Here is my story that aired last night on 790 KABC as part of the Lasorda at His Best series presented by Skechers:

We only had four signs: take, bunt, hit-and-run, and steal. If you are on first base you don’t have to worry about the take sign so you are down to three. You also don’t have to worry about the bunt sign so you are down to two.

We had a system; if the steal was on and you as the base runner weren’t sure you could look at the first base coach, and if he winked at you then you knew the steal was on.

With Steve Sax you never knew what was going to happen. I gave the steal sign to Joey Amalfitano, who gave it to Sax on first base, but he doesn’t go. I give the sign again, but again he doesn’t go. I give the sign for a third time, but he does not go.

The batter hits into a double play and they come back to the dugout.

“Joey,” I said. “Did you see the signs?’

“I gave him the sign each time you did, Tommy,” he said.

“Manny,” I said. “Did Sax look at you?”

“Yeah, he looked at me,” replied Mota.

“Did you wink?” I wanted to know.

“Yeah I winked,” replied Mota. “But he winked back!”