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Former MLB manager and player Tony LaRussa sits down with Brian to discuss his incredible career and his final championship season.
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And now we have the story of Tony La Russa 33 years is success really in Major League Baseball I can't remember when this guy struggled.
But what he did is he left and he left baseball the way everybody wants to leave their career listen some of you might get past knock it past eight great.
But you want to leave when may be single up the merely gives you the team the victory.
So you might be playing -- got to play College Soccer anymore but you wanna leave this state champions don't -- -- when when Michael Jordan hit that shot against -- -- and they win the championship.
-- came back against Washington didn't work gap and I thought that is the best way ever the winning shot you win a championship when you go home.
Well Tony La Russa he beat Michael Jordan out remember how this -- game seven.
Cardinals.
You can get.
And there it is that is gonna last that's the last play and the last play that two in the Russo ever manage he says.
The name of the book as well last strike fifty years in baseball -- and -- half games back on August 25.
And he ends up in a championship down 32 in game six right coach that's right.
Say 32 in game six he ends at the end to take -- -- games to three the best of seven.
Tony at the -- this you right it's over and you have to tell.
Your tell -- team when you -- it was as emotional as when you said it.
Probably more so because every time that I reflect on it.
It makes more of an impression whatever -- there things that the book talks about.
There when you start thinking about you know some of the times -- we had our back against the wall.
And then you actually relive it the more you feel it.
The more you you remember.
Different things about what players were saying.
You can actually visualize it more clearly -- the same thing about that.
We had a pep rally after the parade -- were incredible.
And I call the guys into the gym and you know -- -- they know what they're gonna hear they're gonna hear they guys we did a great job not to have a good winner get ready -- we can.
And the -- is repeat necessity retire.
And I really regretted that but there was no other way the next morning we're announcing -- starting.
In October 1 November the team -- go forward with the new managers so.
It raining on their parade.
Is my only regret.
I mean which are in literacy even if you know huge baseball fan you know Tony we're -- in all Sports Radio as we get everybody listening -- and Europe and is is perfect format for you -- -- so much more than baseball.
The people you hang out with that novels you that you read in the people you -- -- go beyond the game.
But just to get an idea of the world sitting next week he probably the greatest -- successful manager of my generation I've seen.
In 33 years six pennants three World Series four manager of the year awards.
And 2728.
-- one.
But on top of that you did with three.
Very different franchise Oakland Athletics they have their challenges the Chicago White Sox they don't have a legacy of winning.
St.
Louis Cardinals a lot of people you know they have a rich history and these fans love that game but there's a lot of pressure on your shoulders a different type repression the -- -- franchise wouldn't say.
You know I I believe that if you men's and big -- we -- face pressure because.
I spark you once told me when I first got the job races you know.
The first press she's -- and Sparky Anderson uses rent don't buy.
Because guys all -- in this job threat that's that's pressure and you go all -- go to work.
But I do think that to deal with -- Chicago White Sox is -- -- -- because there's a lot of passion.
With that franchise I still my memories of being a White Sox manager with that organization.
South side fans outstanding then go to Oakland did you appeal Kaminsky -- Gloria well you never had anyone and I have known.
So -- on.
-- Annan and that was there the ballpark we have different Disco night I was a year after a busy -- fortunately and that is essentially build -- idea correct right.
So unify in 83 when we won though ballpark was rock and you know we drew up a ton of fans.
A great memory that wasn't that we have -- -- and that's in this in those days 1983.
We play the Baltimore is three out of five to go to the World Series.
As it does that those it -- -- -- 54 to seven then you go.
I go to Oakland you know I signed with the -- can't cities -- them with open their first you know got there in 1968.
Betrayed his sinuous a lot of the really good teams and players are old teammates to come back as a manager was -- come back home.
But that was.
That was push button -- man -- teams were so great.
-- regret we have as we had three World Series chances -- only 11.
And I'm not proud of that record.
You come to Saint Louis and -- Joseph Torre cracked replacing Joseph Torre.
And it's a religion and I had a chance as America -- manager.
In 82 fives seven.
To come the World Series and see games there and act while you the people dressed in red.
Just the fever man -- so so I was aware of it.
-- -- actually had that burn -- bad and you and you start to sense how hard.
They pull for you and really how fair they are it was a great six seniors.
Right you I think I read.
56 times he moved 56 times in Europe.
In your family life so that's 1976.
To I'm just some of the year we got married.
Which was in a 73 have been through through this last year if you count.
A move to spring training coasts we never spring trained and in the same place -- of -- Florida.
My wife which bore the brunt of a lot of the packing and moving.
56 cents.
It's like almost be in the military's.
It because you've gone for nine months -- -- we know you gotta survive unlike the military strike but you're really gone right and you've gone from time tonight we have.
We had.
Bobbie Richardson this week on him and he says he quit at 31 reason why in the book he -- it.
They said because I would miss my family has felt like I was gonna miss the whole operating.
And I watched that you want to leave them anymore so we quit at thirty when he clearly -- for five years these people say three or four years left in them.
Does that get every attempting DC so -- -- missing so much.
Well that's why make it clear made it clear and I return of the morning a retired.
A man that's I was -- I appreciate it -- -- -- -- doubles and I tried my wife was -- tried to give credit and thanks to her my daughters goes.
They could have insisted that I spend more time at home and -- it edit adequate.
But yeah I've love the game forever -- this opportunity.
Baseball is very demanding Guzman goes horribly -- -- and you play it to the indices -- post season.
-- that makes eight months and -- with that baseball family more than your other family.
And that's that's a real sacrifice.
Affect my wife found this sign -- she stood as an -- living room we interrupt this marriage to -- debate.
Policies.
How it's about this baseball season one -- strike so the Atlanta -- the wildcard.
And Atlanta really tanked but you guys really Seward when you beat the pie when he's too many took the pirates out he was struggling -- a prior to.
-- tradition of the worst team in baseball.
Because they don't get financing in that they don't have a commitment from their ownership well they did a tremendous job for -- -- this year we take the pirates.
Was that the moment you got the sense -- team's gonna charge.
Well -- -- step Britannia we have been really good we it has so much adversity you know Wainwright and and we have much ago as a broken wrists.
Our bullpen has struggled in our guys -- -- shown that nothing was going and the term we just to keep fighting and we sitting contention.
Do we -- that bad spell in the middle of August.
Our first goal there was just just the skip back.
To where we're not that -- we got -- -- -- Milwaukee went crazy and look at who are gonna win.
So it was just let's take two steps in right direction of the spurs have been trailer for the mood to Milwaukee we swept them.
What happened after that was Atlanta came to town.
And we were we've gone from ten after seven half.
When Atlanta three days later we swept Atlanta -- for half -- you know like three weeks of play.
At that forces you -- that we not only can.
We get well we could we can win this thing if we keep playing.
As a manager damning as it as a fan -- covenant I want you guys might you know -- know almost like Big Brother like we used a reality shows now.
If I was to walk into your locker room along the way being that this is not a seventeen game season you get up for.
Are there moments like this will -- -- half -- guys of their speeches like that where you so familiar with the guys they know.
They know how many games that they know what they're supposed to do these or adults.
What is there -- speech -- -- It's a great question.
Grants -- -- great question because.
There are several answers number one.
You can meeting them to death.
You know you always have some not always been very often you're the coach -- -- -- say this get together and talk.
And pretty soon on the more you meet the less the more -- -- out.
See if you really careful with -- communications.
The official meeting save.
What I would do routinely.
Especially because in this stretch -- and whenever and and we lost some really tough games.
With prior to game serious.
That.
You walk and after the club us in the -- -- and you say.
Three or four sentences but you give them something positive he realistically say -- -- -- losing game why would -- you wanna give something positive.
This column makes sense -- come back tomorrow and keep the dream alive.
The other thing you do you have a lot of individual and that I think is probably wanting -- book talks laden.
There's a lot of our leadership there and and now a days personalizing your leadership style establishing relationships.
That's your best best chance to get through the distractions.
That plague all of a suspicion professional sports we mean personalize what's best for Tony La Russa -- thank -- personality knowledge is smoking personalized to the player.
So you view your -- your are our club.
-- Me as a manager say your pitcher Dave Duncan as a -- as a coach Mark McGwire as a as a staff for me.
We're -- -- establish -- relationship with each and every guy.
And we gonna do is build -- range of our respect.
Trust and -- -- shall we care -- to the respect.
And the trust means we're gonna we're going to be either pitcher -- position succeed.
It's a very different way to coach -- you personalize and you work edit every day you stalls stand there.
And dictate here's a scheme is over you every -- almost see it and I look like you're you're doing good -- pension if you look they -- I was a -- little bit.
But says it's it's a very personal side coaching unconvinced and this is one of things -- the friends that I -- in coaching we discusses two years.
The guy's a -- survive are the guys that personalize their style and.
