When a man passes away a few weeks short of his 91st birthday, most of us would say, “his time had come. It was a good long life.” I would say the exception to that statement would be Don Rickles. The world lost a lot of laughter when he passed away on Thursday.

Hall of Fame manager Tommy Lasorda with his dear friend and lifelong Dodger fan Don Rickles.
(Photo courtesy of LA Dodgers)

Don Rickels never retired, and he never let up, working his comic magic to the end. Checking his web site you’ll see he had shows booked all the way to February, 2018. He continued cutting up audiences up until a few weeks ago. A true American and man that knew the right mix of irreverent, racially charged and politically incorrect humor that offended none in the process of feigning to offend all. Carl Reiner said it best, “You knew you made it in Hollywood when Rickles ripped you in one of his bits.”

Don Rickles loved the Dodgers. He was a true blue fan through and through who knew the ball club from top to bottom. There was a wall in Lasorda’s office dedicated to the comedian. Don was a close friend of Lasorda who used him periodically to bust up the clubhouse.

This you tube cut from 1986 was classic Don in his “Mr. Warmth” best. Approaching Pedro Guerrero, Bill Russell, Bill Madlock and Steve Sax, it is classic Rickles as he insulted the core of the Dodger lineup.

There’s the story of Rickels making a pitching change instead of Lasorda while serving as a bat boy for for a game in September 17, 1977. The story has evolved over the years, as Rickels said it was Harry Wendelstedt that approached him at the mound to speak to Elias Sosa in a meaningless game after the Dodgers had already clinched the division, (they had an 11 1/2 game lead). Truth was it was John McSherry. But the accurate thing that all seem to remember was what the umpire wanted… it wasn’t to boot him from the field, he wanted tickets to one of Rickles’ Vegas shows.

Those that knew Rickles will admit there was a caring and loving side to him that made him a lifelong friend to many that went beyond most friendships. Don Rickles attended Tommy Lasorda Jr’s. funeral alongside Frank Sinatra in 1991. His friendship with the Dodger manager was extremely close. Before former Commissioner Peter Ueberroth banished the celebs from the Dodger clubhouse, Don was a regular in Lasorda’s office dining on Italian food and making the guys laugh into the late hours.

In October of 1985, Don had a tee time with Dodger reliever Tom Neidenfuer, the day after the infamous Jack Clark home run to lose the pennant. It was a tense moment and nobody really knew what to say, as 14 hours earlier the Dodger reliever had given up the gopher ball of all gopher balls. Of course Rickles broke the silence. “Nice to see ya Tom, How you doing? You look great? Any good news to share about the team?”

Classic Don. What a reunion there must be in heaven. Hopefully St. Peter has a sense of humor.