Former Cubs Standout Davey Lopes Dies at 80

Lopes, a four-time All-Star and World Series champion with the Dodgers, spent two seasons with the Cubs late in his career.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 9:10pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting the dynamic movements and energy of a baseball player stealing a base, rendered in a cubist style with overlapping planes of bright blue and red colors.A cubist interpretation of Davey Lopes' legendary base-stealing skills, a key part of his Hall of Very Good career.Chicago Today

Davey Lopes, a former standout second baseman who played for the Los Angeles Dodgers for most of the 1970s and early 1980s, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 80. Lopes, who was part of a famous Dodgers infield that included Steve Garvey, Bill Russell, and Ron Cey, spent the final two seasons of his MLB career with the Chicago Cubs in 1985 and 1986.

Why it matters

Lopes was a prolific base stealer in his prime, leading the National League in steals in 1975 and 1976. His 1985 season with the Cubs, where he stole 47 bases at the age of 40, still stands as the MLB single-season record for a player aged 40 or older.

The details

After a long and successful career with the Dodgers, Lopes was traded to the Oakland A's in 1981. The Cubs then acquired him in August 1984 as the player to be named later in a deal that sent pitcher Chuck Rainey to the A's. Lopes didn't play much for the Cubs down the stretch in 1984, but in 1985 he appeared in 99 games, mostly as an outfielder, and had a strong season, batting .284 with 11 home runs and 47 stolen bases. Lopes was also hitting well for the Cubs in 1986 before the team traded him to the Astros around the trade deadline.

  • Lopes passed away on Wednesday, about four weeks shy of his 81st birthday.
  • The Cubs acquired Lopes on August 31, 1984, the day before the deadline to qualify for the postseason roster.
  • In 1985, Lopes played in 99 games for the Cubs and stole 47 bases, which is still the MLB single-season record for a player aged 40 or older.
  • Lopes hit a walk-off home run for the Cubs on July 2, 1986, at the age of 41 years and 60 days, making him the oldest Cub to ever hit a walk-off homer.

The players

Davey Lopes

A former standout second baseman who played for the Los Angeles Dodgers for most of the 1970s and early 1980s, and spent the final two seasons of his MLB career with the Chicago Cubs in 1985 and 1986.

Steve Garvey

A member of the famous Dodgers infield that included Lopes, Bill Russell, and Ron Cey.

Bill Russell

A member of the famous Dodgers infield that included Lopes, Steve Garvey, and Ron Cey.

Ron Cey

A member of the famous Dodgers infield that included Lopes, Steve Garvey, and Bill Russell, who later played for the Cubs.

Chuck Rainey

A pitcher who was traded from the Cubs to the A's in a deal that brought Lopes to Chicago.

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What they’re saying

“Lopes had a 42.4 bWAR career and stole 557 bases, which ranks 26th all-time. He was definitely a Hall of Very Good player and I remember that 1985 season well — he just ran all over the place.”

— Al Yellon, Author

The takeaway

Davey Lopes' legacy as a prolific base stealer and key member of the Dodgers' dominant teams in the 1970s and 80s will be remembered, even though his time with the Cubs was relatively brief. His 1985 season, where he set the MLB record for oldest player to lead the league in steals, stands out as a highlight of his career.