Tony La Russa

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Lore & Background

La Russa joined the St. Louis Cardinals after leaving Oakland following the 1995 season, where the A's had finished with a 67–77 record. His time in St. Louis produced three National League championships and two World Series titles: one in 2006 and another in 2011. The 2011 title was particularly notable as La Russa retired immediately after winning it, capping his career with a championship. This victory came after he had previously guided the team to three consecutive American League championships from 1988 to 1990 while managing the Oakland Athletics, where they won the 1989 World Series against the San Francisco Giants but lost the 1988 and 1990 series.

In Their Own Story

The relationship between La Russa and his coaching staff was defined by a long-standing partnership with catcher Dave Duncan. They first met when La Russa was a player with the Oakland Athletics, and Duncan later joined his staff in Chicago in 1983 before following him to every subsequent team he managed. This continuity played a key role in his success across three franchises. In St. Louis, La Russa's strategic acumen helped secure three National League championships. His tenure ended in November 2011 when he retired after the World Series victory, concluding 34 seasons as a major league manager.

Reader's Guide

Fans often look to La Russa's unique background for insight into his managerial style. Unlike many of his peers, he earned a Juris Doctor degree from Florida State University in 1978 and was admitted to the Florida Bar on July 30, 1980. He famously chose baseball over law, once stating, "I decided I'd rather ride the buses in the minor leagues than practice law for a living." His analytical approach contributed to his reputation as one of the most brilliant managers, credited with the advent of the modern specialized bullpen. In 2013, he was unanimously elected to the Hall of Fame by the 16-member Veterans Committee and inducted on July 27, 2014.

Did You Know?

• La Russa played his final big league game on April 6, 1973, as a pinch runner for the Chicago Cubs, not the Oakland Athletics, and he did not score a walk-off winning run; the Cubs were the away team, so there was no wal
• He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2014 by the Expansion Era Committee, not in 2013 by the Veterans Committee, and he is one of only two managers known to have graduated from law school and passed a state bar exam.
• La Russa managed the Oakland Athletics to three consecutive American League championships (1988–1990) and won the World Series in 1989.
• He returned to manage the Chicago White Sox for two seasons (2021–2022) after previously managing them from 1979 to 1986, but was fired after the 2022 season, not retired due to health concerns.
• His managerial win total of 2,884 is second only to Connie Mack in MLB history.