Former Los Angeles Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda is visiting AT&T Field this week for the first time since the Chattanooga Lookouts became the organization's Double-A affiliate last September.

The 82-year-old managed the Dodgers from 1977-96, leading them to World Series championships in '81 and '88, and is in his 60th season in the organization. He is regarded by many as baseball's most popular ambassador and recently returned from speaking to U.S. troops in Iraq.

Lasorda, now a special advisor to Dodgers owner and chairman Frank McCourt, took time to touch on several topics before Wednesday morning's first pitch:

Q: So how does it feel to be in your 60th year with the Dodgers?

A: "Well, first of all, I wish I was only six years in, but that's the way it is. I consider myself very, very fortunate to be able to be with an organization for 60 years. I've been married for 59 years, so I've been blessed in two ways. A guy interviewed me one time and said which was the tougher of the two to accomplish, and I said 'no comment.' It's been a great, great life for me, and one that I could have never, ever dreamed of having."

Q: What has been your favorite moment with the organization?

A: "I've seen a lot of home runs of great significance, but the one (Kirk) Gibson hit (in the '88 Series opener) had so much drama attached to it. The guy never came out for the introductions, and it was the last time he ever batted in the World Series. It was an amazing story, so I'd have to put that as the most unique happening. The LA Sports Council once came up with the 100 greatest sports moments in LA, and his home run was No. 1."

Q: This year's Dodgers have owned the best record in the majors since mid April. What are your thoughts on them?

A: "This team kind of reminds me of the teams that I had. There are a lot of young men on that team right now who came through the system. When I managed, I had a lot of players who played for me in the minor leagues. It's a real good ball club, and they have a great leader in Joe Torre, and it's good to see them doing well. There is a lot of talent that goes out on that field."

Q: Manny Ramirez returns to the Dodgers on Friday. In your years with the organization, have you ever seen a bigger presence at the plate?

A: "No I haven't. There have been other guys like Reggie Smith and Dusty Baker who, when they came to the plate, received great welcomes, but for some reason or another, they love this guy. With what he did, he hurt the club and he hurt himself. Now he's going to come back, and it's all in the past."

Q: You've experienced strikes and work stoppages through the years, but do you view steroid use as the biggest detriment to the sport?

A: "Yeah, because it's against the principles and against the laws of baseball. People say to me, 'Why is it that Congress got involved with baseball?' I tell them it has been documented that there are 500,000 high-schoolers taking steroids, and that's what they were concerned with."

Q: What do you think of Dodgertown, Tennessee?

A: "I love the whole state of Tennessee. I think I've made more speeches in the state of Tennessee than the governor or the mayors. I love this state. I can remember when I was with the Dodgers, we would break camp and work all the way north with Milwaukee. This is the one of the towns we would play in all the time. The Lookouts franchise is legendary."

Q: Would you like to see Chattanooga and the Dodgers have a long-term relationship?

A: "Yeah. I love this city, and I think it's a baseball city. They have wonderful people living here. I married a girl from South Carolina, so I know how outstanding Southern people are. I love the South. I really do."