Ron Kittle talks about his time with the White Sox, Tony La Russa and Harold Baines This strongboy from nearby Gary, Indiana, was an instant hit in Chicago. Kittle had been released by the Dodger organization after a spinal fusion operation in 1978 and was working in iron construction when invited to Comiskey Park for…
The 2021 Major League Baseball season is at full throttle, as we’re about to reach the end of the first half of the season. The reigning champions Los Angeles Dodgers are still the favorites to lift the Commissioner’s Trophy at the end of the season, despite being currently placed third in the National League West…
Tony LaRussa Essentials Positions: Bats: R Throws: R Weight: 175 Born: Year: 1944 in Tampa, FL USA Died: in , Debut: 5/10/1963 Last Game: 4/6/1973 Hall of Fame: Inducted as a Manager in 2014 by Veterans Full Name: Anthony LaRussa
A huge crowd estimated at 48,000 is on hand for the annual Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Cooperstown, NY. This year’s class is unusually large and prestigious, featuring three players elected on the first ballot: 300-game winners Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine and slugger Frank Thomas, a member of the 500 home run club. Joining them are three managers who stand at #3, 4 and 5 on the all-time win list in Tony LaRussa, Bobby Cox and Joe Torre. Maddux, Glavine and Cox all found their greatest success in the great Atlanta Braves teams of the late 1990s.
The Veterans Committee unanimously elects three managers who were highly successful in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s to the Hall of Fame: Bobby Cox, Tony LaRussa and Joe Torre were fixtures in the postseason over the period, combining for 8 World Series titles and 10 Manager of the Year awards. In addition to their overlapping careers, LaRussa, Cox and Torre rank 3rd, 4th and 5th on the all-time list of managerial wins, behind Connie Mack and John McGraw.
The World Champion Cardinals announced that Tony La Russa, the team’s manager for the past 16 seasons, has decided to retire. The 67 year-old skipper, who is only 35 games behind John McGraw on the all-time list for second place for games won, compiled a 2,728-2,365 (.536) managerial record during his 33 seasons with the White Sox, A’s, and St. Louis.
OF Jim Edmonds announces his retirement for the second time, two weeks after signing a minor league contract with the Cardinals, because of an achilles tendon injury he sustained while trotting out a home run on September 21st in what turned out to be the last at-bat of his career. He had first retired after the 2008 season, then came back last year to play with Milwaukee and Cincinnati when he hit .276 with 11 home runs and 23 RBI.
Tony La Russa moves past John McGraw into second place for the most games managed in major league history. With his 4,770 contests as a manager, the Cardinal skipper now trails only Connie Mack, who amassed a total of 7755 during his 53 years in the dugout.
Tony La Russa becomes the winningest manager in franchise history when the Cardinals defeat Cincinnati at Busch Stadium, 8-5. The Redbird skipper surpasses Red Schoendienst, who compiled a 1,041-955 managerial record with St. Louis.
The Baseball Writers’ Association of America selects Mike Scioscia (World Champions Angels – 99-63) and Tony La Russa (Cardinals – 97-65) as Manager of the Year for their respective leagues. The St. Louis skipper, who also won the award in the American League with the White Sox (1983) and the A’s (1988, 1992), joins Braves’ field boss Bobby Cox as the only managers to win the top honors in both leagues.