Tony La Russa Has A Final Message For White Sox Fans
Tony La Russa’s time with the Chicago White Sox has officially come to an end. Despite having one year left on his three-year deal, health issues have prevented the 78-year-old manager from continuing to do what he loves. La Russa announced his retirement during a press conference on Monday. You can say what you want about his ability to manage a baseball team, but you can’t question his passion for baseball.
When La Russa first stepped away from the game, he ranked third all-time in wins, had three World Series titles, and a plaque enshrined in Cooperstown. There was nothing left for him to do as a manager. Yet he still had that itch to get back into the dugout after ten years. So when Jerry Reisdoft presented him with an opportunity to finish his career where it started, he jumped at the chance.
His second stint with the White Sox didn’t go as planned. La Russa was brought in for his experience and championship pedigree. Jerry Reinsdorf had hoped that the Hall of Fame manager would be the last piece of the puzzle to finally get the White Sox over the hump.
It never materialized. La Russa struggled to bring energy and perspective after being removed from the dugout for nearly a decade. He also came with distractions. A video surfaced after he was hired of him getting pulled over for his second DUI. He also made headlines when he forgot a rule during an extra-inning loss against the Cincinnati Reds, then again for scolding Yermin Mercedes after hitting a home run off of a position player.
Even with the distractions, he led an injury-riddled White Sox team to 93 wins and a division title in 2021. Despite getting waxed by the Astros in four short games, many thought it was a good foundation for 2022. But things quickly went south. Many continued to question his lineups and in-game decision-making. It reached the point where “Fire Tony” chants could be heard across Guaranteed Rate Field throughout the season.
On August 30th, he was forced to step away due to heart problems involving his pacemaker that was implanted during the offseason. August 30th turned out to be his last day as the White Sox manager. Miguel Cario took over as the interim manager, and La Russa announced his retirement on October 3rd.
La Russa spoke with his players in the locker room 15 minutes before the press conference. Yet, still, multiple players filed in once the press conference began to show support for their former manager.
“I was out ten years,” La Russa said during the press conference. “To walk in, see not just the talent but the personalities, the way it came together. That’s why I’m upset and disappointed. This is going to work next year. I worked hard to earn their respect and trust, but I’m also upset that I let them down this year.”
La Russa won more games than he lost with the White Sox with a 169-144 record. He also passed John McGraw for second all-time in wins. But nobody will remember that. His tenure was mired with scrutiny and, ultimately, disappointment.
“Obviously, a bit of a tough day,” White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said. “Not exactly how we wanted Tony’s tenure to end. The organization obviously owes him a debt of gratitude for the time he spent trying to advance us to our ultimate goals over the last couple of years. It’s obviously disappointing for all of us that this is how it’s ending.”
From day one was never going to be a fan favorite. Whether it was from fans or the media, he also seemed to be the focal point of criticism. Yet La Russa still went out of his way to praise the fans in a lengthy statement the White Sox released on his behalf.
“At no time have I been disappointed or upset with White Sox fans, including those who at times chanted “Fire Tony.” They come to games with passion for our team and a strong desire to win. Loud and excited when we win, they rightly are upset when we play poorly. A great example of this support came in Game 3 of last year’s division series. No disrespect intended to any of my other teams and their fans, but that was the most electric crowd I ever experienced.”
Even after all the flack he has gotten, La Russa still chose to keep it classy on his way out. Whether or not you liked him as a manager, you have to respect him for that. There are no plans for La Russa to remain in the organization and work in the White Sox front office. He will likely return to Arizona and concentrate his efforts on getting healthy and look to find another way to fuel his passion for baseball.
“All I know is the love of the game will never die. It’s the only thing I really know how to do, except I think I can run a bookstore. “You’ve got to care enough to want to get better. You can’t be dumb enough to think you know more than you know. It’s a fun club. And they didn’t have as much fun because they didn’t like losing. I hope they remember that and fix it.”