Davey Lopes, 4-time MLB All-Star and Dodgers World Series champion, dies at 80

Davey Lopes, who won a World Series title with the Los Angeles Dodgers and was named an MLB All-Star four times, died on Wednesday at the age of 80, the team announced.

The second baseman, who played 16 seasons in the majors, spent 10 seasons in LA, and also suited up for the Oakland Athletics, Chicago Cubs and Houston Astros. 

In addition to his playing career, Lopes spent decades in the dugout as a coach for various clubs, most recently as the first base coach of the Washington Nationals in 2017. He served as manager of the Milwaukee Brewers from 2000 to 2002. 

Lopes was a member of the 1981 Dodgers championship team, which defeated the New York Yankees in six games in the World Series. He was part of the team's legendary infield alongside Steve Garvey, Bill Russell and Ron Cey, who started in the infield together for more than eight seasons.

CBS LA spoke with several members of the team's record-setting infield in the hours after Lopes' death was announced. 

"He was the catalyst of the engine. It was 700 horsepower with the four of us, and the equation was his ability to get on base," said Garvey, who played first base for the Dodgers between 1969 and 1982. "You know, this was four guys from four different sections of the country who came together as young men, and it ended up being the greatest infield in history."

Cey, who played third base for the Boys in Blue from 1971 to 1982, also spoke fondly of his former teammate. 

"I spent a lot of time with Davey. I had a very good relationship with him, just a lot of fond memories," Cey said. "He worked really hard, he understood the responsibilities and challenges. He became a Major League coach and a Major League manager and made his mark on the Dodgers organization."

Lopes was named to the National League All-Star Team each year between 1978 and 1981. He led the league in stolen bases in 1975 and 1976, was a Gold Glove winner in 1978 and finished his big league career with 1,671 hits, 155 homers, 614 runs batted in and 557 stolen bases. He hit .263 in 1,812 games and set the Dodgers franchise record for games played at second base. 

Lopes' sister told the Dodgers that he was battling Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases at a Rhode Island hospital when he died.  He's survived by two brothers and four sisters.