Tony La Russa announced his retirement from baseball on November 1, 2011. “It’s just time to do something else and I know it,” he told the press conference announcing his retirement. La Russa mentioned as possible future activities “maybe buy a minor league club” and “maybe open a book store”.
It seems fitting that La Russa will be going out on top, leading the St. Louis Cardinals to their 11th World Series title with a 4-to-3 series victory over the Texas Rangers which included winning the final two games – Game 6 despite twice being down to their last strike. The Cardinals in fact did not even belong in the playoffs many thought as they were 10-1/2 games out of the post-season picture in late August before passing Atlanta to win the National League wild card berth. La Russa’s guiding the Cardinals to the 2011 title may have been the most impressive of his career – a career which was filled with many highlights and staggering numbers.
Third All-Time In Victories, Exclusive Company
The 67-year-old La Russia finished with a 2,728-2,365 record in 5,097 games over 33 years of managing – the final 16 with St. Louis. His 2,728 managerial victories rank third all-time behind Connie Mack (3,731) and John McGraw (2,763). La Russa’s 70 post-season victories are second only behind Joe Torre’s 84. La Russa and Leo Durocher are the only managers in MLB history to have 500 or more wins with three different teams.
With his titles in 1989, 2006 and 2011, La Russa is one of only nine managers to win three World Series crowns – Joe McCarthy (7), Casey Stengel (7), Connie Mack (5), Walter Alston (4), Joe Torre (4), Miller Huggins (3), Sparky Anderson (3) and John McGraw (3) being the others.
La Russa and Sparky Anderson are the only two managers to win a World Series in both leagues. La Russa is the only one to win it all in three different decades while he and Billy Southworth are the only two to manage the Cardinals to two World Series titles.
Innovator Of The Sport
La Russ did not just win. He revolutionized baseball. During his years in Oakland, he turned former starter Dennis Eckersley into a one-inning closer – a new concept in baseball. La Russa redefined the entire way to use a bullpen, coming up with situational relievers – something that is used with all 30 MLB teams today. La Russa also came up with the odd strategy of batting the pitcher eighth in the order – doing it 432 times in his managerial career.
Retirement Decision Made In August
La Russa told a press conference announcing his retirement that he had made his decision to step away from the game in August 2011 despite a mutual contract option for 2012 and told his club general manager, John Mozeliak, of his decision. He informed his coaching staff and players on October 30 after the club’s World Series parade and celebration.
Light-Hitting Infielder
La Russa, who was born in Tampa, Florida and earned a law degree from Florida State University College of Law, was a light-hitting infielder for six seasons in the majors with Kansas City and Oakland, hitting.199 over 176 at-bats with 7 RBI in 132 games.
Beginning, Early Success
La Russa’s first managing job was the Chicago White Sox’s Double-A Knoxville team in 1978. And he got the White Sox job in 1979, losing to Baltimore in the 1983 AL Championship Series. During the 1986 season, La Russa was let go by Chicago and moved to the Oakland A’s where he won three straight AL pennants and captured the 1989 World Series title. The Cardinals hired La Russa in 1996 and the manager led St. Louis to seven first place finishes and nine post-season appearances in 16 seasons.
Should Have Won More?
Many believe he should have won more World Series crowns. His 1988 Oakland A’s won 104 games but lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers and Kirk Gibson in one of the biggest upsets in World Series history. In 1990, the A’s had won 103 games but were swept in the World Series by the 91-win Cincinnati Reds. In 2004, the Cardinals collected 105 wins but were swept by the Boston Red Sox in the World Series. And in 2005, La Russa’s Cardinals had won 100 games only to lose to the 89-win Houston Astros in the NL Championship Series.
David Hein - David Hein is a professional freelance journalist, focusing mainly on Sports, especially international basketball, European soccer and ...
