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Lasorda Wants Local Owner For Dodgers

LOS ANGELES (CBS) — As several celebrated figures are expected to throw their names in the hat for ownership of the Los Angeles Dodgers, former skipper Tommy Lasorda weighs in with his preference.

Once Frank McCourt and MLB announced they struck a deal to sell the Dodgers, speculation began as to who will take over.

One name on the radar is Peter O'Malley, whose family owned the team for nearly fifty years. The Dodgers won 5 World Series titles under the family's ownership. O'Malley sold the team in 1998.

Also in the running is former Dodger great Steve Garvey, who has formed an investment group in partnership with former Dodger pitcher Orel Hershiser in an effort to bid for the team.

"For just about every other group it's going to be a real estate deal or a TV deal," Garvey told KCAL9 Wednesday. "For us it's a baseball deal. It's buying the Dodgers. It's bringing them back to prominence again."

Some L.A. fans would like to see Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban step in.

"He's obviously a wealthy billionaire that definitely has the deep pockets to come in and buy this franchise," said Roger Arriata, who organized a rally Wednesday at Dodgers Stadium.

But Lasorda has other ideas. KCAL9 and CBS2 Sports Director Jim Hill spoke to Lasorda Wednesday and asked who he believes could be the next owner of the organization.

"I would hope that the owners would be people that live here," said Lasorda. "They know the way, they know the fans, they know the Dodgers. And that would probably be the best."

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