Tommy Lasorda Unveiled at National Portrait Gallery

Baseball Hall of Famer Tommy Lasorda celebrated his 82nd birthday and the unveiling of his new portrait at the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery in Washington on Tuesday. The portrayal of the Los Angeles Dodgers' legend—aptly depicted in blue and proudly displaying his No. 2 jersey—recognizes Lasorda’s contribution to the Dodgers organization, which is commemorating its 60th year, and to the American pastime. Though the National Gallery is famous for its portraits of presidents, its 20,000 works also feature Marilyn Monroe and Casey Stengel. Lasorda’s portrait, by New York artist Everett Raymond Kinstler, who also painted the official White House portraits of Presidents Ford and Reagan, is displayed near Andy Warhol’s portrait of the late Ted Kennedy and Shepard Fairey’s iconic image of Barack Obama. “I just can't believe something like this is happening to me,” Lasorda said at the unveiling.