* Library program fetes baseball lifer Tommy Lasorda

The Baseball Reliquary presents “Lasordapalooza,” an exhibition surveying the life and times of Tommy Lasorda, April 13-May 28, at the Pomona Public Library, Pomona, California.

According to the press release from the Reliquary, a nonprofit, educational organization “dedicated to fostering an appreciation of American art and culture through the context of baseball history and to exploring the national pastime’s unparalleled creative possibilities”:

The displays offer a candid look at Lasorda’s career, including highlights such as his World Series championships as Dodgers manager and his many charitable endeavors, and lowlights such as his estrangement from his gay son, his highly public rifts with former players, and his penchant for self-promotion.

The displays incorporate artworks, artifacts, photographs, and a variety of documents which provide unique insights into the storied career of this Los Angeles Dodgers legend and one of baseball’s greatest goodwill ambassadors. Artworks range from paintings and a stained-glass piece to digital works and a hand-painted baseball, and artists include Mary Cannon, Michael Guccione, Greg Jezewski, Moe Mockster, Julian Pollack, Ben Sakoguchi, and David Shorey. Photographs of Lasorda by photojournalist Fred Zermeno are being shown publicly for the first time. Also on view are several essays written by fans and critics of Lasorda who participated in a literary contest associated with “Lasordapalooza.”

On Saturday, May 15, in conjunction with the exhibition, the Baseball Reliquary will present a “Tommy Lasorda Day” program at the Library from 2-4 p.m. Festivities will include a Tommy Lasorda Look-Alike Contest, open to both men and women. Further details on this free event will be forthcoming.

Library hours for “Lasordapalooza” are Tuesday through Thursday, 11:30 am. to 7:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; closed Sunday and Monday.