TONY’S BEGINNING
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.
|
WINNING TIME
One Last Strike: Fifty Years in Baseball, Ten and a Half Games Back, and One Final Championship Season
The team that refused to give up their manager in his final season A comeback that changed baseball After thirty-three seasons managing in Major League Baseball, Tony La Russa thought he had seen it all—that is, until the 2011 Cardinals. ... Google Books |
|
|
