There are rivalries that last lifetimes — Yankees vs Red Sox, Lakers vs Celtics, Coke vs Pepsi — but when it comes to California and baseball, it doesn’t get bigger (or spicier) than Dodgers vs Giants. Now, that century-old feud is being reimagined not on the baseball diamond, but on the pizza peel.
This week, La Sorted’s Chinatown becomes the coliseum where LA’s own Tommy LaSorted’s pits his new Lasagna Pie against San Francisco’s Tony Gemignani and his cult-favorite High Five pizza. The result? An event that’s part pizza-throwdown, part charity fundraiser, and all celebration of community, rivalry, and the simple joy of a perfect slice.
Q: Tommy, how did the idea for this Slice Series collab with Tony come about — and why tie it to the Dodgers vs Giants rivalry?
Tommy: “I was at Pizza City Fest and I saw Tony walking in the BOH area and really wanted him to try my upside down mamba slice. We’ve had success loosely tying sports and food together — especially baseball. And who better than Tony, the SF pizza man and pizza inside Giants Stadium? A Slice Off just made sense. I try not to overthink these things, and remember to just have fun while hopefully bringing people together for a good cause. Sports and pizza do that naturally.”
That casual energy — mixing fandom, food, and philanthropy — has become a hallmark of Tommy’s La Sorted’s brand. What may sound like a gimmick instead captures something essential: pizza is community. And when two powerhouse pizza-makers turn a century-old sports rivalry into a culinary competition, you end up with something bigger than the slice itself.
Lasagna Pie vs The High Five
Every pizza rivalry needs its mascots, and this one doesn’t disappoint. For the Dodgers, Tommy has created what might be his boldest project yet: a Lasagna Pie.
Q: Your Lasagna Pie is going head-to-head with Tony’s High Five pizza. What inspired your choice?
Tommy: “First of all… the Dodgers literally created the High Five, so there’s that. But I’ve wanted to make a lasagna pizza for a long time. Early in La Sorted’s days, researching fun Dodgers ties, I read a lot about Tommy Lasorda’s legendary love for Lasagna. So in our first big match-up why not do a dish we both love as ‘Tommy’s’? It felt right.”
Q: Tony, what excites you most about bringing your High Five pizza to LA for this collab?
Tony: “Tommy and his crew make amazing pizzas at LaSorted’s. It’s always a pleasure working alongside great pizza people. The High Five is ultra thin and crispy — it’s available only at Tony’s, not my other restaurants, and fans love it. Can’t wait to share it in LA.”
So on one side of the oven you’ve got a Dodgers-inspired Lasagna Pie dripping with nostalgia and layers. On the other, SF’s famed High Five — thin, crispy, perfected. It’s a rivalry within a rivalry, and it tastes like California history itself.
Pizza for a Purpose
This throwdown isn’t just for bragging rights — it also benefits the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation, proof that pizza isn’t only delicious, it’s powerful.
Q: Tommy, why was it important for you to connect pizza culture with charity work?
Tommy: “Since Covid, I’ve learned a lot about the power of pizza. It always brings people together. Pizza is universal, humble, always available. I’ve fallen in love with pizza culture and how it unites people. So when we can create these one-off moments — while showing what good we can do for our communities — that’s the perfect tie-in.”
Meanwhile, Tony has long tied his pies to philanthropy in San Francisco.
Q: The Giants vs Dodgers rivalry goes back a century. What does it mean to bring that rivalry into pizza — for charity?
Tony: “I’ve done season-long fundraisers with the Giants in the Bay Area. So collaborating with Tommy and bringing this to LA feels right. Both the Giants and the Dodgers donated memorabilia for the event. Anytime we raise money and awareness for charity, it’s something special.”
The blending of rivalry and charity feels fitting: Dodgers vs Giants may divide the ballpark, but the promise of pizza brings them back together at the table.
Pizza, Legacy, and Chinatown’s Stage
Hosting the event in Chinatown, LA isn’t just geography — it’s strategy. La Sorted’s has become one of the city’s most creative new-school pizzerias, and rallies a local community around culture, food, and storytelling.
Q: Tommy, what does hosting this collab with Tony mean for you personally, and for the LA pizza community?
Tommy: “It means a lot. I was in SF just a year after starting La Sorted’s and went to Tony’s shop. I wanted to see the piped ricotta, taste his sauce, and I was inspired by his Pizza Row. I came back energized to do more. So 5 years later, to host Tony at my shop — and on my daughter’s 1st birthday no less — that’s a milestone. For me, for La Sorted’s, and for LA’s pizza scene.”
And Tony? For him, this is a warm-up act:
Q: You’ve done collabs all over the country — how does this one stand out?
Tony: “I have lots of Slice Houses in the LA area, so Tommy and I believe this could grow into a huge event next year. This is almost like the kickoff party. We’d like to involve all Slice Houses across LA, and hopefully bring other pizzerias in too.”
The rivalry is alive, but so is the respect. Underneath the competitive energy, both pizza titans see this as the beginning of something far bigger for LA.
Dodgers vs Giants: From Ballpark to Pizza Peel
The Dodgers and Giants rivalry stretches across baseball history: from NY boroughs to California coastlines, from Willie Mays to Tommy Lasorda, from Candlestick Park to Chavez Ravine. Now pizza enters the canon.
Q: Tony, what do you hope LA pizza fans take away from this week’s Slice Series?
Tony: “Camaraderie and unity. Sure, it can get competitive in the pizza world — like in any industry — but sometimes you look past that. You realize you can do something special, together, and respect each other in the process.”
The Slice Series embodies that vision. It’s playful but purposeful. Equal parts pie, philanthropy, and baseball memory lane.
Why This Event Matters
For LA’s pizza lovers, Chinatown becomes not just a place to grab a slice, but a place to experience history being made. The Dodgers Foundation gains fuel for its mission. Pizza fans taste two legends’ creativity. And the cultural collision of Giants vs Dodgers finds a fresh, flavorful outlet.
Behind every bite, this Slice Series answers one central question: can food rivalries build community? The answer at La Sorted’s is a resounding yes — and it tastes like victory, no matter which side you’re on.
