Dodgers Legend Davey Lopes Dies at 80 After Parkinson’s Battle—Baseball World Pays Tribute

Baseball is mourning the death of Davey Lopes, the electrifying second baseman whose speed and savvy defined the Los Angeles Dodgers of the 1970s and early ’80s. Lopes died Wednesday in Rhode Island at age 80 after a long fight with Parkinson’s disease, his family confirmed to TMZ and multiple outlets. A four-time All-Star and two-time World Series champion, David Earl “Davey” Lopes spent 10 of his 16 major-league seasons in Dodger blue. Teaming with Steve Garvey, Bill Russell and Ron Cey, he anchored what became MLB’s longest-running infield, helping Los Angeles lift the 1981 Fall Classic trophy. Over 1,812 career games he hit .263 with 155 homers, 614 RBIs and 557 stolen bases, ranking 26th all-time on the steals list. Lopes’ quick first step terrorized pitchers; in 1975 he swiped 38 straight bags without being caught, a single-season record that stood for 20 years. Even at 40 he remained a threat, stealing 47 bases for the Cubs in 1985. “He could read a move before it happened,” former teammate Reggie Smith once said—an instinct that later made Lopes one of the game’s premier base-running coaches. After retiring in 1987, the Providence native transitioned to coaching, guiding the Phillies’ running game during their 2008 title run and serving on staffs in Milwaukee, Washington, San Diego and Los Angeles. Players from Chase Utley to Dee Gordon credit Lopes for refining everything from secondary leads to mental approach. News of his passing sparked tributes across baseball. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts called Lopes “the heartbeat of an era,” while Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson tweeted that Lopes “made the stolen base an art.” Major League Baseball will hold a pre-game moment of silence league-wide tonight, and the Dodgers plan to wear a “15” sleeve patch for the remainder of the 2026 season. Lopes is survived by his wife, Peggy, children Jaime and David Jr., and several grandchildren. Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced. In lieu of flowers, the family asks donations be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation to advance Parkinson’s research. With Lopes’ passing, another link to the Dodgers’ storied infield disappears, but the legacy of hustle he brought to Chavez Ravine—and the bold green light he gave generations of base stealers—remains etched in diamond lore.