Dodgers Give Lasorda 2-Year Extension

Dodger owner Peter O’Malley, who obviously doesn’t evaluate managers on the basis of one pitch to Jack Clark, gave Tom Lasorda a two-year extension on his contract, the club said Thursday.

Lasorda, who had a year remaining on a three-year contract that paid him $335,000 annually, is now signed to manage the Dodgers through the 1988 season, which would be his 12th as the team’s manager. No financial details were released, but it is assumed that Lasorda got a substantial raise.

Lasorda was in Chicago Thursday, where he was taking a breather--actually, he was having a pizza--before driving to Kankakee, Ill., for a speaking engagement before a group that helps families of firemen and policemen killed in action. His itinerary for the next 10 days also includes stops in Washington, Tampa, New Orleans and Vero Beach, Fla., the Dodgers’ spring training home.

Lasorda said that O’Malley had called him in for a meeting a couple of days ago and told him of the extension.

“I was in awe. I was shocked. It was a complete surprise,” said Lasorda, who never had received more than a one-year contract before signing a multiyear deal in 1983. “He just told me he was really pleased with my work.”

The contract extension would appear to remove the possibility that Vice President Al Campanis will retire in the near future, with Lasorda being kicked upstairs. Campanis, who will be 69 Saturday, has said he intends to remain in his position for the next five years.

“I have aspirations of getting a job like that someday, but as long as they want me to manage, I’m happy,” Lasorda said. “I’ll do it. If it doesn’t come about, it doesn’t come about.”

Lasorda said he had not discussed a front-office position with O’Malley.

The Dodgers also announced that they had rehired all of Lasorda’s coaches: third-base coach Joe Amalfitano; first-base coach and batting coach Manny Mota; pitching coach Ron Perranoski; infield coach Monty Basgall; bullpen coach Mark Cresse, and batting instructor Ben Hines.

They’ve also added Don McMahon, the former big league pitcher and longtime pitching coach, as their coach in the pressbox, replacing Joe Ferguson, who took a coaching position with Manager Bobby Valentine in Texas.

The Dodgers also put Jay Johnstone on waivers and intend to give him his unconditional release.