Tony La Russa

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Born in Tampa, Florida, on October 4, 1944, to Anthony and Olivia (Cuervo) La Russa, Anthony Jr.'s paternal grandparents had emigrated from Italy (Sicily) and his mother's family from Spain. He was raised in nearby Ybor City, Florida, where his parents had met while they were working in the local cigar factory. The La Russa family moved to West Tampa, Florida, where Tony played American Legion baseball and PONY League baseball alongside teammate Lou Piniella. After graduating from Jefferson High School in Tampa, La Russa was signed by the Kansas City Athletics in June 1962 as a middle infielder, with a clause that the Athletics pay for his college education at the University of South Florida.

In Their Own Story

The air inside Busch Stadium is thick with anticipation as La Russa leads the Cardinals through two World Series victories. After leaving Oakland following the 1995 season, he took over the St. Louis Cardinals. Under his leadership, the team secured three National League championships and won the World Series in 2006 and 2011. His time with the A's was marked by dramatic moments, including sweeping the Boston Red Sox in the ALCS in both 1988 and 1990 after winning 100 and 99 games respectively. The 1988 World Series is remembered for the Kirk Gibson game-winning home run off A's closer Dennis Eckersley. Throughout his tenure with the Cardinals, La Russa worked alongside catcher Dave Duncan, whom he first met as a player with the Athletics; Duncan joined his coaching staff in Chicago in 1983 and stayed on every team thereafter. La Russa retired after winning the 2011 title, ending a run of 34 seasons as a major league manager.

Reader's Guide

As a player, La Russa made his major league debut in 1963 and spent parts of five major league seasons with the Kansas City / Oakland Athletics, Atlanta Braves, and Chicago Cubs. After a shoulder injury during the 1964–65 off-season, he returned to college and received a degree from the University of South Florida before playing much of the remainder of his career in the minor leagues until retiring in 1977. He then earned a Juris Doctor degree from Florida State University. Named manager of the White Sox in the middle of the 1979 season, La Russa guided the team to an American League West division title four seasons later. In the middle of the 1986 season, he was fired by the White Sox and hired less than three weeks later by the Athletics. La Russa led the A's to three consecutive American League championships from 1988 to 1990 and the 1989 World Series title. He left Oakland after the 1995 season to manage the Cardinals, whom he led to three National League championships and the 2011 World Series titles. La Russa retired after winning the 2011 title and 34 seasons as a major league manager. Three months later, he accepted a position helping fellow former manager Joe Torre, the executive vice president for MLB operations. In 2014, he became the chief baseball officer for the Arizona Diamondbacks. In November 2019, he joined the Los Angeles Angels as a senior advisor of baseball operations. In the 2021 offseason, he was named the manager of the White Sox; he retired in 2022 due to health concerns. In 2013, La Russa was unanimously elected to the Hall of Fame by the 16-member Veterans Committee. The induction ceremony was held at Cooperstown, New York, on July 27, 2014. On August 16, 2014, he was inducted into the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame.

Did You Know?

• La Russa's final big league playing stop was with the Chicago Cubs, where he appeared as a pinch runner in one game, on April 6, 1973, scoring the walk-off winning run.

Managerial Achievements and Records

La Russa managed for 35 seasons, accumulating 2,884 MLB wins, which ranks second only to Connie Mack. He led the Oakland Athletics to three consecutive American League championships from 1988 to 1990 and the 1989 World Series title. With the St. Louis Cardinals, he secured three National League championships and won the World Series in 2006 and 2011. Across his career with the White Sox, Athletics, and Cardinals, he earned six league championships and 13 division titles.

The Journey from Player to Law Student

Born on October 4, 1944, in Tampa, Florida, La Russa was signed by the Kansas City Athletics in June 1962 with a clause paying for his education at the University of South Florida. He made his major league debut on May 10, 1963. A shoulder injury sustained while playing softball during the 1964–65 off-season limited him to 34 games that year and affected his career thereafter. He played parts of five major league seasons with the Kansas City/Oakland Athletics, Atlanta Braves, and Chicago Cubs, appearing in 132 total games with a .199 batting average. After retiring as a player in 1977, he earned a Juris Doctor degree from Florida State University and was admitted to the Florida Bar on July 30, 1980.

Defining Tenures Across Three Franchises

La Russa became manager of the Chicago White Sox mid-season in 1979 after replacing Don Kessinger. He led them to an American League West division title four seasons later and was named American League Manager of the Year in 1983. Fired by the White Sox in 1986, he joined the Oakland Athletics less than three weeks later. There, he won three consecutive American League championships (1988–1990) and the 1989 World Series. He left Oakland after the 1995 season to manage the St. Louis Cardinals, leading them to three National League championships and World Series titles in 2006 and 2011. Throughout his managerial career, he worked with Dave Duncan on every team.

Legacy Beyond the Dugout

La Russa retired after winning the 2011 title and completing 34 seasons as a major league manager. Three months later, he joined Joe Torre as executive vice president for MLB operations. In 2014, he became chief baseball officer for the Arizona Diamondbacks, and in November 2019, he joined the Los Angeles Angels as a senior advisor of baseball operations. He returned to manage the White Sox in the 2021 offseason before retiring again in 2022 due to health concerns. In 2013, he was unanimously elected to the Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee and inducted on July 27, 2014. On August 16, 2014, he was inducted into the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame.