Going out with class, LaRussa retires on top

In the last few days of his tenure as the Cardinals’ longtime manager, Tony La Russa went about his business with an air of serenity, even as his upstart team sought to nail down a World Series championship. La Russa’s often grumpy demeanor with reporters dissolved into friendly, almost comedic, banter, and he took a genuinely inquisitive tone at times, when in the past he could be dismissive.

Now there would seem to be an explanation for that sudden burst of relaxation for a manager more commonly thought of as relentless. On Monday morning, three days after he captured the third title in his long managing career, and less than a day after St. Louis celebrated with a victory parade, La Russa, 67, announced that he was retiring.

So, it turns out, that amid all the World Series tension of the last week, and all the uncertainty of Friday night’s Game 7, La Russa had his own finish line firmly in view.

La Russa made his disclosure at a news conference in St. Louis. After 16 years as the manager of the Cardinals and 33 years over all in the job, La Russa is done marching relievers in and out of games and outthinking most of his counterparts. His next destination is surely the Hall of Fame.

“It’s just time to do something else,” he said.

With 2,728 victories, La Russa ends his career with the third most victories of any manager, behind Connie Mack (3,731) and John McGraw (2,763). He is only the ninth manager to win at least three World Series titles, and his résumé also includes six league championships, three each with the Oakland Athletics and the Cardinals.

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