Did Tony La Russa Play Baseball?
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Tony La Russa is a legendary figure in baseball, but did he actually play the game? We investigate the facts to find out.
Tony La Russa’s Baseball Career
Tony La Russa is a former professional baseball player and manager. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Kansas City Royals, Oakland Athletics, and Atlanta Braves. La Russa was also the manager of the Chicago White Sox, Oakland Athletics, and St. Louis Cardinals.
Drafted by the Kansas City Royals in 1968
Tony La Russa was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in 1968. He played in the minor leagues for the Royals, but he was never called up to the majors. In 1970, he was drafted by the Chicago White Sox. He played for the White Sox for four years and then he was traded to the Oakland Athletics. He played for the Athletics for ten years and then he became a manager.
Traded to the Oakland Athletics in 1971
In 1971, La Russa was traded to the Oakland Athletics where he would team up with Catfish Hunter, Vida Blue, Rollie Fingers, and Reggie Jackson. The young La Russa was less than thrilled with the trade thinking that being sent to an also-ran franchise would ruin his career. Instead, it jump-started his managerial career as he became the third base coach for the A’s during their dynasty years of 1972-74. In those three seasons, Oakland won more than 300 games and captured three straight World Series titles.
Helped lead the Oakland A’s to the World Series in 1972
In 1972, La Russa was promoted to the Oakland Athletics’ (A’s) big league club as their third base coach. He helped lead the A’s to their first World Series in franchise history. As a result of his success, he was given the job of managing the A’s in mid-season 1977.
La Russa’s Coaching and Managing Career
Hired as the Chicago White Sox’s manager in 1979
Tony La Russa was hired as the Chicago White Sox’s manager in 1979. The White Sox had a 76-86 record in 1978, and La Russa was hired to replace Don Kessinger. La Russa’s first season with the White Sox was a success, as the team improved to 90-72 and finished in second place in the American League West, behind the first-place California Angels. The White Sox would make the playoffs four times under La Russa (1983, 1993, 2000, 2005), but they would never make it to the World Series.
Led the White Sox to the American League Championship in 1983
Tony La Russa coached the White Sox from 1979-1986 and then moved on to manage the Oakland A’s from 1986-1995. In his first season as Oakland’s skipper, La Russa guided the A’s to a surprising victory in the World Series. He would lead Oakland to two more World Series titles in 1988-89-169. After a failed attempt to win a fourth straight championship in 1990, La Russa’s A’s teams would win at least 92 games in each of the next five seasons, culminating in an improbable 102-win season in 1992.
Hired as the St. Louis Cardinals’ manager in 1996
Tony La Russa was hired as the St. Louis Cardinals’ manager in 1996, and he led the team to a World Series victory in his first season. He went on to win two more World Series with the Cardinals, in 2006 and 2011, making him the only manager in Major League history to win three championships with one team. Overall, La Russa has won four World Series titles and six league pennants in his managerial career.
Led the Cardinals to the World Series in 2006 and 2011
Tony LaRussa is a former professional baseball player and manager. He played from 1963 to 1977 with the Kansas City/Oakland Athletics, Chicago Cubs, and Cleveland Indians. He then managed the Chicago White Sox (1979–1986), Oakland Athletics (1986–1995), and St. Louis Cardinals (1996–2011). In his 33-year career as a major league manager, LaRussa compiled 2,728 wins, the third-most wins of all time for a manager, and led his teams to six World Series titles.
LaRussa was born in Tampa, Florida, and grew up in West Palm Beach. He graduated from Palm Beach High School in 1961, attended Mount St. Mary’s University in Maryland on a baseball scholarship (1961–1963), and then studied at Florida State University College of Law — although he never actually practiced law. LaRussa’s father Frank was of Italian descent; his maternal grandparents were both The first generation of their respective families had moved from Italy to Tampa in the early 20th century.
La Russa’s Hall of Fame Career
Tony La Russa is a former professional baseball player and manager. After playing college baseball at Florida State University, he was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the third round of the 1962 MLB draft. La Russa played for the Royals, Oakland Athletics, and Chicago White Sox before becoming a manager in the White Sox farm system in the late 1970s. He managed the White Sox from 1979 to 1986 and led the team to a division title in 1983. La Russa then managed the Athletics from 1986 to 1995, winning a division title in 1988 and three consecutive American League pennants from 1988 to 1990. He also led the A’s to a World Series victory in 1989. La Russa won his third and final World Series as manager of the Cardinals in 2006. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2014.
Inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2014
Tony La Russa is one of the most successful managers in baseball history. He led his teams to World Series titles in 2006 and 2011, and he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2014.
La Russa began his managerial career with the Chicago White Sox in 1979. He then spent 10 years with the Oakland Athletics, winning three consecutive pennants from 1988 to 1990. He also won a World Series title with the A’s in 1989.
La Russa then spent 16 seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals, winning another pennant in 2004 and World Series titles in 2006 and 2011. He retired after the 2011 season with a career record of 2,728 wins and 1,834 losses.
Inducted into the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame in 2014
Manager Tony La Russa, who led the St. Louis Cardinals to World Series titles in 2006 and 2011, was inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame in 2014. La Russa is one of only four managers to win multiple World Series with the same team.
A no-nonsense leader, La Russa’s Cardinals teams were known for their strong pitching and defense. He is credited with popularizing the use of relief pitchers in specialized situations, known as “closers.”
La Russa began his managerial career with the Chicago White Sox in 1979, leading the team to an American League West title in 1983. He then moved to the Oakland Athletics, where he won three straight AL pennants from 1988 to 1990. After a brief stint with the Baltimore Orioles, La Russa joined the Cardinals in 1996.
In addition to his World Series titles, La Russa’s Cardinals also won five National League pennants. He retired after winning his second World Series title with St. Louis in 2011. His career record as a manager is 2,728-2193.
