Former White Sox manager Tony La Russa enshrined in Baseball Hall of Fame
Jul 27, 2014; Cooperstown, NY, USA; Hall of Fame president Jeff Idelson presents the Hall of Fame plaque to inductee Tony La Russa during the class of 2014 national baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony at National Baseball Hall of Fame. Mandatory Credit: Gregory J. Fisher-USA TODAY Sports
Tony La Russa began his MLB managerial career with the Chicago White Sox in 1979, and all these year later after championship stops with the Oakland Athletics and St. Louis Cardinals he was officially enshrined into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, Sunday.
La Russa brought an AL West championship to the White Sox in 1983, where the White Sox finished 99-63, a .611 winning percentage.
During his speech, La Russa said of his time with the White Sox: “It was a wonderful experience.”
La Russa also spoke about having Tom Seaver and Carlton Fisk to lead the team, and spoke about the game where Seaver gained his 300th career win.
With the White Sox La Russa, in eight seasons, won 522 games, having a .506 winning percentage.
He followed that up with 10 years in Oakland, winning a World Series title in 1989 and 16 years with the Cardinals where he won two World Series championships in 2006 and in his final season as a manager in 2011.
When with the White Sox La Russa won 80 or more games three times, including 87 wins in ’82, 85 wins in ’85 and the ’83 season of 99 wins.
La Russa last managed the White Sox in 1986.