Tony LaRussa--1968
On October 1, 2009, in his 31st season of filling out lineup cards for 4,770 games, Tony
LaRussa passed Hall of Fame manager John McGraw for the second most games
managed by a skipper in Major League Baseball history.
LaRussa, had compiled a .535 winning percentage on the day he passed McGraw, with
five pennants and two championship titles (and counting).
McGraw, affectionately referred to as “Little Napoleon”, as manager of the Baltimore
Orioles, but primarily the New York Giants at the turn of the century; posted a .586
winning percentage, 11 pennants and three World Series Titles.
I guess the biggest difference is that McGraw could hit, while LaRussa couldn’t. McGraw
posted a .334 average over 16 seasons, while all LaRussa could muster is a .199 career
mark in parts of six seasons.
Which takes us to the thought of "you just have to love this game." It's where a weak-
hitting, defensive-minded middle infielder can become one of the greatest managers in
the game.
The Hall awaits….
Editor's Note: It was just a blurb in the Cardinals Press Notes and has received very little
play, but I am glad to say that I was at the game; as in my over 20 years in the game I
have never experienced a day without LaRussa managing. Congrats to Tony.
LaRussa passed Hall of Fame manager John McGraw for the second most games
managed by a skipper in Major League Baseball history.
LaRussa, had compiled a .535 winning percentage on the day he passed McGraw, with
five pennants and two championship titles (and counting).
McGraw, affectionately referred to as “Little Napoleon”, as manager of the Baltimore
Orioles, but primarily the New York Giants at the turn of the century; posted a .586
winning percentage, 11 pennants and three World Series Titles.
I guess the biggest difference is that McGraw could hit, while LaRussa couldn’t. McGraw
posted a .334 average over 16 seasons, while all LaRussa could muster is a .199 career
mark in parts of six seasons.
Which takes us to the thought of "you just have to love this game." It's where a weak-
hitting, defensive-minded middle infielder can become one of the greatest managers in
the game.
The Hall awaits….
Editor's Note: It was just a blurb in the Cardinals Press Notes and has received very little
play, but I am glad to say that I was at the game; as in my over 20 years in the game I
have never experienced a day without LaRussa managing. Congrats to Tony.
