Tony LaRussa is the current manager of the St. Louis
Cardinals baseball team. He is known for his long brown hair
that flows from under his baseball cap and his thick glasses that
help him focus on the game at hand. He started his carreer as a
professional baseball manager two years before I was born.
Although not always a fan favorite in his previous stops as
manager of Chicago White Sox and Oakland Athletics, he is
generally supported by the St. Louis Cardinals' fan base,
even though he has yet to bring a World Series championship to the
midwest town.
Tony LaRussa's coaching style is unique. He does not designate
a team captain and makes everyone on the team feel important,
even the 25th man on the squad. Players appreciate his lenient
attitude towards allowing children and wives to travel with the
team. Tony has a knack for preventing fights between his players
and promotes a positive mental attitude by emoting one.
He won a World Series championship with the Oakland Athletics
in 1989. With the Cardinals, he has clinched four central
division titles and three in the last three years.
His statistical record as a player is not outstanding. He played one year for
the Kansas City Royals, three and a half years for the Oakland
Athletics, half a year with the Atlanta Braves, and finished his
playing carreer with one year with the Chicago Cubs.
His managerial record as of June 11, 2003 is 1958 wins and 1740 losses
with nine division titles.
Update: I just found out that my all time favorite baseball manager is a vegetarian!
This just adds to his greatness and solidifies my rock solid support and appreciation for his first class attitude and passion for the game. Beware, any fellow St. Louisans who hassle me about my vegetarianism, for I will flail at you the thousand-spiked point of information that your home team's manager is one, as well.
Editor's note: Tony LaRussa retired from managing after the Cardinals won the 2011 World Series.