Tony La Russa: Man on a Mission

Tony LaRussa has been on "a mission" for as long as I can remember, but after somehow pulling off the miracle of getting the Cardinals their tenth World Series title in 2006, I think he's accomplished that mission. What more does he need to prove? Rob Raines does a wonderful job of capturing the intensity of LaRussa, as well as the compassion this man has for his players. I remember vividly the courage and determination he displayed after the tragic loss of Darryl Kile in 2002, and how his team rallied around Kile's memory to go on and easily win the NL Central. I also remember the intensity of this man as he began his successful managerial career with the White Sox in the early '80s before heading to Oakland and taking the World Series Championship from the Giants in '89. Of course, his team's stunning failure the very next year against Cincinnati only added fuel to his buring passion to win. A few years later, after leaving Oakland and taking over in St Louis, he somehow got the Cardinals into the post-season, nearly upseting a very talented Atlanta Braves team for a chance to go to the World Series. Ten years later, he accomplished that goal, as the Cardinals, who appeared to be dead at the end of the regular season, got healthy at just the right time to become the best team for a few weeks---the most important few weeks---the post-season. LaRussa's recent travails make you wonder just how much more he can take before deciding that he's had enough; mission accomplished. It's funny, but in Jack Buck's memoir, "That's a Winner", which was written over a decade ago, Jack comments that he "is worried" about LaRussa's health since the guy is so tightly wound. LaRussa seems healthy enough, but maybe it's time to take life easy for a while and use that law degree for something useful...Naw. Stick to baseball, Tony. But understand, you've got nothing to prove.

Rob Rains has written 25 books, and I've read most of them. His new book may be his finest. This is a terrific look at arguably baseball's best and most controversial manager. When Lou Gehrig was dying, he called his manager, Joe McCarthy, a great "student of psychology." Rains shows how Tony La Russa is, too. I truly enjoyed this book.

Doc Holliday's Road to Tombstone: The Life and Times of John Henry Holliday Tony La Russa grew up in Tampa, Florida and unlike most kids that wanted to be a fireman one week and a policeman the next, Tony wanted to play baseball. And not only did he want to play at that early age, he wanted to win. The youngster played in the little leagues and later an American Legion team and he grew as a player at every level. His first contact with the major leagues was when Charlie Finley came to his home in Tampa and as soon as he graduated high school Finley signed him to a contract with the Kansas City Athletics. Tony was 18 years old, and spent his contract time with the Athletics then he was assigned to a Kansas City farm club in Daytona Beach, Florida. He was a utility infielder playing mainly short stop and in that first season hit .258. Near the end of the season they bumped him up to class A and in 12 games he hit .186. La Russa had some success in the minor leagues but his work ethic probably kept him in the game as much as his playing talent. During his latter years in the minor leagues he spent time with the Atlanta Braves organization and was hitting .308 for a good stretch. But late in the season when he wasn't called up to the Braves, he began to think it was time to look for another way to make a living. Once again La Russa's work ethic and growing knowledge of the game had gotten the attention of Loren Babe, manager of the White Sox triple A team at Denver. Then in 1978 when the White Sox club at Knoxville needed help Babe thought La Russa might make a good manager. The front office offered him the job and La Russa not only took the job, but he also turned the club around. Then just a year and a half later in August 1979 Sox owner Bill Veeck called La Russa up to manage the White Sox. Tony La Russa at the age of 34 became the youngest manager in the major leagues and he was taking over a team that had won 46 games and lost 60. They were 14 games behind the American League leader California. The young man had his work cut out for him, but Bill Veeck believed he could do it. Rob Rains is a skilled sports writer and tells the story of a man that was driven to win and became a top major league manager. Tony La Russa: Man on a Mission will keep you turning pages beginning with Joe Buck's Foreword right through to the end. Tom Barnes author of `Doc Holliday's Road to Tombstone.'

This ia a very well-written, well-researched effort on the part of Rob Rains, whose reputation for same is well-deserved. Having been part of a writing team with Rob in the past on Scout.com, I have experienced first-hand how carefully he digs for information and considers all sides of the issues before he puts words to paper (as opposed to my "writing from the gut" method!). I learned a lot from reading "Man With A Mission", and it makes a terrific counterpoint/companion volume to the earlier book on Tony La Russa, "Three Nights in August". Love La Russa or hate him, this is a book that no good Cardinal fan - indeed, no good baseball fan - should be without!

I have followed Tony LaRussa's career for close to 30 years now, & I still find this man so intriguing, both professionally and personally. This book gives great insight into how his mind works. Really very interesting to see how he plans and approaches every game. A definite shoe-in for the Hall of Fame.