Third all-time in the history of baseball in managerial wins, four-time manager of the year, six-time pennant winner and three World Series titles.
These are the credentials of recently retired Cardinals manager Tony La Russa.
La Russa actually graduated from the University of South Florida in 1969 with a degree in Industrial Management and was born and raised in Tampa, Fla. Despite a lackluster playing career that included a lot of time in the minor leagues and only 35 career major league hits, La Russa got into coaching and instantly flourished. La Russa has been managing in the Major Leagues since 1979, when he took over as manager of the Chicago White Sox.
After leading them to the American League Champion Series and 99 wins in just his second season as a manager, it seemed obvious that La Russa found his calling.
Now over 30 years and 2,728 managerial wins later, he finds himself trailing only trailing only Connie Mack (3,731) and John Mcgraw (2,763) in wins by managers in baseball history. It looks as if that’s where he’ll stay for good as he announced his retirement just three days after the Cards’ World Series victory.
Amazingly, he retired as the longest tenured coaching figure not only in all of Major League Baseball, but in the four major sports as well.
So what made La Russa stand out as a manager? His consistent decision-making, his drive, his ability to motivate his players over a 162 game season, not to mention the playoffs? La Russa managed some of the greatest athletes to ever play the game, and managing some of those players and their egos (for example, Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson), was no easy task.
On Aug. 24, the La Russa-led Cardinals were 10.5 games out of the playoffs. With five games left to play, they were three games out. On Oct. 28, the Cardinals beat the Rangers in seven games to capture the 11th title in Cardinals franchise history, their second with La Russa at the helm.
Do you think that happened by accident?
La Russa, who is credited with the invention of the modern day use of a bullpen (equipped with set-up men, long relievers and match-up guys), graduated from the Florida State University of Law in 1978 and was admitted to the Florida Bar on July 30, 1980.
He is one of a select number of major league managers in baseball history who have earned a law degree or passed a state bar exam, a feat accomplished by only six others.
Needless to say, Tony La Russa is an intelligent man, and it shows by the way he manages games.
Whether it be making a double switch, or matching up a situational lefty against the Prince Fielders and Josh Hamiltons of the world, La Russa is one of those once in a lifetime coaches that has adapted to the game’s changes over the last 30 years.
In fact, La Russa is one of just two managers to win World Series titles in both the American and National Leagues (joining his mentor Sparky Anderson), and the only manager in baseball history to win multiple pennants in both leagues.
He won three pennants with the Oakland Athletics in the early 90s and ends his run with the Cards with three pennants as well.
Success didn’t come without a few bumps in the road for La Russa, however. Now at the ripe old age of 67, La Russa encountered a variety of problems with his health and with the media over the years. In 1999, he had a stomach ulcer that prevented him from managing in several games, as well as having shingles multiple times, including earlier this year.
As for disputes with the media and with his players, as recently as this year La Russa ranted aimlessly about the lack of offensive production the Cardinals were getting, as well as calling out promising young center fielder Colby Rasmus (Rasmus would be traded to the Blue Jays a couple of months later).
La Russa also was charged with driving under the influence in Jupiter, Fla., in 2007; a charge he accepted full responsibility for and will most likely be forgotten due to the Cardinals’ recent success.
It is time once again to acknowledge, appreciate and applaud the managerial greatness of Tony La Russa.
Shawn Ferris can be reached at sferris@spartans.ut.edu.