Tony La Russa
Tony La Russa
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Full Name and Common Aliases
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Tony La Russa's full name is Anthony Cole La Russa Jr.
Birth and Death Dates
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Born on February 28, 1943. (Still active, so no death date listed.)
Nationality and Profession(s)
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Nationality: American
Profession(s): Baseball Manager, Coach, Former Shortstop
Early Life and Background
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Anthony Cole La Russa Jr., commonly referred to as Tony La Russa, was born in Tampa, Florida. Growing up in a baseball-enthusiast family helped shape his passion for the sport from an early age.
La Russa's interest in baseball only grew stronger as he aged, eventually leading him to play shortstop at St. Peter-Marian High School in Worcester, Massachusetts. His baseball prowess caught the attention of scouts and led to a scholarship offer from the University of Southern California (USC).
Major Accomplishments
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Throughout his illustrious career, Tony La Russa earned numerous accolades that cemented his legacy as one of the most successful managers in professional baseball history:
Three World Series Championships: La Russa led the St. Louis Cardinals to victories in 2006 and 2011, while with the Oakland Athletics he won in 1989.
Two American League pennants: In 1990 with the Athletics and 2004 with the Cardinals.
Six Division titles: With both the Athletics (1988-1993) and the Cardinals (1995-2004).
Manager of the Year award: La Russa received this honor in 2002 while managing the St. Louis Cardinals.
Notable Works or Actions
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While his professional achievements are nothing short of impressive, La Russa has also made significant contributions to baseball through various initiatives:
Baseball Hall of Fame member: In 2014, Tony La Russa became the eighth manager in baseball history to be elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
Author and philanthropist: He wrote "One Last Pitch" (2005), a memoir offering a unique perspective on his managerial career. Additionally, La Russa has been involved in various charitable endeavors, including the St. Louis Cardinals' Youth Education Foundation.
Impact and Legacy
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La Russa's influence extends far beyond his impressive win-loss record:
Managerial style: He introduced advanced statistical analysis to inform his decision-making process, paving the way for future generations of managers.
Player development: Under La Russa's guidance, numerous players flourished, developing into accomplished professionals who went on to achieve great success in their own right.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
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Tony La Russa is widely quoted and remembered due to his:
Passion for the game: His dedication to baseball and its tradition shines through in all aspects of his career.
Trailblazing approach: As a pioneer in using advanced statistics, he has left an indelible mark on the sport's strategic landscape.
La Russa's influence can be seen in the countless young players and coaches who have followed in his footsteps. His commitment to excellence and innovative approach to managing will undoubtedly continue to inspire and shape the future of baseball.
Quotes by Tony La Russa
I think the game is so mental. If you sit around and you're mentally strong, you're ready.
What you end up doing is you try to match your guy's strength against a place they can be successful. They're doing the same thing against us. Sometimes they have the edge, sometimes you have the edge.
I was in the American League for 16, 17 years, and I think it's a really tough league to compete in.
If you like to run and the guys can't run, you don't run. If you like power, and you have guys that can't hit it out of the park, then you start moving guys around.
You've got to acknowledge what you did wrong and see if you can fix it to the extent possible, and turn the page.
Ever since I managed with guaranteed contracts and all the media, you know, you can get distracted by fame and fortune. Your values can get distorted. And the way you break through is, you just keep it personal and keep it simple and basic.
Just because you're down to your last strike, you're not out yet. You can always do more. You'll always have more at-bats to take. That's true in baseball, in rescuing animals, and in life, generally.
I can only think of about four players who I do not have anywhere from a good to a great relationship with.