Three days after his team won the World Series, 67-year old, Tony La Russa retired.
It was the third title his teams have earned in his 33 years as a manager.
La Russa was known as a micro manager, who tightly controlled every facet of his teams games, ends his career third on the all-time list and just 35 wins short of John McGraw, who is second on the list. Connie Mack is the all-time leader with 3,371 victories. La Russa finished with 2,728.
La Russa managed the Chicago White Sox from 1979-1986, the Oakland Athletics from 1986-1995 and the St. Louis Cardinals from 1996, through this 2011 championship season.
He was born in Tampa, Florida on October 4, 1944. His playing career consisted of 15 minor league seasons, beginning in the Kansas City system in 1962. He never played a game in the Major Leagues.
La Russa lost his ace pitcher, Adam Wainwright, before the season started. He was sidelined with a severe case of shingles, early in the season. The Cardinals were 10 1/2 games out of the wild card race in late August but made up the ground to win on the last day of the regular season.
The Cardinals upset the favored Philadelphia Phillies and the Champions of the Central Division, the Milwaukee Brewers to reach the World Series against the Texas Rangers.
After a communications breakdown contributed to a loss that put them on the brink of elimination, the Cardinals rallied to win the last two games. In the sixth game the Cardinals were twice down to its last strike before they came back to win. Then rode its ace pitcher, Chris Carpenter, to a 6-2 win that made the Cardinals World Champions.
Cincinnati Sports News and Commentary
About Me
- Gary Schatz
- I am a freelance writer. I've covered the Cincinnati Reds, Bengals and others since 1992. I have a background in sales as well. I've sold consumer electronics, advertising and consumer package goods for companies ranging from the now defunct Circuit City to Procter&Gamble. I have worked as a stats operator for Xavier University, the University of Cincinnati, the College of Mount St. Joe and Colerain High School.
Hahaha, that World Series win must have really burned you, you bitter cunt. Where's your asinine, biased criticism now?
ReplyDeleteMy name is always on what I write. Being anonymous is gutless. It is like hiding behind mommy's skirt. Anonymous is synonymous with coward. Look it up or have your mommy look it up for you right after she cuts the feet out of your jammies.
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