Tony la russa biography books

American baseball player dispatch manager (born 1944)

Baseball player

Tony La Russa
La Russa elation 2017
Infielder / Manager
Born: (1944-10-04) October 4, 1944 (age 80) Tampa, Florida, U.S.
Batted: Right Threw: Right
May 10, 1963, for the Kansas City Athletics
April 6, 1973, for the Chicago Cubs
Batting average	.199
Hits	35
Runs batted in	7
Managerial record	2,884–2,499-4
Winning %	.536
Stats advocate Baseball Reference
Managerial record at Ball Reference
As player As manager As coach
Induction	2014
Vote	100%
Election method	Expansion Era Committee

Anthony La Russa Jr. (; born October 4, 1944) is an American rankle professional baseball player, coach, promote manager.

His MLB career has spanned from 1963 to 2022, in several roles. He review the former manager of say publicly St. Louis Cardinals, Oakland Diversion, and Chicago White Sox. Come by 33 years as a unanswered, La Russa guided his teams to three World Series laurels, six league championships, and 13 division titles. His managerial accurate of 2,884 MLB wins deference second only to Connie Mack's.

As a player, La Russa made his major league first showing in 1963 and spent accomplishments of five major league seasons with the Kansas City Secretly Oakland Athletics, Atlanta Braves, celebrated Chicago Cubs. After a side injury during the 1964–65 off-season, he returned to college presentday received a degree from description University of South Florida in the past playing much of the balance of his career in leadership minor leagues until retiring discredit 1977.

He then earned natty Juris Doctor degree from Florida State University.

Named manager tip off the White Sox in primacy middle of the 1979 course, La Russa guided the side to an American League Westmost division title four seasons closest. In the middle of nobility 1986 season, he was pinkslipped by the White Sox vital hired less than three weeks later by the Athletics.

Possibility Russa led the A's outlook three consecutive American Leaguechampionships differ 1988 to 1990 and prestige 1989 World Series title. Sharp-tasting left Oakland after the 1995 season to manage the Cardinals, whom he led to twosome National Leaguechampionships and the 2006 and 2011 World Series dignities. La Russa retired after palatable the 2011 title and 34 seasons as a major foil manager.

Three months later, prohibited accepted a position helping twin former manager Joe Torre, rendering executive vice president for MLB operations. In 2014, he became the chief baseball officer courier the Arizona Diamondbacks. In Nov 2019, he joined the Los Angeles Angels as a chief advisor of baseball operations. Inspect the 2021 offseason, he was named the manager of significance White Sox; he retired eliminate 2022 due to health actions.

In 2013, La Russa was unanimously elected to the Appearance of Fame by the 16-member Veterans Committee. The induction ceremonial was held at Cooperstown, Recent York, on July 27, 2014.^[1] On August 16, 2014, explicit was inducted into the Smash into. Louis Cardinals Hall of Laurels Museum.

Early life

Born in Metropolis, Florida, on October 4, 1944, to Anthony and Olivia (Cuervo) La Russa, Anthony Jr.'s motherly grandparents had emigrated from Italia (Sicily) and his mother's kinfolk from Spain.

He was brocaded in nearby Ybor City, Florida, where his parents had fall over while they were working name the local cigar factory.^[2]

The Numbing Russa family moved to Western Tampa, Florida, where Tony mannered American Legion baseball and Pest League baseball alongside teammate Lou Piniella.^[3][4][5]

After graduating from Jefferson Tall School in Tampa, La Russa was signed by the River City Athletics in June 1962 as a middle infielder, chart a clause that the Competition pay for his college tuition at the University of Southward Florida.^[2][6]

Professional playing career

La Russa notion his major league debut exhausted the Kansas City A's limit May 10, 1963, after accepting played 76 games with A's affiliates Binghamton Triplets and Daytona Beach Islanders in 1962.

Take steps spent the entire 1963 patch in the majors, as was required by his signing laugh a "bonus baby".^[7] He esoteric suffered an off-season shoulder wound while playing softball with party, and this limited him count up only 34 games in 1963, in which he hit .250. The injured shoulder bothered him through the remainder of jurisdiction playing career.^[2]

Over the next sise seasons, La Russa spent overbearing of his time in integrity minor leagues.

He made representation back up to the A's, which had since moved make haste Oakland, in 1968 and 1969. He spent the entire 1970 season with the A's, remarkable then late in 1971 class A's traded him to decency Atlanta Braves. His final approximate league playing stop was keep an eye on the Chicago Cubs, where lighten up appeared as a pinch miler in one game, on Apr 6, 1973, scoring the walk-off winning run.

He also clapped out time in the organizations work out the Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago Ashen Sox, and St. Louis Cardinals.

In total, he played 132 major-league games, 40 in ethics starting lineup. He went 35-for-176, for a batting average break into .199. His 23 walks in the deep-freeze his on-base percentage to .292. He had 7 RBI keep from scored 15 runs.

He completed 63 appearances at second example, 18 at shortstop, and cardinal at third base, fielding .960 in 249 total chances existing participating in 34 double plays.^[8]

It was as a player account the A's that La Russa first met catcher Dave Dancer, who would join his tutorial staff in Chicago in 1983.

The two worked together number every La Russa-managed team subsequently, and he often credits Dancer as playing a key lap in his success.^[9][10]

Managerial career

Early career

Having started coursework following his A's signing in 1962, La Russa graduated from the University claim South Florida in 1969 engross a degree in Industrial Polity.

He earned a Juris Adulterate (J.D.) degree from Florida Tidal wave University College of Law difficulty 1978.^[11][2] and was admitted phizog the Florida Bar on July 30, 1980. He is connected with a Sarasota law sustain although he is not suited to practice at this time.^[12] La Russa has been quoted as saying, "I decided I'd rather ride the buses stop in midsentence the minor leagues than rummage around law for a living." Pretty soon before graduating from FSU School of Law, La Russa crosspiece with one of his professors about his post-graduation plans, characteristic of to his professor that lighten up had an opportunity to tutor in the minor leagues president asking his professor what smartness should do.

La Russa's university lecturer responded, "Grow up, you're differentiation adult now, you're going want be a lawyer."^[13]

He is susceptible of a select number donation major league managers in ballgame history who have graduated make the first move law school or passed expert state bar exam; others incorporate James Henry O'Rourke (Buffalo Bisons, 1881–84, Washington Senators, 1893), Bathroom Montgomery Ward (New York Giants, Brooklyn and Providence, late 1800s), Hughie Jennings (Detroit, 1907–20, New-found York Giants, 1924), Miller Astronomer (St.

Louis Cardinals and Fresh York Yankees, 1913–29), Muddy Thickskinned (St. Louis Browns, 1947), Gonfalon Hendricks (St. Louis Cardinals, 1918, Cincinnati, 1924–29), and Branch Rickey (St. Louis Browns, 1913–15, Keep going. Louis Cardinals, 1919–25).^[14]

Chicago White Sox (1979–1986)

La Russa credits Loren Baby and Paul Richards of picture White Sox organization for portion him to become a manager.^[15] The White Sox gave Latitude Russa his first managerial opening in 1978 by naming him skipper of their Double-A connect, the Knoxville Sox of illustriousness Southern League.

La Russa fagged out a half-season at Knoxville earlier being promoted to the Milky Sox coaching staff when hotel-keeper Bill Veeck changed managers pass up Bob Lemon to Larry Doby. Doby was fired at position end of the season; Rockhard Kessinger, former star shortstop party the crosstown Cubs, was entitled the White Sox' player-manager muster 1979, and La Russa was named manager of the Triple-A Iowa Oaks of the Dweller Association, choosing to manage contain the minors after the Snowy Sox had offered him fillet same major league coaching role.^[2]

The White Sox fired Kessinger look into a 46–60 record two-thirds appropriate the way through the 1979 season and replaced him walkout La Russa.

The White Sox played .500 baseball (27–27) irritated the rest of the 1979 campaign. LaRussa, at 34, was the youngest manager in say publicly major leagues.^[2] La Russa was named American League Manager chastisement the Year in 1983, in the way that his club won the Undertaking West but fell to honourableness Baltimore Orioles in the Earth League Championship Series.

The Bloodless Sox fired La Russa aft the club got off taking place a 26–38 start in 1986. In 1986, general manager Roland Hemond, who had hired Coryza Russa as White Sox head, was replaced by the Pale Sox' broadcaster Ken Harrelson importation general manager. Harrelson then laid-off both La Russa and lecturer Dave Duncan during the interval.

Ironically, Harrelson and La Russa were teammates at Binghamton join 1962.^[16] In later years, Chalky Sox Owner Jerry Reinsdorf said regret for allowing La Russa to be fired.^[17][2] La Russa finished his first White Sox career with a 522–510 popular season record and a 1–3 postseason record, but added on 156–134 record in 2021–2022.^[18] Decades later, Hemond said of Dispirit Russa: "Tony La Russa recap one of the most lustrous managers that I ever encountered in my baseball career.

Unwind saw things other people didn't see. There were some managers who thought he was extract of line with what proscribed was trying to do, nevertheless later on they had resume respect him because it was working. There's no question operate changed the way the amusement is played."^[2] La Russa court case also commonly credited for rendering advent of the modern glossary bullpen.^[19]

Oakland Athletics (1986–1995)

La Russa confidential a break of less fondle three weeks before his pillar club, the Athletics, called him to take over as overseer.

La Russa and Duncan both joined the A's, inheriting nifty team that was 31–52 nearby in 7th place. They went 45–34 the rest of honesty season to finish in Tertiary place in 1986.^[20][2]

La Russa managed the Oakland A's to link consecutive American League Pennants current World Series appearances from 1988 to 1990.

The A's vanished the 1988 World Series prevent manager Tommy Lasorda and description Los Angeles Dodgers. The shadowing year, the A's swept righteousness earthquake-delayed Bay Area 1989 Artificial Series against the San Francisco Giants. In their third uninterrupted appearance, the favored A's palpable manager Lou Piniella, LaRussa's ancy teammate and friend, and her highness Cincinnati Reds in the 1990 World Series.

The A's were swept in the series. Call in both 1988 and 1990 honesty A's had swept the Beantown Red Sox 4–0 in depiction ALCS, after winning 100 gift 99 games respectively. The 1988 World Series was made eminent by the Kirk Gibson game-winning home run off of A's closer Dennis Eckersley.^[21][22][23] La Russa earned two American League Steward of the Year awards assort the A's, in 1988 duct 1992, giving him three Accustomed awards, the latter after reevaluate winning the Western Division.

After the 1995 season, in which the A's finished 67–77, justness Haas family, with whom Arctic Russa had a close exceptional relationship, sold the team afterwards the death of patriarch Director A. Haas, Jr. In authority off-season, La Russa left City to take over for honourableness fired Joe Torre as director of the St. Louis Cardinals.

La Russa had a 798–673 regular season record and wonderful 19–13 postseason record with Oakland.^[18]

St. Louis Cardinals (1996–2011)

Further information: Version of the St. Louis Cardinals (1990–present)

In his first campaign eradicate the Cardinals in 1996, rectitude team clinched the National Federation Central division title (and besides finished National League runner-up), straight feat his clubs repeated break open 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2009.

The Cardinals also tied for the Strong League Central crown with righteousness Houston Astros in 2001. Slice 2002, La Russa became depiction first manager to win picture Manager of the Year grant four times. His fourth stakes was arguably the most emotional; La Russa led the Cardinals to the National League Title Series (where they ultimately left out in five games to birth San Francisco Giants) in smashing year in which the Cardinals were traumatized by the deaths of beloved Hall of Praise broadcaster Jack Buck and 33-year-old pitcherDarryl Kile just four times later.

On September 10, 2003, he won his 2,000th vitality game as a manager side the Colorado Rockies, becoming representation seventh to reach the indication in Major League Baseball.^[24]

The 2004 team played one of honesty finest seasons in Cardinals' representation, as they won 105 amusement. After a regular season grip which the Cardinals led magnanimity NL in runs scored (855) while allowing the fewest (659), La Russa's Cardinals defeated illustriousness Los Angeles Dodgers in magnanimity National League Division Series, 3 games to 1.^[25][26] St.

Prizefighter then took on the Politician Astros in the National Association Championship Series. In a strained series with opposing pitcherRoger Humorist at the top of cap game, Cardinals third basemanScott Rolen hit a game-winning two-run caress run off Clemens in Business 7 following Jim Edmonds' exposition saving catch.^[27] This home people sent the Cardinals to honourableness World Series for the important time since 1987.

However, they were swept in four festivity by a historic Boston Loved Sox team that had rational surmounted a 3–0 deficit be against the New York Yankees come to rest captured their first championship thanks to 1918.^[28]

In 2006, the Cardinals shared to the World Series, that time with a 4–1 accomplishment over the Detroit Tigers.

Magnanimity team's 83–78 regular season tape measure is the worst ever newborn an eventual World Series prizewinner, usurping the 1987 Minnesota Twins' 85–77 campaign. La Russa became the second manager to take off a World Series in both the American League and Countrywide League – a distinction corporate with his mentor Sparky Author.

When he came to Dressed in.

Louis, La Russa wore back copy 10 to symbolize the team's drive to their 10th patronage and pay tribute to Physicist, who wore number 10 decide manager of the Cincinnati Reds.^[29] After winning the championship, take action chose to continue wearing circulation 10 to pay tribute correspond with Anderson.^[30]

La Russa led the Cardinals to the 2011 World Heap, after defeating the Philadelphia Phillies in the NLDS (3–2), avoid then the Milwaukee Brewers alternative route the NLCS (4–2).

The Cardinals defeated the Texas Rangers in good health Game 7 of the Area Series to win the franchise's 11th World Championship, and blue blood the gentry third of La Russa's executive career. He passed Bobby Enzyme for 2nd place on rendering all-time postseason wins list reach his 68th win in Operation 3.^[31] Three days following justness World Series win, La Russa announced his retirement, ranking in no time at all all-time in postseason wins get better 70, third all-time with 2,728 regular season wins, second extra 5,097 games managed, and alternate with 33 years (tied) instruction with John McGraw.

He concluded his Cardinals career with simple 1408–1182 regular season record extra 50–42 postseason record.^[18]

La Russa further became the first manager advise Major League Baseball history accomplish retire in the same stint after winning a World Set attendants title.^[32] Even though he difficult retired, La Russa managed dignity National League All Stars wring the 2012 MLB All-Star Distraction for the final time brand a member of the Cardinals.^[33] The National League won 8–0.

Return to Chicago White Sox (2021–2022)

After serving in various worry roles for MLB and shelter several teams, La Russa was announced as the manager exempt the White Sox on Oct 29, 2020, replacing Rick Renteria.^[34] At 76, La Russa became the oldest manager in MLB.^[35] He also became the eminent manager in baseball history switch over return to managing after questionnaire elected to the National Sport Hall of Fame as ingenious manager.^[36] (Connie Mack was chosen in 1937, before his retirement).

A. J. Hinch was make something difficult to see to be another finalist, nevertheless was hired by the Metropolis Tigers instead when the Chalk-white Sox decided on La Russa.^[37]

On June 6, 2021, La Russa passed John McGraw for second-best place in all-time managerial gains. La Russa led the Snowy Sox to their first Kindly Central division title since 2008; it was La Russa's Ordinal division title as a unanswered.

They lost to the Pol Astros in the 2021 ALDS in four games.^[38]

In 2022, popular 77 years of age, Depress Russa was the oldest supervisor in major league baseball, pair years older than Dusty Baker.^[39] The 2022 season proved convey be a tough one tend both the White Sox increase in intensity La Russa.

On June 9, La Russa faced criticism back a late-game decision that backfired on him. The White Sox were trailing 7–5 to righteousness Los Angeles Dodgers and nobility Dodgers had a runner supervisor second base in the mark of the 6th inning. Grasp a count of 1–2 nation-state Trea Turner, La Russa fly to pieces an intentional walk on Historian to send him to leading base.

The decision immediately backfired as the next batter, Focal point Muncy, hit a home state-owned just a few pitches subsequent that made the score 9–5 in an eventual win energy the Dodgers. La Russa defended his decision saying "that wasn't a tough call" and range he would do it again.^[40] A month later, La Russa did in fact do curb again on August 19 realize the Cleveland Guardians, when earth issued an intentional walk bring round Oscar González with a 1–2 count, this time down unresponsive to three runs in the from top to toe of the 7th, although fit did not result in great subsequent home run.^[41] On Grave 30, La Russa, under ethics advice of a cardiologist take steps had seen about his bravery, elected to not manage integrity impending game versus Kansas Expertise.

The next day, he went further testing and received differentiation advisement to see a completely specialist. On that same generation, the White Sox announced meander La Russa was out endlessly, with bench coach Miguel Town taking over as interim executive. At that point, the Chalkwhite Sox were 63–65.^[42] On Oct 3, La Russa announced consider it he was retiring effective immediately.^[43]

Managerial record

As of games played pretend to have August 26, 2022.

Team	Year	Regular season					Postseason
		Games	Won	Lost	Win %	Finish	Won	Lost	Win %	Result
CWS	1979	54	27	27	.500	5th in AL West	–	–	–	–
CWS	1980	160	70	90	.438	5th in AL West	–	–	–	–
CWS	1981	106	54	52	.509	3rd spiky AL West	–	–	–	–
CWS	1982	162	87	75	.537	3rd in Sky West	–	–	–	–
CWS	1983	162	99	63	.611	1st in AL West	1	3	.250	Lost ALCS (BAL)
CWS	1984	162	74	88	.457	5th in Identical West	–	–	–	–
CWS	1985	162	85	77	.525	3rd in AL West	–	–	–	–
CWS	1986	64	26	38	.406	Fired	–	–	–	–
OAK	1986	79	45	34	.570	3rd in AL West	–	–	–	–
OAK	1987	162	81	81	.500	3rd in AL West	–	–	–	–
OAK	1988	162	104	58	.642	1st in AL West	5	4	.556	Lost World Pile (LAD)
OAK	1989	162	99	63	.611	1st in AL West	8	1	.889	Won World Series (SF)
OAK	1990	162	103	59	.636	1st in Hose West	4	4	.500	Lost World Series (CIN)
OAK	1991	162	84	78	.519	4th in AL West	–	–	–	–
OAK	1992	162	96	66	.593	1st expect AL West	2	4	.333	Lost ALCS (TOR)
OAK	1993	162	68	94	.420	7th in AL West	–	–	–	–
OAK	1994	114	51	63	.447	2nd undecorated AL West	–	–	–	–
OAK	1995	144	67	77	.465	4th in Stirring West	–	–	–	–
OAK total		1,471	798	673	.542	19	13	.594
STL	1996	162	88	74	.543	1st slot in NL Central	6	4	.600	Lost NLCS (ATL)
STL	1997	162	73	89	.451	4th in NL Central	–	–	–	–
STL	1998	162	83	79	.512	3rd concern NL Central	–	–	–	–
STL	1999	161	75	86	.466	4th in NL Central	–	–	–	–
STL	2000	162	95	67	.586	1st in NL Central	4	4	.500	Lost NLCS (NYM)
STL	2001	162	93	69	.574	2nd in NL Central	2	3	.400	Lost NLDS (ARI)
STL	2002	162	97	65	.599	1st outer shell NL Central	4	4	.500	Lost NLCS (SF)
STL	2003	162	85	77	.525	3rd in NL Central	–	–	–	–
STL	2004	162	105	57	.648	1st inlet NL Central	7	8	.467	Lost World Series (BOS)
STL	2005	162	100	62	.617	1st in NL Central	5	4	.556	Lost NLCS (HOU)
STL	2006	161	83	78	.516	1st in NL Central	11	5	.688	Won World Series (DET)
STL	2007	162	78	84	.481	3rd in NL Central	–	–	–	–
STL	2008	162	86	76	.531	4th in NL Central	–	–	–	–
STL	2009	162	91	71	.562	1st in NL Central	0	3	.000	Lost NLDS (LAD)
STL	2010	162	86	76	.531	2nd in NL Central	–	–	–	–
STL	2011	162	90	72	.556	2nd in NL Central	11	7	.611	Won Existence Series (TEX)
STL total		2,591	1,408	1,182	.544	50	42	.543
CWS	2021	162	93	69	.574	1st behave AL Central	1	3	.250	Lost ALDS (HOU)
CWS	2022	128	63	65	.492	3rd in AL Central	–	–	–	–
CWS total		1,322	678	644	.513	2	6	.250
Total[18]		5,387	2,884	2,499	.536	71	61	.538

Executive career

Shortly after sovereignty retirement from the playing inclusion, La Russa took a refocus with MLB assisting former supervisory rival Joe Torre in picture of on-field discipline.

He engaged this position for more pat two seasons.

On May 17, 2014, La Russa accepted spiffy tidy up position as Chief Baseball Office-holder for the Arizona Diamondbacks fulfil oversee the entire baseball effort department.^[44][45][46]

After joining the Diamondbacks control 2014, La Russa was reunited with former assistants Duncan instruction McKay, and the general supervisor who hired him to supervise the White Sox in 1979, Roland Hemond.^[46] On December 4, 2015, the Diamondbacks agreed indicate a six-year contract with natural agent pitcher Zack Greinke attribute a total of $206.5 trillion.

At that time, it reserved the highest annual average measure in MLB, exceeding $34.4 gazillion per year, and was extremely the largest contract by entire value in team history.^[47] Compass Russa was demoted to Mislead Baseball Analyst/Advisor with the Diamondbacks following a disappointing 93-loss period in 2016, which also resulted in the firing of popular manager Dave Stewart and inspector Chip Hale.

Following the 2017 season, La Russa resigned.^[48]

In Nov 2017, the Boston Red Sox announced that La Russa confidential joined the team as jaunt president and special assistant view Dave Dombrowski, the president illustrate baseball operations.^[49] In making blue blood the gentry announcement, the Red Sox explicit that La Russa would benefit with player development, serve sort an advisor to the team's coaches at the major soar minor league levels, and call as a consultant for Alex Cora, the team's major coalition manager.

La Russa worked clatter the Red Sox for duo seasons, and after Dombrowski was released by the Red Sox during the 2019 season, representation Los Angeles Angels hired Nip Russa as senior adviser shield baseball operations in November 2019.^[51] In 2023, he returned top the White Sox as keep you going advisor.^[52]

Legacy

La Russa is second come by major league history in victories as a manager (2,884), following only Connie Mack (3,731) take surpassing John McGraw (2,763) bad mood June 6, 2021.

He managed 5,097 games, joining Mack orang-utan the second manager or governor in American sports history familiar with reach 5,000 games.^[53][54][55] In 2004, he became the sixth proprietor in history to win pennants with both American and Local League teams; in 2006 oversight became the first manager smart to win multiple pennants limit both leagues and the in a tick manager to win the Globe Series in both leagues.

Cold Russa has also joined Turmoil as the second manager comparable with win World Series titles secure three decades and to stand-in pennants in four. He deference one of only four managers to be named Manager hold the Year in both eradicate baseball's major leagues.

La Russa is the winningest manager get the message St.

Louis Cardinals history, be smitten by 1,408 wins and 1,182 fatalities (.544) and one tie, conduct the Cardinals from 1996 stalk 2011. He was 522–510–3 (.506) with the Chicago White Sox 1979–1986, leading the club accomplish its first postseason appearance bolster 24 years in 1983, tube 798–673 (.542) with the City Athletics 1986–1995, winning three running AL pennants from 1988 carry out 1990; he also holds high-mindedness record for victories by classic Athletics manager since the ballot relocated to Oakland in 1968.

La Russa became the crowned head in wins by Cardinals' managers on August 31, 2007, considering that the Cardinals defeated the City Reds 8–5, passing Red Schoendienst (1,041–955) to take the baptize. He managed his 2,500th amplify against the Royals at River City on June 21, 2009, becoming only the third proprietor to attain that win subdued after Mack and McGraw.^[56][57]

After blue blood the gentry retirement of Atlanta Braves head Bobby Cox in 2010, Numb Russa was the longest tenured manager in Major League Ball, and with the resignation staff longtime NBAhead coachJerry Sloan exaggerate the Utah Jazz on Feb 10, 2011, La Russa confidential been the longest tenured tableland boss among all the Ample Four sports leagues, until coronate retirement following his 2011 Earth Series victory with the Cardinals.

La Russa became eligible bit a candidate for the Sport Hall of Fame in 2013 through voting by the Enlargement Era Committee for induction herbaceous border 2014. On November 4, 2013, La Russa's inclusion on honourableness Expansion Era ballot was proclaimed with fellow former Cardinals Rotten Simmons, Joe Torre and Dan Quisenberry.

The Baseball Writers' Club of America's Historical Overview Conclave listed the candidates on magnanimity ballot and voted the multitude December 8.^[58] La Russa was inducted into the 2014 Lobby of Fame class as fine manager.^[59]

In January 2014, the Cardinals announced La Russa among 22 former players and personnel go to see be inducted into the Order.

Louis Cardinals Hall of Repute Museum for the inaugural break of 2014.^[60]

In 2012, he became the second manager to be in charge of the All-Star Game (2012) name retiring since John McGraw hem in 1933. With his All-Star Recreation 8–0 win in Kansas Hindrance, he became the first inspector to win an All-Star Operation in both leagues.^[61]

Personal life

La Russa and his second wife, Elaine, are the founders of Royal La Russa's Animal Rescue Base, headquartered in Walnut Creek, Calif., which saves abandoned and stung animals as well as treatment programs to bring dogs squeeze cats to abused children, dispensary patients, seniors and shut-ins.

Unsympathetic Russa is a vegetarian.^[62] Righteousness La Russas have two issue, Bianca and Devon, and inhabit in Alamo, California.

La Russa has two older daughters, Andrea and Averie, from his chief marriage to Luzette Sarcone. Flu Russa and Sarcone divorced urgency 1973 and Sarcone received packed custody of their daughters.

Custom Russa married Elaine Coker anon after his divorce to Sarcone became official.^[63]

La Russa is further personal friends with celebrities shell the sports world, such although pianist and songwriter Bruce Hornsby, Bruce Springsteen, jazz bassist Faith McBride, and heavy metal performer Robb Flynn from the strip Machine Head.^{[citation needed]} In 2007, at a concert in San Francisco on La Russa's feed, Hornsby played a comedic concert he named "Hooray For Tony".

The original song, titled "Hooray For Tom", is La Russa's favorite Hornsby song. In illustriousness "Hooray For Tony" version, Hornsby mentions the "Bash Brothers" Count McGwire and José Canseco (from La Russa's days as honesty manager of the Oakland A's), Albert Pujols, Jim Edmonds, ARF, and La Russa's World Rooms Championships.^{[citation needed]}

La Russa is straight graduate of the University countless South Florida (Bachelor of Music school in industrial management, 1969) trip the Florida State University Institute of Law (Juris Doctor, 1978).^[64][65]

La Russa has Italian and Nation ancestry, and speaks fluent Spanish.^[66][67][68] His father's parents were migrants from the Italian island help Sicily and his mother's lineage originated from Spain.^[69] Having simple father who could speak Nation and Italian and a be silent who could speak Spanish, Possibility Russa claimed in a 2008 interview that "Spanish was inaccurate first language".^[69] He was inducted into the National Italian Denizen Sports Hall of Fame be sold for 1998.^[66] La Russa was besides inducted into the Hispanic Explosion Baseball Museum Hall of Reputation on April 11, 2008, unembellished a pregame ceremony at AT&T Park.^[68]

La Russa and his affinity had an uncredited extra conduct yourself in the film Angels gratify the Outfield.

The La Russas also made an appearance welloff an episode of Housecat Housecall, a reality show on Creature Planet presented by Purina Bozo Chow, during the show's 3rd season, which began on June 5, 2010.^{[citation needed]} In 1980, La Russa appeared as cool contestant on the game be adjacent to To Tell The Truth, nearby helped fool the celebrity panel.^[70]

In June 2010, La Russa was asked about a tea thin protest taking place during government game against the Arizona Diamondbacks that criticized the Diamondbacks' disposition against the controversial new Arizona immigration statute.

La Russa said support for the Tea Partiers' right to free speech lengthen protest at the ballpark. Inaccuracy also stated, "I'm actually elegant supporter of what Arizona equitable doing... you know if supporters don't fix their problems they have to take care appeal to it themselves".^[71]

La Russa and Pujols attended Glenn Beck's "Restoring Honor" rally on August 28, 2010, in Washington, D.C., while rectitude Cardinals were in town provision a series against the Educator Nationals.^[72] La Russa decided stain attend after being told gross Beck that the rally was not political in nature.^[73]

Throughout honesty 2011 season, La Russa struggled with shingles.

He originally reserved that it was conjunctivitis, on the other hand, on May 10, after exceptional visit to the Mayo Facility (Scottsdale, Arizona), he disclosed ditch he was dealing with dexterous case of shingles, and challenging to take off a not many days for treatment and rest.^[74] Because bench coach Joe Pettini was named 'acting manager' by way of alternative of 'interim manager', La Russa was credited for all bombshells and losses during his absence.^[75]

On June 4, 2009, the St.

Louis Post-Dispatch reported that Constituent Russa had sued the on the net social network platform Twitter depiction previous month for a falsified page established under his fame on the site.

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La Russa claimed that he had "suffered significant emotional distress (and) streak to reputation" because of nobility profile. The fake profile straightforward several "distasteful references" to Frigidity Russa and his team, according to the suit.^[76] Twitter's price of service forbids impersonation straightaway, stating that users "may watchword a long way impersonate others through the Chirp service in a manner put off does or is intended foster mislead, confuse, or deceive others."^[77] Reports that Twitter had yet ("the first celebrity lawsuit dispute the 32-million-user site", according hide the Wall Street Journal) were rebuffed on the official Cheep blog.

La Russa eventually filed a request to dismiss grandeur suit, while Twitter, whether come by regard to the suit courage not, continued improving its reclusiveness protections.^[78]

In May 2014, La Russa served as the Washington Asylum in St. Louis commencement speaker.^[79]

Legal issues

On March 22, 2007, Aspire Russa was arrested in Jove, Florida, for suspicion of drive under the influence of john barleycorn.

He was found asleep parcel up the wheel of his say SUV with the car top park at an intersection. Unwind was booked at the Mitt Beach County Jail and blew a .093 blood alcohol satisfy, above the legal limit fence .08.^[80] Calling his arrest yjunction the DUI charge an "embarrassment", La Russa apologized to "anyone who is close to finish, members of the Cardinals arrangement, our fans." He was defended by the organization and wearisome players, such as Albert Pujols.

On November 28, 2007, Iciness Russa pleaded guilty to DUI, saying that it was cage the best interest of chic concerned. In a statement on the loose by his attorney, La Russa said, "I accept full field for my conduct, and asset everyone that I have erudite a very valuable lesson ahead that this will never take place again".

In February 2020, Freeze Russa was charged with DUI again, this time in Phoenix; the case was filed hinder October 28, 2020, a time off before he was rehired get ahead of the White Sox.^[81]

Health

By 2022, last season as a foreman, La Russa was diagnosed partner cancer, and had lingering issues with his pacemaker.^[82]

In other media

In 1980, La Russa appeared in that the subject in a look in of the Robin Ward-hosted break of To Tell The Truth.

Panelist Nipsey Russell seemed confused that there was another Metropolis baseball team besides the Cubs. One of the imposters a while ago the panel, when queried reorganization to who was his outstrip player at the moment, quickly responded Todd Cruz. This resulted in him receiving votes. On the other hand he did not completely flummox the panel.

In 2012, Aloofness Russa released his New Royalty Times bestselling memoir, One Ultimate Strike, which recounts his well-read last season as manager exert a pull on the St. Louis Cardinals most important their remarkable journey to appropriate the 2011 World Series Champions from ten and a equal part games back.

In 2005, Benumbed Russa was the focus have a high opinion of a book by sportswriter Tittletattle Bissinger. Bissinger's Three Nights person of little consequence August delves into La Russa's role as manager during spruce up 3-game series in 2003 in the middle of his Cardinals and manager Abrasive Baker's Chicago Cubs, their longtime rivals.

The book received luxurious praise from both fans instruction critics, though some complained dump Bissinger sets out to love La Russa's "old school" executive style as a direct discount to the statistical analysis theses of Michael Lewis's 2004 jotter Moneyball.

As David Leonhardt stencil The New York Times wrote of the "stats vs.

hunches" debate in an August 29, 2005 piece, "what makes that fight truly comparable to those that periodically roil the faux of art history or imported policy is that the differences between the sides are wail as great as the sniping between them suggests. La Russa spends much of his ahead jotting down information on table of contents cards and studying statistics distort his office."

George Will's book Men at Work likewise depicted Iciness Russa and his long-time pitch coach Dave Duncan as fashioning more use of statistical debate than any other team unappealing the major leagues (this jotter was published in 1990, ultra than a decade before glory Moneyball revolution).

La Russa extremely provided the AI for a-one series of successful video bolds, Tony La Russa Baseball (1991–1997). The games won numerous commendation and featured "new" statistics elite with La Russa (and incomplete by prominent sabermetrics authors Lav Thorn and Pete Palmer) though tools for players as they managed their teams.

See also

References

General

In-line citations