How many times has he told the story?
How many times has Tom Lasorda pointed out that this former left-handed pitcher who would make only six starts in the big leagues and who was merely another name among the 600 or so alphabetized into the old barracks at the Dodgers' training base in Vero Beach has emerged over the years as the last one standing?
The ultimate survivor, Lasorda has often suggested, and who can argue?
Who can debate his point, especially now, at 78, amid the ever-increasing chaos and instability at Dodger Stadium, he firmly has his feet on the ground, his fingerprints on the evolving events, his face again that of an organization lacking a general manager and manager as the critical free-agent season begins.
It's remarkable.
After seven years of seemingly forced exile by the Fox ownership, shipped to the rookie league to give his Dodger Blue spiel to the system's youngest players or to Japan for ambassadorial appearances with the Kintetsu Buffaloes, sent almost anywhere, the perception was, to get him out of the executive offices and the executives' hair, the ultimate survivor has emerged at the ear, so to speak, of the new owners -- and there is no point in Lasorda's trying to downplay his revived role.
There was no use Saturday, as Frank McCourt officially announced the firing of General Manager Paul DePodesta, for Lasorda to rant on as he did about Ken Rosenthal, the Sporting News columnist who wrote recently that Lasorda had been sniping about DePodesta while often sitting next to McCourt at games. Lasorda denied it and labeled the respected Rosenthal a liar as he emerged from his front-row seat at the news conference, but who is to say that sniping to one person doesn't simply represent advice to another?
After all, before Lasorda aimed his invectives at Rosenthal, McCourt pretty much acknowledged that the ultimate survivor has been his primary advisor, a great help, the owner said, since he purchased the team.
"I appreciate his advice and counsel," McCourt said. "I encourage it. I named him special advisor to the chairman last year, and it wasn't just a title.
"I want to know what he's thinking. This is a man with almost 60 years of baseball experience, someone who truly, truly loves the organization.
"Shame on me if I don't reach out to Tommy and say, 'What do you think?' "
