Vero Beach, Florida has long been home to the Los Angeles Dodgers' Dodgertown Spring Training complex. Recently Disney took time out to salute former manager and Hall of Famer Tommy Lasorda.
VERO BEACH, Fla. - Disney's Vero Beach Resort honored baseball Hall of Famer Tommy Lasorda by officially naming the resort's popular recreation lawn "Lasorda Field" during a special ceremony on Feb. 18.
The lawn, located at the heart of the resort along the picturesque Vero Beach coastline, is home to a variety of sports and recreation activities for vacationing families. The new "Lasorda Field" name builds on this Disney Vacation Club resort's proud tradition of honoring Indian River County history. From citrus-farming-inspired artwork and a treasure-hunting-themed lounge to displays representing everything from migrating sea turtles to visiting baseball teams, Disney's Vero Beach Resort offers a visual journey through the rich history of Florida's Treasure Coast. The Dodgers have played an integral role in that history, placing Vero Beach in the national sports spotlight with the opening of the famed Dodgertown training complex in 1948.
During the more than six decades in which the Dodgers have called Vero Beach their spring home, Lasorda has become one of the most recognized figures in baseball as a player, coach, manager and executive. In addition to leading the Dodgers to eight postseason appearances and two World Series titles (1981 and 1988), Lasorda managed the U.S. Olympic baseball team to its first and only gold medal during the 2000 Summer Games. The Baseball Veteran's Committee voted Lasorda into the sport's venerable Hall of Fame in 1997.
"Disney's Vero Beach Resort has enjoyed a tremendous relationship with Tommy Lasorda and the Los Angeles Dodgers through the years, and we're absolutely thrilled to name such a central part of our resort in Mr. Lasorda's honor," said Sonya Deese-Byrnes, General Manager of Disney Vacation Club Resorts, the original General Manager of Disney's Vero Beach Resort and the namesake behind Sonya's, the resort's fine-dining restaurant. "Fans around the world know Mr. Lasorda for his passion, loyalty and love for the game, and we look forward to that spirit fueling all games played on this field."
Lasorda will throw out the field's ceremonial first pitch during the dedication event, which will be attended by representatives from Disney Vacation Club, the Walt Disney World Resort and the Los Angeles Dodgers, along with Disney Vacation Club Members, Disney's Vero Beach Resort Guests and children from the local chapter of the Boys & Girls Club.
Disney's Vero Beach Resort is one of eight current resorts operated by Disney Vacation Club, the successful vacation-ownership division of The Walt Disney Company. While Disney Vacation Club Members call Disney's Vero Beach Resort "home," the resort's accommodations are available for rental, and its restaurants are open to the public. Guests may make Disney's Vero Beach Resort room reservations by calling (407) W-DISNEY (934-7639), and dining reservations are available by phone at (772) 234-2180.
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