademark through all those years was his dedication to the game of baseball, his dedication to the game he loves,'' Claire said. ``No one has given more to the game than Tommy Lasorda.''

Claire then turned to Lasorda and said, ``On this night, I want to thank you for all you've given the Dodger organization.''

Current Dodgers manager Bill Russell, hurt that Lasorda would go public with his with Valentine preference, also spoke.

``Little did I know the impact you would have not only on my career but on countless others,'' Russell said to Lasorda. ``. . . I'm just glad I as just a small part of of your success and I hope to keep the tradition going. Congratulations on a well-deserved honor.''

Lasorda thanked O'Malley, his own family and all his former players, whom he credited for his success.

As he thanked his mentor, Campanis, who was fired in 1987 after making racially insensitive remarks on a national news program, Lasorda did not pass up yet another opportunity to defend him: ``This man did not have a prejudiced bone in his body.''

Lasorda also thanked the retired Anderson, telling him he was ``the greatest manager in the country today.''

Lasorda made sure the crowd knew he and Claire and Russell were all right.

``He's been my friend for many, many years,'' Lasorda said of Claire. ``And I thank him from the bottom of my heart.''

He closed his remarks by addressing Russell.

``You have served this organization with dignity and class,'' Lasorda said. ``. . . You will win a lot of championships here before you are through. Billy, I love you like my own son.''

Lasorda then turned to the crowd and said, ``Good night to all of you and God bless you. Thank you very much.''

The crowd responded with another standing ovation.

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Photo

Photo: Tom Lasorda, left, joins with Pee Wee Reese and Duke Snider, who also have had numbers retired.

Terri Thuente / Daily News