Tony LaRussa
| Birthdate | 10/4/1944 |
| Death Date | |
| Debut Year | 1979 |
| Year of Induction | 2014 |
| Teams | Athletics, Cardinals, White Sox |
| Position | Manager |
Tony LaRussa was inducted into the Hall in 2014 then returned to manage in 2021; his teams have won six pennants and three World Series.
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LaRussa began his managerial career with Bill Veeck's White Sox
LaRussa began his managerial career with Bill Veeck's White Sox
On August 3, 1979 Tony La Russa took the helm of the White Sox at age 34. Sox owner Bill Veeck wrote this letter to a fan the day after La Russa gained win #14 on his way to the third-most victories in MLB history.
Veeck writes, “Like you, we feel Tony LaRussa is doing a fine job and the players are responding to him.”
LaRussa took over a team that lost 90 games in 1978 and was 24 games under .500 when he took the helm in ’79. The White Sox responded well to LaRussa, going 27-27 the rest of the season.
The zenith of his time in Chicago came in 1983 when they won 99 games and captured the AL West crown. His 9-year run resulted in a 615-579 overall record.
LaRussa left Chicago and later guided both the A’s and Cardinals to World Series titles. He retired in 2011 and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2014.
In 2021 LaRussa came out of retirement to manage the Sox once again. He guided them to the AL Central title in his first season back.
LaRussa's Oakland squads won 3 straight pennants staring in 1988
LaRussa's Oakland squads won 3 straight pennants staring in 1988
When the White Sox fired LaRussa on June, 19, 1986, he wasn’t out of a job long. By early July he was back in the dugout as skipper of the Oakland Athletics.
The A’s were 31-52 when LaRussa took the reigns. He quickly changed the dynamic as Oakland went 45-34 with him the rest of the way.
Just two seasons later LaRussa had a juggernaut on his hands. In 1988 Oakland won 104 games and the American League pennant.
In a shocking upset, they lost to the underdog Dodgers in the World Series made famous by Kirk Gibson. The A’s returned to baseball’s biggest stage the following year, this time beating the crosstown Giants in the battle marred by the 6.9 magnitude Loma Prieta earthquake. In 1990 LaRussa got the club back to the Fall Classic for the third consecutive season.
By the time LaRussa left in 1995, his teams won 798 games against 673 losses.
In the collection is the lineup card from Tony La Russa’s pocket as manager of the Oakland A’s on September 16, 1993. The previous five years Oakland averaged more than 97 wins per season.
In 1993 they tumbled to a 68-94 mark. In this particular contest the A’s prevailed 3-2 over the Mariners in the Kingdome. Hall of Fame pitcher Dennis Eckersley picked up his 36th save of the season.
LaRussa helped the Cardinals win 3 pennants and 2 World Series
LaRussa helped the Cardinals win 3 pennants and 2 World Series
Tony LaRussa left the A’s in 1995 and took control of the Cardinals in ’96. In St. Louis he found his greatest success.
In his 16 seasons as manager, LaRussa’s Cardinals finished either first or second 10 times. They won seven division crowns, three pennants, and two World Series.
LaRussa’s final season with the Redbirds came in 2011. The 66-year enjoyed quite a sendoff, leading the team to his third Fall Classic triumph.
In the collection is the dugout lineup card for the Cardinals 4-0 loss at Arizona on June 1, 2000. It’s filled out entirely in the hand of manager Tony La Russa who has signed along the top left of the card.
St. Louis tallied 95 wins and captured the Central Division crown. During his time with the Cardinals, the franchise won three National League championships and two World Series.
LaRussa was the 7th manager to guide teams to 2,000 wins
LaRussa was the 7th manager to guide teams to 2,000 wins
When St. Louis beat the Rockies on September 10, 2003 they gave Tony La Russa his 2000th managerial victory. Only six skippers reached the mark prior to the Cardinals pilot.
La Russa’s teams went on to win nearly 1,000 additional games. Upon his first retirement in 2011, his win total ranked behind only Connie Mack and John McGraw.
LaRussa gained baseball’s ultimate honor when the Veterans Committee selected him for induction in 2014. Seven years later, the White Sox coaxed the skipper out of retirement. With a Hall of Famer in the dugout, Chicago won the AL Central Division title in 2021. LaRussa also passed McGraw on the all-time managerial wins list. Today he trails on Mack in managerial victories.
Less than 1.5% of baseball's major leaguers reach Cooperstown's Baseball Hall of Fame
Less than 1.5% of baseball's major leaguers reach Cooperstown's Baseball Hall of Fame
Baseball crowns its immortals in the Hall of Fame, the sport’s highest honor. Only a sliver of major leaguers ever reach Cooperstown. More than 98.5% fall short of that dream. The few who earn a plaque reach the summit of a lifetime journey.
In 2014 manager Tony LaRussa claimed his place among the game’s legends.
Each summer, Hall of Famers return for induction weekend and sign the official roll call sheets. This sheet from 2024 captures a special gathering. LaRussa came back to honor Adrian Beltré, Todd Helton, Jim Leyland, and Joe Mauer. His signature sits alphabetically between Jim Kaat and Barry Larkin in a lineup of greatness on paper.
The weekend buzzes with stories, laughter, and shared history. Legends reconnect and swap memories from long seasons past. Fans line the streets and chase autographs. Cooperstown turns into baseball’s beating heart, and every inductee feels the game’s full embrace.
The weekend buzzes with stories, laughter, and shared history. Legends reconnect and swap memories from long seasons past. Fans line the streets and chase autographs. Cooperstown turns into baseball’s beating heart, and every inductee feels the game’s full embrace.
