Steve Webb
LOS ANGELES, CA —The Dodgers announced today that longtime catcher Steve Yeager will be honored with the third annual Tommy Lasorda “I Bleed Dodger Blue” Award. This prestigious award recognizes members of the Dodgers community who demonstrate the same passion, enthusiasm, and love for the team that legendary manager Tommy Lasorda embodied. The award will be presented by Lasorda’s daughter, Laura Lasorda, during pregame ceremonies on Sunday, September 22, before the Dodgers’ 1:10 p.m. game against the Colorado Rockies, on what would have been Tommy Lasorda’s 97th birthday.
Steve Yeager, a key figure in Dodgers history, expressed his gratitude for receiving this honor in a press release issued by the team. “It’s a tremendous honor to receive an award named after Tommy Lasorda, who did so much for the organization and Major League Baseball and impacted the lives of so many young men in his career,” said Yeager. “Many of those guys had long careers playing, and many stayed in coaching, like myself. He touched so many lives and made us all better for it.”
Dodgers President and CEO Stan Kasten also praised Yeager’s enduring contributions to the organization. “We are pleased to present the Tommy Lasorda I Bleed Blue Award to Steve Yeager,” Kasten said in the press release. “Steve is a bonafide World Series hero, and for more than 50 years, he has exemplified the best qualities of Tommy in becoming a leader and mentor to generations of Dodgers.”
Yeager’s impact on the Dodgers is widely recognized, both for his on-field performance and his leadership. During his 14-year career with the Dodgers, from 1972 to 1985, Yeager played a pivotal role in the team’s success. His most iconic moment came during the 1981 World Series, where he hit the game-winning home run in Game 5. His clutch performance throughout the series earned him tri-MVP honors, alongside teammates Ron Cey and Pedro Guerrero, as they led the Dodgers to their first championship since 1965. In his four World Series appearances, Yeager boasted an impressive .298/.323/.579/.902 batting line, hitting four home runs and driving in 10 runs over 21 games.
Known for his defensive prowess, Yeager was a reliable presence behind the plate. He ranks third on the Dodgers’ all-time list for games caught, with 1,181 games, and played through some of the most intense home-plate collisions in franchise history. Yeager’s influence extended beyond his playing days. After suffering a life-threatening throat injury caused by a shattered bat, he worked with Dodgers trainer Bill Buhler to co-create the plastic neck flap for helmets, which became standard equipment for Major League catchers.
Yeager’s dedication to the Dodgers began early, as he was drafted in the fourth round of the 1967 amateur draft. After five years in the minor leagues, he made his MLB debut in 1972 at the age of 23. For much of the 1970s, he was a central figure in the Dodgers’ famed infield, catching games alongside stars like Steve Garvey, Davey Lopes, Bill Russell, and Ron Cey. Over his career, Yeager accumulated a .228 batting average, with 102 home runs and 410 RBI in 1,269 regular-season games. His best offensive season came in 1977, when he hit 16 home runs with a .779 OPS.
After retiring as a player, Yeager continued to shape the organization as a coach and mentor, working in the Dodgers’ minor league system and participating in Dodger Adult Camps. He also ventured into Hollywood, playing the role of Coach Duke Temple in the “Major League” movie franchise.
With over five decades of dedication to the Dodgers, Yeager’s contributions embody the spirit of the Tommy Lasorda I Bleed Dodger Blue Award, cementing his legacy in Dodgers history.
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