Tony LaRussa Interview...

[Lipman 1]

After working with Voodoo, I'm going to start publishing stories, columns and interviews again on the site. Will also try to start working in new interviews when I can, hopefully two stories a month...at least one when my broadcasting season starts in August.

The first one is with Tony LaRussa a guy who has been in the news a lot lately (LOL).

I hope others will step forward and start contributing opinions, stories, memories. At one time there were a number of prolific writers on the site and we'd like to see that again.

If you have any comments, questions or additional information regarding Tony, please do so in this thread.

Hope you enjoy these!

[voodoochile]

And here's a link to that article on the home page.

https://www.wsiforumstoo.com/33535-a...h-tony-larussa

Really proud that we will be seeing these wonderful historical articles posted on the new forums home page. Such a treasure trove of history and information.

[Lipman 1]

Found something else out about Tony after the interview. Apparently in November 1980 (I think) he was on "To Tell The Truth" and won 500 dollars when the panel couldn't guess that he was the real Sox manager!

https://www.mlb.com/news/tony-la-russa-in-1980s-game-show

One of these days I've got to ask him how that all came about.

[Frater Perdurabo]

Excellent interview, Lip!

[Noneck]

The only thing missing is larussas take on him and his thug squad intimidating Piersall at the sportsvision studio. But he probably would have clammed up and ended the interview.

A follow up interview would be great but I know that would never happen now.

[Lipman 1]

The only thing missing is larussas take on him and his thug squad intimidating Piersall at the sportsvision studio. But he probably would have clammed up and ended the interview.

A follow up interview would be great but I know that would never happen now.

Well...I did ask Jimmy about it:

ML: Sox ownership decided to go with the SportsVision experiment in 1982 and you were removed from the play by play booth while Harry left to go to the Cubs. You wound up doing the pre and post-game shows. The Sox started out like gang-busters but by July were a .500 club, then one nightTony LaRussa apparently had it with some of your comments and drove down to the studios after a game and confronted you. I have never heard of such a thing happening before or since at least until the Steve Stone / Cubs controversy. What happened that night?

JP: “I had said during a show that whoever was coaching the outfielders wasn’t doing a very good job. They were out of position; they were throwing to the wrong base. It was a bad situation. So one night about 11 or 11:30 at night, LaRussa, Charlie Lau and Jimmy Leyland drive down to the studios. They told the guard they had an appointment to see me and he let them in. I’m in the studio and they march in. LaRussa’s yells, “Are you trying to get Leyland fired?” I didn’t know who was coaching the outfielders so I said “no, but whoever he is he’s doing a lousy job.” They started to act tough when one of our producers walked in, he was a real big guy, about 6-4 and when they saw him they left. I tore Tony’s ass from then on. LaRussa acts real tough but he isn’t and Leyland is nothing but a little phony.”

“All I can say is that Tony’s real lucky he’s had great players in Oakland and in St. Louis because he is a terrible manager.”

[Noneck]

Lip,

Ive read all your interviews at least twice each. Because of your interview with Piersall is why I’d love to hear larussas side of the story.

[shingo10]

Can you imagine thinking Terry Bevington is the right man for the job over LaRussa? Hawk rightfully gets a lot of heat but that decision in 95 is ridiculous.

[Lipman 1]

Can you imagine thinking Terry Bevington is the right man for the job over LaRussa? Hawk rightfully gets a lot of heat but that decision in 95 is ridiculous.

I read a story in The Sporting News by Nightengale many years ago, I wish I could find it again. He swears that TLR and JR had a handshake agreement to take over the Sox, Tony and Dave Duncan would be getting multi year deals and Tony would have the say over the 25 man roster. According to the story JR went to Ron Schueler to tell him what was going on. Schueler supposedly was upset over Tony having control of the big league roster and issued an ultimatum "him or me..." JR chose Schueler..

Again I distinctly remember reading that story, it was a full page in length and detail. Assuming it is true and with Nightengale who knows, its hard to think JR would choose Schueler over TLR.