Davey Lopes

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In Memoriam

Davey Lopes, the second baseman who anchored one of baseball's most celebrated infields and stole his way into the record books, died Wednesday, April 8, 2026, at a hospital in his hometown of East Providence, Rhode Island. He was 80. The Los Angeles Dodgers announced his death in a statement: "The Dodgers mourn the loss of Davey Lopes, one of the finest base stealers in MLB history." Born May 3, 1945, in East Providence, one of ten children, Lopes was an all-state athlete in baseball and basketball before playing college ball at Iowa Wesleyan University and Washburn University. Drafted by the Giants in 1967, he chose to stay in school and signed with the Dodgers in 1968. Five seasons in the minor leagues followed before he made his MLB debut at Dodger Stadium on September 22, 1972, at age 27. Lopes didn't waste the time he'd waited. The following season, Lopes joined first baseman Steve Garvey, shortstop Bill Russell, and third baseman Ron Cey to form the longest-running infield in major league history. This quartet started together for eight and a half consecutive seasons. Named the fifth captain in Dodgers history in 1977, Lopes helped carry the franchise to four World Series appearances, winning the championship in 1981.