Davey Lopes, Washburn University Hall of Famer and major league baseball star, passed away yesterday at the age of 80.
I was blessed with the opportunity in 2014 to interview Mr. Lopes while working on my book Legacy: The Enduring Impact of the Negro Leagues on Modern Baseball and American Society. He was so gracious as to discuss not just that topic but to reminisce enthusiastically about his time in Topeka. From that conversation, I wrote an article for the Topeka Capital-Journal (pasted below).
I was a young baseball fan in the late 1970s and early 1980s, the apex of Mr. Lopes’ career. I was amazed to learn that not only had Lopes played at Washburn, but his middle infield partner Bill Russell was a native of Pittsburg, Kansas.
Another connection to Mr. Lopes was made about five years ago when, while working on Like What You Do: The Memoirs of Dr. Walt Menninger, I learned that Lopes lived with the Walt Menninger family for a time while at Washburn. After Lopes reached the major leagues, the Menningers visited Lopes and watched him play in person several times. Dr. Walt and son William were in the stands when Lopes homered in the fourth game of the 1977 World Series. Dr. Walt and his children remained friends with Lopes throughout his life.
When I met Mr. Lopes in 2014, the main thing he wanted to talk about was the 1966 tornado that wrecked Washburn campus. He joked that when he arrived in Topeka, he was under the impression that tornadoes were a regular occurrence. He expressed appreciation for the university and the friends he made during his time in Topeka (which I’m sure included the Menningers, although I wasn’t aware of it at the time).
Mr. Lopes was remarkably kind and receptive when I met him in 2014. I’m sad to hear he’s no longer with us.
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