Daily Madden: Newly-Elected Hall Of Famer Tony LaRussa Talks Baseball
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS)— We tried to get freshly elected baseball Hall of Famer Tony La Russa on with us Monday to congratulate him, but he was too busy. So, better late than never, John Madden's neighbor and friend joined us a day late.
La Russa told Madden he was at Major League Baseball's winter meetings in Orlando.
"I was thinking I was going to call you to congratulate you...does this count?" Madden said during the radio segment. "When a man goes into the Hall of Fame you owe a man at least a call."
He wasn't sure if the radio segment counted.
"Since you asked my opinion John, I prefer that you take me to lunch," replied La Russa.
Newly Elected Hall Of Famer Tony LaRussa Talks Baseball
LaRussa touched on the anticipation of being notified he'd be inducted with the sport's most elite figures in 2014.
"There were two neat things one, especially that Bobby (Cox) and Joe (Torre), we all went in going in together," said La Russa. "The other is that it was unanimous, so that feels good."
As far as the company he keeps; Madden noted the three retired managers are also good guys. Joe Torre and Bobby Cox were also unanimously elected to the Hall of Fame.
"If you ever go out socially with them, they're really good people. They competed at a very high level, no cheap shots, no dirty tricks, but they were out there to beat you and they competed ferociously," La Russa said. "We've always admired and respected the things that they do."
As far as his retirement goes, La Russa is happy to still be involved with Major League Baseball, but only now he doesn't have the burden of worrying about wins and losses.
"I don't miss the dugout, but I do miss the winning and losing," said the former A's and Cardinals Manager.
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