(Image Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch)

BY KAVEH KAGHAZI

ANCHOR EMILY SPAIN

After 33 seasons in major league baseball, Tony La Russa is calling it quits. Known as one of the best managers in the history of the game, La Russa rides off into the sunset fresh off his third World Series championship.


While this decision comes as a shock to some, a writer from the St. Louis Post Dispatch tells Cinesport he noticed a different Cardinals manager as the season went on.


“Tony La Russa was savoring every last moment as though he were drinking the final sips of a fine bottle of wine. We saw a guy who was enjoying everything, who was loose and relaxed, and just trying to tell his guys to enjoy everything and savor every moment.”

But why retire now? La Russa said he made the decision in August when his team was 10 and a half games out of the wild card race. ESPN’s Tim Kirkjian justifies the decision, saying this was the right time.

“He just did one of the great managerial jobs of his career or anybody’s career. But it’s possible, with some of the health issues he’s had this year, that he just looked at this and said ‘I’m 67, I’m not getting any younger, I just won the World Series again, this is a perfect time to go.”

The loss of La Russa leaves a giant pair of shoes to be filled in the Red Birds’ dugout. The club will have to replace the all-time leader in wins, while trying to hold on to baseball’s best hitter in Albert Pujols. A blogger from NBC Sports says even though the Cards just won the World Series, this job may not be all that it’s cracked up to be.

“On the one hand, replacing Tony La Russa might be a tough thing for a guy to do.  There is nowhere to go but down … Add in the fact that, at the moment, it’s unclear if Albert Pujols is coming back, and you might have to wonder who is crazy enough to take the gig.”

After his 33 seasons in the dugout, analysts agree La Russa is in the pantheon of all-time great managers. But how will he be remembered? Bob Ryan of the Boston Globe says in the last 25 years, La Russa has single-handedly changed the game of baseball.

“There is no one else who has ever significantly altered the way the game was run as much as Tony La Russa has because everybody follows the La Russa pattern now: closers, ninth inning-ninth inning with a lead. And he started that.”

And how about this for a coincidence? The Associated Press tweeted this on Monday.  

“Tony La Russa is a man of 3s: Retiring after 33 years, 3 days after his 3rd World Series. He coached 3 teams & is 3rd for all-time wins.”