Russell Given Two More Years

Bill Russell, who wondered this spring if he still was a serious candidate to manage the Dodgers after years of waiting, agreed to a two-year contract extension Wednesday that will keep him as Dodger manager through the 1998 season.

Russell will officially be introduced today as only the third Dodger manager in the last 42 years at a noon news conference at Dodger Stadium. He is expected to receive a two-year deal for about $700,000. The Dodgers also are expected to retain the entire coaching staff.

“It’s a new regime now,” said Tom Lasorda, who managed the Dodgers for 19 1/2 years, mostly on successive one-year contracts. “I’m finished. It’s his turn. He wore a Dodger uniform all of his life. This is the way it should be.

“I told him don’t worry about me or even think about me. You can’t be like me or be like [Walter] Alston. Just be yourself.”

Russell led the Dodgers to a 49-37 record and a playoff berth after stepping in for Lasorda on June 25, when Lasorda was hospitalized for a heart attack and stomach ulcer. Russell was appointed manager for the rest of the season July 29 after Lasorda announced his retirement and became a vice president. The Dodgers won the wild-card berth but were eliminated in three games by the Atlanta Braves in the first round of the playoffs.

Russell, who will be 48 in a week, was widely praised by Fred Claire, Dodger executive vice president, and Peter O’Malley, the Dodger owner, for his managerial skills. He also received instant respect from the players.

“You can’t find a player in the clubhouse who had a bad thing to say about him,” Dodger center fielder Brett Butler said. “That tells you a lot about the man.”

Said Russell: “I was nervous at the start, but with my personality, I didn’t show it. All of a sudden it was like, ‘Can I do it?’

“Believe me, I know the pressure managing the Dodgers. When you put on a uniform, you’ve got to win.”

Lasorda, who managed the Dodgers to two World Series championships, four National League pennants and seven division titles, said Wednesday night that he is convinced Russell will step in and maintain the Dodger winning tradition.

“I said time and time again that the final decision will be up to Peter and Fred Claire,” Lasorda said. “But I was hoping and praying they would give it to Billy. I thought he served his apprenticeship very well.

“There was not one doubt in my mind he would not be a good manager. I knew he would be a good manager just by being my right-hand man all of these years. I could tell by the way he conducted himself and the way he helped me with his knowledge of the game. He knew the right moves to make and got along well with the players.”

Russell never had taken a bus ride, let alone a plane trip, when he left his hometown of Pittsburg, Kan., 30 years ago to join the Dodgers. He arrived in Ogden, Utah, where he was one of 13 outfielders. He played so poorly upon his arrival that Lasorda, who was managing Ogden at the time, was told to release him.

“Just think if I had released him like they wanted me to,” Lasorda said. “What would have happened then?”

Said Russell: “I was worrying about being released. I finally went up to Tommy and said to him, ‘Am I going to get released?’

“Tommy said, ‘Not as long as I manage.’

“I don’t know if he said it to appease me or what, but that took care of that. He’s been like a father to me ever since.

“I don’t know if I can stay around and manage 20 years like Tommy, but I’ll give it a try.”

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For Starters

A look at Bill Russell in his abbreviated first season as Dodger manager, and how it compares to the first seasons of his predecessors, Tom Lasorda and Walter Alston:

Russell--1996

W: 49

L: 37

Pct: .570

*

Lasorda, 1977--first 86 games

W: 56

L: 30

Pct: .651

*

Lasorda, Career

W: 1,599

L: 1,439

Pct: .526

*

Alston, 1954--first 86 games

W: 52

L: 34

Pct: .605

*

Alston, Career

W: 2,040

L: 1,613

Pct: .558