Tony La Russa Could Still Manage 2012 All-Star Game
Tony La Russa, who just this week announced his retirement after 33 years of managing professional baseball, could possibly return to manage next year’s All-Star game, according to St. Louis Today.
The St. Louis Cardinals won World Series under the helm of La Russa in 2011. Traditionally, the skipper whose team won the previous season’s World Series is slotted to manage the following series All-Star game. Despite La Russa’s retirement, commissioner Bud Selig told St. Louis Today that having him manage the summer classic is something he’d like to see.
La Russa himself has not publically expressed interest in managing the game. While the game was once purely an exhibition game, the rules were changed in 2003 to state that the league who wins the game will receive home-field advantage in the coming World Series. This may indicate that other managers will want a current coach to helm the National League team.
In 33 years as an MLB manager, La Russa posted a career 2728-2365 record between his work with the Chicago White Sox, Oakland Athletics, and St. Louis Cardinals.
