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Sports Arena
So Long, Tony
Tony La Russa may be retired, but now he can go back to practicing law.
Only hours after the St. Louis Cardinals’ improbable comeback in Game 6 of the World Series in which they stood on the precipice of elimination not once, but twice, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that “barring an eleventh hour change of heart” Tony La Russa would return to manage the Cardinals in 2012 for a 17th season. Later that day, the Cardinals defeated the Texas Rangers 6-2 to win a National League record 11th World Series title. Seventy-two hours later, that eleventh hour had arrived. After 33 years of managing in the big leagues, La Russa has announced his retirement.
Well, this sure threw a monkey wrench into my plans.
When I read about his decision, I was in the midst
of polishing off an article about how La Russa should come here to
Boston and return the Red Sox to their winning ways after their
stunning September collapse. The piece had all kind of clever
references to La Russa being persuaded to come to New England over
Thanksgiving dinner complete with Dave Loggins
serenading him. Please come to Boston
for the springtime.
Oh well, so much for that.
I suppose there is nothing to prevent Red Sox GM Ben Cherington from arranging a turkey summit with La Russa in Alamo, California. But all things considered, La Russa would be crazy to come here up I-93 North. Sure he might have brought the Red Sox another championship or two, maybe even three. But if Terry Francona could be run out of town on a rail by Red Sox Nation after winning two World Series titles here, what would prevent La Russa from being spared the same fate if the Red Sox were to stumble under his watch?
No, the time has come for Tony La Russa to exit gracefully on the highest of all notes, enjoy the sunset and perhaps rescue a few more animals along the way. A speech in Cooperstown is also surely on the order paper. Perhaps the Baseball Hall of Fame will simultaneously induct La Russa, Bobby Cox and Joe Torre. Whether he is inducted on his own or with his equally formidable contemporaries, there will be a place for La Russa in the shrine of baseball immortality.
The game of baseball will, of course, move on without him but it won’t be quite the same. Since I began watching baseball more than three decades ago, La Russa has been a stoic fixture in the dugout with his arms folded first with the Chicago White Sox, then the Oakland Athletics, and for the past sixteen seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals. He has spent nearly half his lifetime filling out lineup cards and manipulating them to the advantage of his teams.
In thirty-three years, La Russa has led his teams to the post-season fourteen times. He guided the Athletics to three straight AL pennants and earned three NL pennants with the Cardinals. In six World Series, La Russa won three rings. The first came with Oakland in 1989 in a World Series best remembered for an earthquake. The second came in 2006 with a Cardinals team that had won only 83 games during the regular season. Despite their modest won-loss record, La Russa joined Sparky Anderson in becoming only the second manager to win a World Series title in both leagues.
As improbable as their 2006 championship seemed, the
thought of the Cardinals winning a World Series two months ago
seemed impossible, as the Redbirds were 10½ games back of the
Atlanta Braves in the NL Wild Card standings in late August. Even
more remarkable than that was La Russa managing
while afflicted with shingles.
But La Russa would recover and so too would the
Cardinals with mid-season acquisitions like starting pitcher Edwin
Jackson from the White Sox (via Toronto), shortstop Rafael Furcal
from the Dodgers, and bullpen help from ex-Blue Jays Octavio Dotel
and Mark Rzepczynski as well as former Ranger Arthur Rhodes. The
Cardinals were also wise to resist the temptation to send Lance
Berkman to Texas. It also didn’t hurt
that Chris Carpenter regained his form as a number one starter and
Albert Pujols returned quickly from a broken wrist to do what King
Albert does best. Then there was David Freese, a so-so third
baseman whose bat earned him both NLCS and World Series MVP honors.
And let us not forget the
Rally Squirrel. Could anyone blame La Russa for enjoying
this season more than the rest?
In the grand scheme of things, I suppose passing John McGraw for second place on the all-time managerial win list wasn’t so important to La Russa after all. Is he any less worthy of a plaque in the Hall of Fame without those additional 36 games in the win column?
Yet for all of La Russa’s success as a big league manager, it is worth remembering that he very nearly took another path altogether. After his less than memorable playing career ended in 1973 with the Chicago Cubs, La Russa would enroll in law school at Florida State University, graduating with a J.D. in 1978 and passing the Florida state bar exam in 1980. But La Russa ultimately chose to spend his life on a baseball field rather than in a courtroom. He remarked, “I decided I’d rather ride the buses in the minor leagues than practice law for a living.” For that, a whole generation of baseball fans is grateful. So long, Tony.
About the Author
Aaron Goldstein writes from Boston, Massachusetts.
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Grouchy| 11.1.11 @ 6:58AM
The Rangers were cheated by MLB brass...They won 96 games and finished in 1st place. St.Louis
won 90 games and finished 2nd in their division.
Texas earned the home field advantage by their
play during the season. National League also has a big advantage because their pitchers bat all year.
The All-Star Game is just one exhibition game and should not give Home Field advantage to the teams with the lesser record. Texas was robbed !!
Cpm| 11.1.11 @ 9:33AM
You know the rules. Everybody plays by the same ones.
Dave | 11.1.11 @ 10:01AM
OK, mine isn't a comment on the retirement of Tony La Russa, but a poster happens to mention his disdain for the MLB brass with its "winner of the All Star Game" comment. And while it's outside the La Russa story, here's my take on MLB's increasing jumbled junk stats that tend to dilute the record books since the beginning of the playoff system. What's got my undies in a wad? Just this: I grow weary of hearing play-by-play people lumping "post season" (or playoff game records) with those that were accomplished in a World Series. See, the World Series pits the best vs best, not against any of the final four ... or more.
Mickey Mantle accumulated all of his "post season" accomplishments in World Series games against the best the N.L. had to offer. And Don Larsen's '56 perfect game was against the Brooklyn Dodgers, not the Tampa Bay Rays or some other wild card fish during a first round playoff game. The Mantle and Larsen accomplishments (to name two) were accomplished in actual World Series contests. That's not to denigrate what Roy Haliday(sp) or Pujols have done, but lumping the Larsen and Mantle gems with later players who had benefit of competing in a "multi-round playoff system" is an insult to those who actually grew up with the game and managed to learn the difference between sh-t from Shinola.
Again, my suggestion is to do the right thing and cease the dumbing-down of an increasingly dumb-down fan base. Post season (or playoff game) records should be ranked in a separate category, while records accomplished in an actual World Series (the best of the best) need to be in its own stand alone column.
And just to be consistent, I'll always admire and look fondly on Roger Maris' '61 season. But never forget, grasshoppers - Roger needed 162 games to "Best the Babe." I wonder how many young fans today know, or even acknowledge, that the Babe hit his record setting 60 in 154 games? I suspect not many do. And unlike Bonds, McGuire and others ... the Bambino did it in '27 without benefit of 'roids and/or supplements. Of course, some might claim that gin and tonics might be listed as some kind '20s juice, but the benefits weren't quite what Barry and Mark got. I'd say nah-dah!
In the end, I suppose baseball is but a tiny microcosm of the American school system: I suspect it's the i-Pod/Heavy Metal / Duh Factor doin' its work.
But I'll have to get back to you on that.
Aaron Goldstein| 11.1.11 @ 10:44AM
I think you have some valid points. I don't think you can put Derek Jeter's "post-season" triumphs on par with Mickey Mantle's "World Series" triumphs. But with that said, Jeter didn't make up the rules and we ought not to punish him for abiding by the rules of his day although my allegiance to the Red Sox tempts me greatly.
Which brings me to your comment about Maris. Yes, he hit 61 homeruns in a 162-game schedule. But he didn't make up the rules. That was the owners and Ford Frick who tried to belittle Maris' accomplishment. If you want to draw a line between the 154 game and 162 game schedule then you have to put "asterisks" beside Ichiro's single-season hit record, Pete Rose's all-time hit record, Nolan Ryan's strikeout record (single -season & all-time) and for that matter anyone who might hit .400 or hit in 57 straight games. Yet to do so would be a gross injustice and serve only to penalize players playing by the rules.
Dave | 11.1.11 @ 1:31PM
I realize that "rules are rules", but your rebuttal to my suggestion that "World Series records should stand alone" and "playoff stats" be stored in a separate folder is kinda' weak. What's so unfair to the Ryan's, Rose's and Haliday's about requiring a simple separation of stats? To do anything less is like a high school math teacher trying to pad classroom test scores by deciding to grade on a curve. All THAT does is dumb-down the student body.
Again, the lumping of ALL post season playoff stats into ONE simply dilutes what was accomplished by those who got to sing lead with The Beatles and not that Holiday Inn gig with Eddie and The Cruisers.
Sorry, pal, but if "rules are rules", then actual records "are what they are." Or to put it closer to street level -- "It is what it is."
At the end of a day, I guess this is what I'll always enjoy about "Talkin' Baseball." You can sit and argue for hours, but never settle much of anything except "who's buyin' the next round."
Cheers, buddy. : -)
Fred C. Dobbs| 11.1.11 @ 2:22PM
RIGHT ON, Dave!
The babe did it on 5 or 12 hot dogs while between innings, not HGH or steroids. BTW Ruth's lifetime total of 714 home runs at his retirement in 1935 was a record, until first surpassed by Hank Aaron in 1974. Unlike many power hitters, Ruth also hit for average: his .342 lifetime batting is tenth highest in baseball history, and in one season (1923) he hit .393, a Yankee record.[7] His .690 career slugging percentage and 1.164 career on-base plus slugging (OPS) remain the Major League records.[2 Ruth played in 2,503 games and had 8,399 at-bats during his 22-year career. Hank Aaron’s historic 715th homer came in the third game of his 21st season. It was his 11,295th at-bat—all with the Braves—and his 2,967th game. So it took Aaron almost 3,000 more at bats to exceed the Babe's HR total, by 1.
cuban pete| 11.1.11 @ 4:09PM
I think the pitching Aaron faced was better and deeper. Aaron could be "pitched around" more than Babe. That said Babe was probably a better all around player.
Occam's Tool| 11.1.11 @ 4:22PM
Pete, Babe was also a Hall of Fame Quality Pitcher, as well. But think of how many homers he would have hit if he had been a full time hitter from the start.
OT, this is crazy!| 11.1.11 @ 8:11PM
Hi OT, since yesterday I cannot post under my v t w i n alias because Rasheed Simis has marked me as a spammer! Thank you anyway for your kind invitation in that steakhouse. If I ever survive the incoming winter and do not shed too many pounds I might consider a trip with Boanerges.
Take care and shalom my friend!
Trevor, the real v t w i n
Butch| 11.1.11 @ 4:26PM
The Babe still holds the record for most home runs out in the hot sun with a hangover.
Ampleforth| 11.2.11 @ 12:36AM
Gosh, didn't the home field advantage in the Series go back-and-forth between the two leagues regardless of which team had the better record? I'm pretty sure that's the way it was prior to the All-Star game deciding it. Cardinals won it in 2006 when the AL had the home field advantage. They took care of business in Detroit and at home and didn't let the games go back to the Tigers' ballpark. The Rangers had their opportunities, but walking 41 batters in a seven game series isn't going to win a World Championship. Plus, Texas only had one pitcher, Holland, willing to challenge and exploit St. Louis's free swinging batters. Rangers pitching spent the Series throwing pitches in the dirt way out of the strike zone.
Finally, GET RID OF THE @$%&ED; DESIGNATED HITTER! You're league changed the rules, not ours!
Yeah, Texas robbed themselves.
bob alou| 11.2.11 @ 4:10AM
wah wah wah, there's nothing worse than a cry baby.
albert constantine jr.| 11.1.11 @ 8:42AM
At a Philies game in 2009, I emarked to one of my companions about how grateful I was that Chase Utley chose baseball for a career instead of following in his father's footsteps and becoming an attorney. The cluster of lawyers sitting next to me were somewhat offended, but were unable to counter my asserion that while there was no shortage of attorneys anywhere in the country, there were never enough All Star Second Basemen. To this, I would also add regarding Tony La Russa, better a three time World Series winning manager than a second rate ambulance chaser.
Occam's Tool| 11.1.11 @ 4:23PM
Offending attorneys is a good thing.
albert constantine jr| 11.1.11 @ 8:56PM
As you might say, just what the doctor ordered.
Occam's Tool| 11.8.11 @ 5:27PM
Indeed, Al, indeed.
Petronius| 11.1.11 @ 9:10AM
Keep in mind that Tony and his wife are big animal rights freaks. He used to trade players away if they hunted or fished. He lives in the Peoples republik of Oakland. Look for him to join Redford, Turner, and all the other enviroprigs who drive up our cost of living obstructing commerce with their lawsuits. Next to the IRS they're the absolute scourge of the middle class.
Aaron Goldstein| 11.1.11 @ 10:34AM
It should be noted that La Russa expressed sympathy for for both the Tea Party and the Arizona immigration law last year. He and Albert Pujols also attended Glenn Beck's rally in Washington.
RICHARD| 11.1.11 @ 10:45AM
Gees, you have a foul world view. There are a lot of Cardinal players who hunt and fish. Animal rights is different than the animal welfare cause La Russa champions. Also, the IRS does what Congress says so find the correct villain here.
Hank| 11.1.11 @ 11:31PM
As a member of the tea party and an avid hunter and rancher it has been a pleasure to watch the magic of Tony LaRussa these past many years! Can we leave the politics and such out of the stadium?? Perhaps not in this day and age, but it has been a sweet ride. It may be that we will now be advisaries, and that is allright too!!
fungoking| 11.1.11 @ 12:45PM
While comparing Maris to Ruth you have to remember that Ruth played all day games, had more time to rest (if he had chose to take advantage of it) due to train travel, and did not have to face the best black pitchers. Maris had the advantage of 8 more games and league expansion watering down the pitching...call it a draw.
Aaron Goldstein| 11.1.11 @ 12:53PM
Well said.
Clint| 11.1.11 @ 2:09PM
We gotta give La Russa credit. He & his team made one hell of a late season/post season run.
Unlike many, who stay on too long, LaRussa walks gracefully away, a winner.
vtwin| 11.1.11 @ 8:15PM
Hey, it works now! The curse is over! Rasheed Simis, may your tribe ride chinese mopeds for the next millenium!
vtwin| 11.1.11 @ 8:34PM
...and the same goes for your offspring, dumb dhimmi!
Occam's Tool| 11.8.11 @ 5:28PM
vtwin,
ooh, that's particularly harsh! have a safe trip to Sturgis next year!
vtwin| 11.1.11 @ 8:37PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFtEdx6j3x4
POST American| 11.2.11 @ 12:53AM
---------------------FINAL WORD-----------------------
File this article under
----------------RECTUM worshipping
---------------------'Sports CULT--your'
Occam's Tool| 11.8.11 @ 5:31PM
PA,
a tad harsh, that. La Russa brought a degree of intellectuation to this game of crotch tugging and spitting.
Conserdude| 11.2.11 @ 3:53PM
No argument that LaRussa belongs in Cooperstown, and perhaps so does Bobby Cox. Joe Torre, however, does not. Before he went to the Yankees, he was a managerial failure with at least three teams. The Yankees dynasty of the late 1990's was built by their GM and his predecessor, Buck Showalter; Torre had nothing to do with it. He did not win a World Series after 2000, even with by far the highest payroll. He also was by far the highest-paid manager in baseball. His spiteful tell-all trashy book about the Yankees, published after he departed the team, was a disgrace.