After two seasons at the helm of the Chicago White Sox, Hall of Fame manager Tony La Russa stepped down on Monday due to health issues. La Russa had one year left on his three-year contract.
La Russa last cleared a game on August 28 after undergoing testing in an undisclosed state. On September 24, La Russa officially announced that he would not return this season to continue receiving treatment. La Russa planned to manage in 2023 and even spent time with the team in Oakland, where he previously managed, for Dave Stewart’s jersey retirement ceremony. However, La Russa is believed to have made the decision after doctors advised him not to take on rigorous managerial duties for another season.
La Russa released a statement on Monday evening, which details the reasons for his sudden retirement.
“Last February, I had a pacemaker installed and was cleared by my doctors to begin spring training as planned. A periodic check of the device subsequently identified a problem. During training at bat on August 30, I was informed of the problem, removed from the uniform and tested by doctors the next day.The solution was to update the pacemaker in Arizona and for me not to return as manager without medical clearance. During an annual private examination after the first of the year, a second health problem was also diagnosed. I decided to delay facing him until the offseason. While I was inactive with the pacemaker, the second problem was analyzed. The result is that a remedial plan was developed by my medical team and implementation began. I informed the White Sox of this second problem as I was not in uniform and that I care pacemaker.
At 78, La Russa is retiring as one of the most accomplished managers in MLB history, with 2,889 wins, more than all but one manager in MLB history. However, he ran out of time in Chicago and left on his own terms before they could chase him away. La Russa, who was hired by longtime friend Jerry Reinsdorf in 2021, has been beleaguered throughout his tenure as manager.
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La Russa’s return to Chicago was seen as compensation from Reinsdorf for firing a young La Russa in 1986. After leaving Chicago’s Southside, La Russa embarked on a streak in which he won three World Series titles and 13 division titles. Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to bring that magic back to Chicago with him. He was seen dozing off during a match, distrusting analysis, opting for traditional instincts and making questionable managerial decisions that baffled fans.
La Russa joined a club that reached the playoffs for the first time since 2008. However, the team’s trajectory took a dive. The White Sox won the 2021 American League Central title, but with a lower winning percentage than in the abbreviated 2020 campaign. In 2022, the White Sox spent a handful of days sniffing out the top spot in early April, but have been watching the Cleveland Guardians for much of the season. La Russa is finishing his second stint as White Sox manager with a 172-149 record, but in his statement lamented not being able to finish the job after a disappointing 2022 season.
“Finally, I am sincerely disappointed to leave without having the possibility of finishing what I have been brought to do.” said La Russa. “I still appreciate the chance to come back to the White Sox and come away today with a lot more good memories than disappointments.”