For many years, I couldn’t stand Tony La Russa.

When I was covering baseball and La Russa was the manager of the Chicago White Sox, and later the Oakland A’s and St. Louis Cardinals, he seemed to be the inventor of the four-hour ballgame, making needless pitching changes and questioning umpires.

When he managed his first team, the Chicago White Sox, he gave the impression of being a “hotdog” and showboat.

Watching him manage against the Orioles in the 1983 American League Championship playoffs, I had the feeling he was as much responsible for Baltimore’s advancing into the World Series as the O’s then-skipper Joe Altobelli.

La Russa, inexperienced as a manager at the time, seemed to push all the wrong buttons and ran his team out of innings.

What really grabbed my attention, however, was, it seemed that La Russa took advantage of any excuse he could find to get onto the field and be noticed in nationally televised broadcasts.

This didn’t change over the years as he became very successful in Oakland and St. Louis.

You could always tell when he was ready to leave the dugout. Every time he’d take off his glasses, so he’d appear younger and more dynamic, he’d head out to the mound or to home plate.

It was annoying, seeing this know-it-all out on the field, who didn’t even seem to grasp how to properly wear a baseball cap, delaying games. Every hat he wore looked brand new and too stiff, as if just removed from a box and not folded, pressed or creased.

After the game, win or lose, La Russa always conveyed the impression he was the only one who really understood what had taken place.

Through his years with the White Sox, A’s and Cardinals however, he was credited with redefining the role of the bullpen closer and heralded as the master strategist of his time.

The third-winningest manager in baseball history, he’s been the subject of baseball books and documentaries, always quite comfortable with his designation as a managerial genius.

NEVER DISPLEASED BY REFERENCES TO HIS LAW DEGREE

He was also never displeased when media references would be made to the fact La Russa was the only big league manager who had a law degree.

I had always felt that the fact his teams had been loaded with talent was usually overlooked. Seldom was there a mention that he’d lost three out of six times in the World Series despite having often been heavily favored.

When his St. Louis Cardinals were swept by the Red Sox in the 2004 World Series, it was hard not to wonder if the sport of baseball was in some way trying to teach him the lesson that no manager is bigger than the game.

In January of 2005, however, I saw a different side of La Russa.

The Boston Baseball Writers were holding their annual dinner, which draws 1,500 fans. Yet despite the popularity of the dinner, it has become a struggle to get Red Sox players receiving awards to come into town to attend the affair.

The writers’ organization foots their travel and hotel expenses but does not pay them fees to attend. With the astronomical salaries players make today, most don’t want to even bother coming to an event simply for public relations purposes and the fans.

Sadly enough, Tim Wakefield, who wasn’t even receiving an award that year, was the only established Red Sox player who felt obligated to come to the dinner commemorating the 2004 World Championship.

AN UNINVITED SURPRISE GUEST

There was, however, a surprise guest: Tony La Russa — who had not even been invited — paid his own way to attend the affair and offer congratulations to the Red Sox and the City of Boston for the victory over his team, the Sox’ first World Series championship in 86 years.

La Russa sat at the head table. When he addressed the capacity crowd, he poked fun at himself for managing poorly in the World Series and lavishly praised then-Red Sox Manager Terry Francona, the players, and Boston fans.

Knowing the type of competitor La Russa is and how much he hates to lose, it was an amazing display of graciousness.

Then he revealed his hidden motive for attending the dinner — publicizing his Animal Rescue Foundation.

He and his wife Elaine started this foundation in 1991 to support no-kill animal shelters with the goal of bringing pets together with people in good homes. He now dedicates much of his time to fighting animal abuse and raising money to support his shelter projects.

He made a special reference to how much of a difference dogs and cats can make to the elderly who are battling ailments and loneliness. He became somewhat emotional in his Boston visit, talking about running programs to bring dog and cat visits to abused children, hospital patients, seniors and shut-ins.

STARTED PULLING FOR HIM TO WIN

It’s a funny thing. After listening to him at the Boston banquet, I found myself watching Cardinals games more, until he retired following a World Championship in 2011. I actually started pulling for him to win.

All of a sudden, La Russa didn’t seem like such an annoyance when he visited one of his pitchers on the mound or made sure the camera had a good angle shot of his face.

Next Sunday (July 27th), when he is inducted as a Hall of Famer in Cooperstown, N.Y., along with Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, Frank Thomas, Bobby Cox and Joe Torre, I will no longer argue with anyone who says he’s one of the greatest managers of all time.

Much to my surprise, and more important than his 2,728 wins, three World Series crowns, 12 division titles and numerous baseball innovations, he’s committed his life to some very meaningful, beneficial projects to help people.
 
davidmaril@voiceofbaltimore.org
 
“Inside Pitch” is a weekly opinion column written for Voice of Baltimore by David Maril.
 
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