History of Tony La Russa in Timeline
Tony La Russa is a highly accomplished American former MLB manager and player. Over a 33-year managerial career, he led the St. Louis Cardinals, Oakland Athletics, and Chicago White Sox. La Russa secured three World Series titles, six league championships, and 13 division titles. With 2,884 wins, he ranks second in all-time managerial wins, trailing only Connie Mack. His career spanned from 1963 to 2022.
1933: John McGraw manages All-Star Game after retiring
In 1933, John McGraw managed the All-Star Game after retiring, since then Tony La Russa managed the All-Star Game after retiring in 2012.
1937: Connie Mack elected to Hall of Fame
In 1937, Connie Mack was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame before his retirement as a manager.
October 4, 1944: Tony La Russa Born
On October 4, 1944, Anthony La Russa Jr. was born. He is an American former professional baseball player, coach, and manager.
June 1962: Signed by Kansas City Athletics
In June 1962, after graduating from Jefferson High School, Tony La Russa was signed by the Kansas City Athletics as a middle infielder, with a clause for college education.
May 10, 1963: Major League Debut with Kansas City A's
On May 10, 1963, Tony La Russa made his major league debut with the Kansas City A's.
1963: MLB Debut
In 1963, Tony La Russa made his major league debut as a player.
1968: Athletics relocate to Oakland
Since the franchise relocated to Oakland in 1968, Tony La Russa holds the record for victories by an Athletics manager.
1969: La Russa graduates from University of South Florida
In 1969, Tony La Russa graduated from the University of South Florida with a Bachelor of Arts in industrial management.
1969: Graduated from the University of South Florida
In 1969, Tony La Russa graduated from the University of South Florida with a degree in Industrial Management.
April 6, 1973: Final Game as Player
On April 6, 1973, Tony La Russa played his final game as a player with the Chicago Cubs, scoring the winning run as a pinch runner.
1973: La Russa divorces Luzette Sarcone
In 1973, Tony La Russa and Luzette Sarcone divorced, with Sarcone receiving full custody of their daughters. La Russa then married Elaine Coker shortly after his divorce from Sarcone became official.
1977: Retirement as Player
In 1977, Tony La Russa retired from his career as a player in the minor leagues.
1978: Earned Juris Doctor Degree
In 1978, Tony La Russa earned a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from Florida State University College of Law.
1978: La Russa graduates from Florida State University College of Law
In 1978, Tony La Russa graduated from the Florida State University College of Law with a Juris Doctor degree.
1979: Hemond hires La Russa to manage White Sox
In 1979, Roland Hemond hired Tony La Russa to manage the Chicago White Sox.
1979: La Russa manages the White Sox
In 1979, Tony La Russa managed the Chicago White Sox from 1979–1986.
1979: Named White Sox Manager
In 1979, Tony La Russa was named manager of the Chicago White Sox in the middle of the season.
July 30, 1980: Admitted to the Florida Bar
On July 30, 1980, Tony La Russa was admitted to the Florida Bar.
1980: La Russa appears on To Tell The Truth
In 1980, Tony La Russa appeared as a contestant on the game show To Tell The Truth, and helped fool the celebrity panel.
1983: La Russa leads White Sox to postseason
In 1983, Tony La Russa led the Chicago White Sox to their first postseason appearance in 24 years.
1983: AL Manager of the Year
In 1983, Tony La Russa was named American League Manager of the Year, after winning the AL West with the White Sox.
1986: La Russa manages the White Sox and A's
In 1986, Tony La Russa managed the Chicago White Sox until 1986 and started managing the Oakland Athletics from 1986–1995.
1986: Fired by the White Sox
In 1986, Tony La Russa was fired by the Chicago White Sox after a 26-38 start to the season. General Manager Ken Harrelson fired both La Russa and coach Dave Duncan during the season.
1988: La Russa leads A's to AL pennants
In 1988, Tony La Russa led the Oakland Athletics to three consecutive AL pennants from 1988 to 1990.
1988: AL Manager of the Year
In 1988, Tony La Russa won the American League Manager of the Year Award with the Oakland A's. The A's lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series that year.
1989: World Series Title with Athletics
In 1989, La Russa led the Oakland Athletics to win the World Series, defeating the San Francisco Giants.
1989: Won the Bay Area World Series
In 1989, La Russa managed the Oakland A's to win the earthquake-delayed Bay Area World Series against the San Francisco Giants.
1990: Depicted in "Men at Work"
In 1990, George Will's book "Men at Work" depicted Tony La Russa and his pitching coach Dave Duncan as using statistical analysis more than other teams in major leagues, pre-dating the Moneyball revolution.
1990: AL Pennant, Swept in World Series
In 1990, La Russa managed the Oakland A's to their third consecutive American League Pennant but they were swept by the Cincinnati Reds in the World Series.
1990: La Russa leads A's to AL pennants
In 1990, Tony La Russa led the Oakland Athletics to three consecutive AL pennants from 1988 to 1990.
1991: Release of Tony La Russa Baseball Video Game
In 1991, Tony La Russa provided the AI for the first of a series of successful video games, "Tony La Russa Baseball".
1992: Second AL Manager of the Year
In 1992, Tony La Russa won his second American League Manager of the Year award with the Oakland Athletics.
1995: Joins Cardinals
After the 1995 season, Tony La Russa left Oakland to manage the St. Louis Cardinals.
1995: La Russa manages the A's
In 1995, Tony La Russa managed the Oakland Athletics until 1995.
1996: La Russa manages the Cardinals
In 1996, Tony La Russa began managing the St. Louis Cardinals, a position he held until 2011.
1997: End of Tony La Russa Baseball Video Game Series
In 1997, the series of successful video games, "Tony La Russa Baseball", ended. The games featured statistics selected with La Russa and provided by sabermetrics authors.
1998: La Russa inducted into National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame
In 1998, Tony La Russa was inducted into the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame.
2002: Fourth Manager of the Year Award
In 2002, Tony La Russa became the first manager to win the Manager of the Year award four times.
September 10, 2003: 2000th Career Win
On September 10, 2003, Tony La Russa won his 2,000th career game as a manager against the Colorado Rockies, becoming the seventh manager in Major League Baseball to reach this milestone.
2003: Managed Cardinals During 3-Game Series Against Cubs
In 2003, Tony La Russa managed the Cardinals during a 3-game series against the Chicago Cubs, which was later documented in Buzz Bissinger's book "Three Nights in August".
2004: Publication of Moneyball
In 2004, Michael Lewis's "Moneyball" was published. It was later discussed in conjunction with Bissinger's book about La Russa's managerial style.
2004: La Russa wins pennants in both leagues
In 2004, Tony La Russa became the sixth manager in history to win pennants with both American and National League teams.
2004: Cardinals NL Champions
In 2004, Tony La Russa managed the St. Louis Cardinals to the World Series after defeating the Houston Astros in a tense NLCS. They ultimately lost to the Boston Red Sox in the World Series.
August 29, 2005: Stats vs. Hunches Debate
On August 29, 2005, David Leonhardt of The New York Times wrote about the 'stats vs. hunches' debate, noting that Tony La Russa spends time studying statistics in his office, suggesting the differences between traditional and analytical approaches may be smaller than perceived.
2005: Subject of Bissinger's "Three Nights in August"
In 2005, Tony La Russa was the focus of sportswriter Buzz Bissinger's book, "Three Nights in August", which examines La Russa's role as manager during a 3-game series in 2003 between the Cardinals and the Chicago Cubs. The book sparked debate about La Russa's managerial style compared to statistical analysis.
2006: La Russa wins multiple pennants and World Series in both leagues
In 2006, Tony La Russa became the first manager ever to win multiple pennants in both leagues and the second manager to win the World Series in both leagues.
2006: World Series Win with Cardinals
In 2006, Tony La Russa led the St. Louis Cardinals to a World Series victory over the Detroit Tigers. He became the second manager to win a World Series in both the American and National Leagues.
March 22, 2007: Arrested for DUI in Florida
On March 22, 2007, Tony La Russa was arrested in Jupiter, Florida, for suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol. He was found asleep at the wheel of his SUV and later booked after having a blood alcohol content above the legal limit. He apologized for the "embarrassment" caused by his arrest.
August 31, 2007: La Russa becomes leader in wins for Cardinals' managers
On August 31, 2007, Tony La Russa became the leader in wins by St. Louis Cardinals managers, surpassing Red Schoendienst, after the Cardinals defeated the Cincinnati Reds 8–5.
November 28, 2007: Pleaded Guilty to DUI
On November 28, 2007, Tony La Russa pleaded guilty to driving under the influence (DUI). He accepted full responsibility for his actions, assuring everyone that he had learned a valuable lesson and that such an incident would not happen again.
2007: Hornsby plays "Hooray For Tony" at concert
In 2007, during a concert in San Francisco on Tony La Russa's birthday, Bruce Hornsby played a comedic song he named "Hooray For Tony," a version of La Russa's favorite Hornsby song, "Hooray For Tom."
April 11, 2008: La Russa inducted into Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Hall of Fame
On April 11, 2008, Tony La Russa was inducted into the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Hall of Fame in a pregame ceremony at AT&T Park.
2008: White Sox Win Division Title
In 2008, The Chicago White Sox had won their first AL Central division title since 2008, prior to La Russa leading them to another in 2021.
June 4, 2009: La Russa Sues Twitter Over Fake Profile
On June 4, 2009, it was reported that Tony La Russa had sued Twitter for a fake page created under his name, claiming emotional distress and damage to his reputation. The fake profile contained distasteful references, violating Twitter's terms of service. Reports of a settlement were denied, and La Russa eventually requested to dismiss the suit.
June 21, 2009: La Russa achieves 2,500th win
On June 21, 2009, Tony La Russa managed his 2,500th win against the Kansas City Royals, becoming only the third manager to reach that milestone after Connie Mack and John McGraw.
June 5, 2010: La Russas appear in Housecat Housecall episode
Starting on June 5, 2010, Tony La Russa and his family made an appearance in an episode of Housecat Housecall, a reality show on Animal Planet presented by Purina Cat Chow, during the show's third season.
June 2010: La Russa supports Arizona immigration statute and Tea Party protest
In June 2010, Tony La Russa expressed support for the Arizona immigration statute and the Tea Party's right to protest it during his game against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
August 28, 2010: La Russa attends Glenn Beck's Restoring Honor rally
On August 28, 2010, Tony La Russa and Albert Pujols attended Glenn Beck's "Restoring Honor" rally in Washington, D.C., after being told it was not political.
2010: La Russa is the longest-tenured manager in MLB
In 2010, after Bobby Cox retired, Tony La Russa was the longest-tenured manager in Major League Baseball.
February 10, 2011: La Russa becomes longest-tenured bench boss among Big Four sports leagues
On February 10, 2011, after the resignation of Jerry Sloan from the Utah Jazz, Tony La Russa became the longest-tenured bench boss among all the Big Four sports leagues.
2011: La Russa manages the Cardinals
In 2011, Tony La Russa ended his time managing the St. Louis Cardinals, a position he held from 1996.
2011: Cardinals win the World Series; La Russa retires
In 2011, Tony La Russa led the St. Louis Cardinals to a World Series victory after defeating the Philadelphia Phillies and Milwaukee Brewers in the playoffs. The Cardinals defeated the Texas Rangers in Game 7 to secure their 11th World Championship. Following the win, La Russa announced his retirement, finishing his career with impressive records in postseason and regular season wins, games managed, and years managing.
2011: Managed St. Louis Cardinals to World Series Championship
In 2011, Tony La Russa managed the St. Louis Cardinals during their remarkable journey to becoming the World Series Champions.
2011: Second World Series Title with Cardinals and Retirement
In 2011, Tony La Russa won his second World Series title with the St. Louis Cardinals and subsequently retired as a major league manager after 34 seasons.
2011: La Russa struggles with shingles
Throughout the 2011 season, Tony La Russa struggled with shingles, initially disclosing it as conjunctivitis. He took off a few days for treatment and rest, with bench coach Joe Pettini as 'acting manager.'
2012: Release of Memoir "One Last Strike"
In 2012, Tony La Russa released his New York Times bestselling memoir, "One Last Strike", which chronicles his final season as manager of the St. Louis Cardinals and their journey to winning the 2011 World Series.
2012: La Russa manages the National League All-Stars
In 2012, despite having retired, Tony La Russa managed the National League All-Stars in the MLB All-Star Game. The National League won the game with a score of 8–0, marking La Russa's final appearance as a manager for the Cardinals.
November 4, 2013: La Russa nominated for Baseball Hall of Fame
On November 4, 2013, Tony La Russa was included on the Expansion Era ballot for the Baseball Hall of Fame, along with fellow former Cardinals Ted Simmons, Joe Torre, and Dan Quisenberry.
2013: Elected to Hall of Fame
In 2013, Tony La Russa was unanimously elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee.
January 2014: La Russa inducted into Cardinals Hall of Fame
In January 2014, Tony La Russa was announced as one of 22 former players and personnel to be inducted into the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame Museum for its inaugural class.
May 2014: Washington University Commencement Speaker
In May 2014, Tony La Russa served as the commencement speaker at Washington University in St. Louis.
May 17, 2014: La Russa becomes Chief Baseball Officer for the Diamondbacks
On May 17, 2014, Tony La Russa accepted a position as Chief Baseball Officer for the Arizona Diamondbacks, overseeing the entire baseball operations department.
July 27, 2014: Hall of Fame Induction
On July 27, 2014, Tony La Russa was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.
August 16, 2014: Inducted into Cardinals Hall of Fame
On August 16, 2014, Tony La Russa was inducted into the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame Museum.
2014: Chief Baseball Officer for Diamondbacks
In 2014, Tony La Russa became the chief baseball officer for the Arizona Diamondbacks.
2014: La Russa inducted into Baseball Hall of Fame
In 2014, Tony La Russa was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame as a manager.
2014: La Russa Reunites with Former Assistants
In 2014, after joining the Diamondbacks, Tony La Russa was reunited with former assistants Duncan and McKay, and Roland Hemond, who had previously hired him to manage the White Sox in 1979.
December 4, 2015: Diamondbacks sign Zack Greinke
On December 4, 2015, the Arizona Diamondbacks agreed to a six-year contract with free agent pitcher Zack Greinke worth $206.5 million, setting a record for the highest annual average value in MLB at the time.
2016: La Russa Demoted to Chief Baseball Analyst/Advisor
Following a disappointing 93-loss season in 2016, Tony La Russa was demoted to Chief Baseball Analyst/Advisor with the Diamondbacks. The team also fired general manager Dave Stewart and manager Chip Hale.
November 2017: La Russa joins the Boston Red Sox
In November 2017, Tony La Russa joined the Boston Red Sox as vice president and special assistant to the president of baseball operations, Dave Dombrowski. He assisted with player development, advised coaches, and consulted with manager Alex Cora.
2017: La Russa Resigns from the Diamondbacks
After the 2017 season, Tony La Russa resigned from his position with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
November 2019: La Russa hired as Senior Advisor for the Angels
In November 2019, the Los Angeles Angels hired Tony La Russa as a senior advisor for baseball operations after Dave Dombrowski was released by the Red Sox.
February 2020: Charged with DUI in Phoenix
In February 2020, Tony La Russa was charged with DUI in Phoenix. The case was formally filed on October 28, 2020.
October 28, 2020: DUI Case Filed in Phoenix
On October 28, 2020, a DUI case was filed against Tony La Russa in Phoenix. This case stemmed from an incident that occurred in February 2020, and the filing happened a day before his rehire by the White Sox.
October 29, 2020: La Russa hired as White Sox Manager
On October 29, 2020, Tony La Russa was announced as the manager of the Chicago White Sox, replacing Rick Renteria. At the age of 76, La Russa became the oldest manager in MLB and the first manager to return to managing after being elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
June 6, 2021: La Russa passes McGraw in managerial wins
On June 6, 2021, Tony La Russa surpassed John McGraw for second place in all-time managerial wins. He also led the White Sox to their first AL Central division title since 2008.
2021: Named White Sox Manager Again
In 2021, Tony La Russa was named the manager of the Chicago White Sox for a second stint.
August 26, 2022: Baseball Game Update
As of the games played on August 26, 2022, there were ongoing events in Major League Baseball.
2022: La Russa retires as White Sox Manager
In 2022, Tony La Russa faced criticism for late-game decisions as the White Sox manager. On August 30, he took leave due to heart concerns, with Miguel Cairo as interim manager. On October 3, 2022, La Russa announced his immediate retirement.
2022: Retirement Due to Health Concerns
In 2022, Tony La Russa retired from managing the White Sox due to health concerns.
2022: Health Issues During Last Season
In 2022, during his last season as a manager, Tony La Russa was diagnosed with cancer and experienced ongoing issues with his pacemaker.
2023: La Russa returns to White Sox as advisor
In 2023, Tony La Russa returned to the Chicago White Sox as an advisor.
Mentioned in this timeline
Jos Alberto Pujols Alc ntara nicknamed the Machine is a...
Washington D C the capital of the United States is...
Dusty Baker is a retired American professional baseball outfielder and...
Los Angeles L A is California's most populous city and...
An earthquake is the shaking of the Earth's surface caused...
News encompasses current events disseminated through various media including oral...
Trending
15 minutes ago Vanessa Kirby enjoys vacation with Paul Rabil. Tucson woman killed on I-10.
15 minutes ago Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm: A Less Callous Hero in Fantastic Four
15 minutes ago Ugo Humbert faces Marozsan in Munich after triumphing over Jarry.
16 minutes ago Chad Baker-Mazara, Auburn star, enters transfer portal after Final Four run.
17 days ago Earth Day Celebrations: Art Contest, Recycling Event, and Waste Management Initiatives
1 hour ago Lake Bell Discusses Introducing Children to New Partners After Divorce, Co-Parenting Success
Popular
Doug Ford is a Canadian politician and businessman currently serving...
The Real ID Act of is a US federal law...
Justin Trudeau served as the rd Prime Minister of Canada...
Donald John Trump is an American politician media personality and...
Bernard Bernie Sanders is a prominent American politician currently serving...
Michael Jordan also known as MJ is a celebrated American...