Cardinals manager La Russa going out on top

Tony La Russa retired as manager of the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday, three days after his team completed a dramatic seven-game World Series triumph over the Texas Rangers. The 67-year-old announced his retirement at the Cardinals' Busch Stadium a day after the team was greeted euphorically by hundreds of thousands of fans at a celebratory parade. The World Series victory over the Rangers was the third of La Russa's 33-year career, and according to STATS LLC he became baseball's first manager to retire immediately after his club won the World Series. La Russa guided the Cardinals to the title after they trailed Atlanta by 10 1/2 games for the final National League playoff berth on August 25. La Russa retires third on the all-time wins list, 35 behind second-place John McGraw. He also won World Series titles with Oakland in 1989 and St. Louis in 2006. "Other than some personal attachments, I feel good," La Russa said. "I feel good that this is the right decision." La Russa said he had begun contemplating making 2011 his last campaign midway through the season. He said he told general manager John Mozeliak and other Cardinals officials in late August.Even as the Cardinals surged into the post-season, he said his feeling that it was time to go didn't change. "I think this just feels like it's time to end it," La Russa said. La Russa displayed little emotion at the press conference, except when he thanked his wife, Elaine, and two daughters for their support during his career. However, he said his meeting with Cardinals players after Sunday's parade was emotional, albeit brief. "Some grown men cried," La Russa said, then quipped: "I kind of liked that because they made me cry a few times." La Russa's answer as to whether he would ever manage again was a simple "no," although he said he'd consider another job in baseball in the future. Cardinals pitcher Chris Carpenter, whose four wins in the playoffs included the decisive game seven over the Rangers, said La Russa called the players together in the club's weight room moments after Sunday's festivities. Carpenter said La Russa spoke briefly about how proud he was of the team's title run "and then said that he was done. "Everybody was surprised, shocked," Carpenter said. "I think every single guy in there was emotional and gave big old hugs on the way out." Carpenter said that behind the scenes, La Russa displayed a sense of humour that rarely came across as he concentrated on the game at hand. However, Carpenter said La Russa's reputation as a dedicated, detail-oriented manager was spot-on. "I'm not sure there are a lot of people that can match the preparation, the dedication and the ability to put it all together," he said.