World Series Champion: Tony La Russa: Greatest Major League Baseball Manager of all time
Program Titles
- World Series Champion
- Multiple Manager of the Year Awards
- Tenure with the Cards is the longest for a manager or head coach with one team in the big four pro sports in North America.
- La Russa: Win total of 2,638
- Tony La Russa has 12 division titles and six pennants: 1988, 1989, 1990, 2004, 2006, 2011
Tony La Russa takes the field to manage the National League in MLB’s All-Star Game.
He is one of only two mangers in history to win a World Series in both leagues.
For La Russa, coming back one last time represents all of the great things and not-so-great things about the game to which he has dedicated his life.
“You miss relationships,” he says. “People get to be a second family. I miss the competition.”
La Russa has many stories, particularly from the time that Baker managed the Chicago Cubs. The infamous brawl that ensued in 2003 between the Cardinals and Cubs.
Fans can expect some hit-and-run from a manager known for putting players in motion?
“I just talked to Cal Ripken about it, and he was getting on me,” said La Russa, referring to the 1989 All-Star game. “He had hit a home run. In the seventh inning, there was a guy on second and nobody out, and I pinch-hit for him to play defense.”
He asked: ‘Why are you pinch-hitting me?’
You have those things but rarely do you bunt or hit-and-run; normally you let guys play. If I had one hope, it’d be like last season:
Carp [Chris Carpenter] was pitching really well and we were up seven, eight runs. Then you really could enjoy it. It’d be nice, but I’m not expecting it.”
La Russa made his MLB debut as an 18-year-old infielder with the Kansas City Athletics in 1963 and made his first-ever plate appearance at the now-defunct K.C. Municipal Stadium.
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