Butler May Have Message for Lasorda on Opening Day

Brett Butler will make his official debut as the San Francisco Giants’ leadoff hitter in the season opener against the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on April 4.

He will be motivated in more ways than one.

“I want to let Tommy (Lasorda) know he made a mistake,” Butler said. “I’ll be pumped up.”

Butler said he was rejected when he approached the Dodgers as a free agent last winter.

He said he thought they might be interested because of trade speculation in the spring of 1987, before the Dodgers got John Shelby. At that time, the Dodgers reportedly tried to get Butler from the Cleveland Indians but were unwilling to part with a starting pitcher.

“I’d be willing to hug that Italian every day,” Butler said of Lasorda during the height of the trade rumors.

His interest in joining the Dodgers as a free agent last winter, however, wasn’t really based on his having been born in Los Angeles or wanting to prove he could get his arms around the Dodger manager.

“I’m kind of a ham,” Butler said. “I thought that by playing in Los Angeles it would be a chance for me to get into acting. That’s kind of been a dream of mine.

“I love people. I’m not bothered by cameras. If anybody is interested, I’m out there.”