In the 1981 World Series, one man performed a legendary feat. He stole 10 bases without being caught once, not against the Astros, the Expos, or New York. Down 2-0, the Dodgers won four straight to claim the Commissioner’s Trophy, with second baseman Davey Lopes making the Yankees pay every time he reached base. Dodger Nation lost that man on April 8, 2026, and with him, one of the last living threads back to an iconic comeback that ended a 16-season drought.

Reportedly, Lopes was under hospice care in a Rhode Island hospital because of Parkinson’s disease. The 80-year-old passed away from complications of that degenerative neurological disorder.

His 45-year bond with baseball included managerial and coaching stints with the Rangers, Orioles, Padres, and Brewers. But he will mostly be remembered for his spells with the Dodgers, both as a player who won the World Series in his last game and as a coach who returned nearly three decades later to help the team achieve a double-digit percentage base-stealing rise over a five-year span.

He emphasized high-percentage stealing over simply high volume, aiming to limit caught-stealing. Under Lopes’ tenure as coach, LA achieved a 75.9% success rate in 2011, its second-best in Los Angeles history back then.

In comparison, the 2010 Dodgers had a 64.8% success rate with 92 steals. Three of Lopes’ five years on the Dodgers’ coaching staff (2011, 2013, 2014) produced top-14 stolen-base success rates in club history.

Davey Lopes was a key component in the Dodgers’ World Series era

In 1973, Dodgers manager Walter Alston put Davey Lopes at second, Bill Russell at short, Steve Garvey at first, and Ron Cey at third. That infield lasted for eight straight seasons, reaching four World Series and winning one.

Lopes was the spark plug of all of it. When Philadelphia Phillies manager Danny Ozark was asked how to beat the Dodgers, his answer was simple:

“You’ve got to keep Lopes off the bases.”

In his playing career, Lopes stole 557 bases at an 83% success rate. This is a number that sits above Rickey Henderson, Lou Brock, and Maury Wills on the all-time efficiency list. On August 24, 1974, he stole five bases in a single game against the Cardinals, tying a National League record that had stood for 70 years. But he was never just a base stealer.

In 1978, he hit 17 homers, drove in 58, and won a Gold Glove at second base, out-polling Joe Morgan, who had won it the five previous years. Two homers came in the opening game of the 1978 World Series against the Yankees.

By 1979, he had 28 home runs, a Dodgers record for a second baseman that shattered a mark set in 1966. However, the Dodgers missed out on a third straight trip to the World Series.

Lopes’ three misses made that struggle for the trophy sweet, but his Commissioner’s Cup win as a first base coach for the Phillies came in what would have been a testing season in 2008.

He was diagnosed with prostate cancer in February, but by Opening Day, it was in remission following his surgery. Missing only 6 weeks, the then-62-year-old returned to help the team in its 2008 World Series championship.

Dodgers fans mourn the loss of legend Davey Lopes

The fans had not even recovered from the loss of Miguel Rojas’s father, and they had to deal with the loss of a club legend like Davey Lopes.

“Damn, rip Davey,” echoed fans, recalling an infield that stayed together 8.5 seasons. The Garvey, Lopes, Cey, and Russell group started 833 games for the Los Angeles Dodgers, posting a .598 winning percentage. They reached four World Series and won in 1981, proving that the unit was truly “untouchable back then.”

A fan’s comment, “Thank you for your base coach service to the Phillies,” reflects his dominant stint from 2007 to 2010, where the team led the league in stolen base success rate every year.

Their 2007 mark of 87.9% remains one of the highest ever, and experts credit this smart, aggressive baserunning as a key factor in their 2008 World Series title.

 The sentiment, “Oh man, one of my all-time favorites,” fits a player central to the 1981 triumph, where the Dodgers beat the Yankees in six games. Game 6 saw Los Angeles win 9-2 at Yankee Stadium to clinch their first championship since the 1965 season.

“Been a Dodgers fan since 72,” commented one, reflecting a career debuting in 1972 after five minor seasons.

Another paid one of the strongest respects: “First base coach and stolen-base guru on Dusty’s Nats coaching staff.” That perfectly fits his 2016 return.

Under Dusty Baker, the Nationals won 95 games and took the NL East in 2016. Reports noted Washington hired him specifically to “jump-start” a more aggressive game-running approach. Spring numbers showed results early, with the Nationals going 23 for 24 on steals.

Davey Lopes leaves behind numbers, but Walter Alston’s gamble proved timeless, not accidental at all. His success with the Phillies and Dusty Baker’s Nationals shows his coaching philosophy translated across eras without fading relevance.

If “untouchable” was ever earned, Lopes made it look routine. He will be remembered for his speed and discipline, even through his own battles.