Tony La Russa

Veteran MLB Manager & Former Player

National Advisory Board

Tony La Russa led the St. Louis Cardinals to their 11th World Championship over the Texas Rangers in the 2011 World Series. It was his second World Series win with the Cardinals and the third win in his managerial career. In 2006 with the Cardinals, La Russa became only the second manager in Major League Baseball history, along withSparky Anderson, to win World Series championships in both National and American Leagues.

Tony finished his 16th season at the Cardinals' helm in third place on the all-time Major League Baseball managerial wins list with 2,728 wins. After managing 5,097 games, Tony ranked second in total number of games managed, as well as number of years managing, tied with John McGraw at 33 years.

Three days after the World Series win, La Russa announced his retirement on October 31, 2011. Nearly three months later, Major League Baseball announced he would manage the National League team at the 2012 All-Star game in Kansas City, the second retired manager to do so. On May 11, 2012, at Busch Stadium, the Cardinals will retire their former manager's number 10 uniform in a special ceremony to recognize and honor La Russa's impressive career. He is the 12th person in Cardinals history to have his uniform number retired.

Regarded by his peers as one of the game's top managers, La Russa's honors include Manager of the Year recognition in five seasons, eight N.L. Central Division titles, three N.L. pennants, five A.L. Western Division titles, three A.L. pennants, and three World Series championships. He has served as manager of the 1989, 1990, and 1991 American League All-Star teams, and 2005, 2007, and this summer, the 2012 National League All-Star teams. Tony and Leo Durocher are the only managers in Major League history to have 500 or more wins with three different teams.

Tony led the St. Louis Cardinals to their 10th World Championship by beating the Detroit Tigers in the 2006 World Series. In 1989, Tony guided the A's to their fourth World Championship since the club moved to Oakland, sweeping the Giants in four straight games during the earthquake-interrupted Bay Bridge series. The A's won three straight League Championships from 1988 to 1990. The Cardinals were the National League Champions in 2004, 2006 and 2011.

Currently Tony is employed by the Arizona Diamondbacks as Chief Baseball Analyst/Advisor, after briefly managing Baseball Operations for the club.

Tony was born in Tampa, Florida. He holds a degree in Industrial Management from the University of South Florida Tampa, and received his Juris Doctor from Florida State University. He is currently an inactive member of the Florida State Bar.

Tony's community efforts focus on animal rescue, children, education, and community-minded organizations. Co-founder, with his wife Elaine, of the Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF) in Walnut Creek, California, Tony remains committed to the cause and acts as chairman of the board.

Tony has been a frequent guest on St. Louis, New York and San Francisco Bay Area television and radio shows while commanding covers from major sport publications. He makes his off-season home in Alamo, California with his wife, Elaine, and numerous dogs and cats.

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