La Russa passes John McGraw for 2nd-most wins in MLB history
It's time to update Tony La Russa's plaque.
With his team's 3-0 win over the Detroit Tigers on Sunday, the Chicago White Sox manager earned his 2,764th career victory, moving him past John McGraw into second place on baseball's win list.
"It's real emotional for me that it started here (with the White Sox) and that it ended up here," the 76-year-old said postgame, according to Vinnie Duber of NBC Sports Chicago. "And the fact that it's wearing this (1983 throwback) uniform is beyond belief."
“It feels very similar to getting in to Cooperstown,” said Tony La Russa of reaching second all-time in wins. Emphasized that it’s not an individual accomplishment, and credited the coaching staff and players' work today.
— James Fegan (@JRFegan) June 6, 2021
“It really wasn’t anything but cheerleading"
La Russa initially retired in 2011 and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2014. However, he shockingly returned to the dugout this winter with the White Sox, where he began his career in 1979.
While he's been met with some criticism, the White Sox seem to have embraced playing for La Russa. He praised his players Sunday for "includ(ing) me as part of the family," according to Chris Emma of 670 The Score.
Adam Engel had his jersey he wore today taken out of the laundry so Tony La Russa could sign it for him on this record-breaking day.
— Scott Merkin (@scottmerkin) June 6, 2021
In between his White Sox stints, La Russa managed the Oakland Athletics and St. Louis Cardinals. He's guided teams to winning records in 23 of 35 seasons (not counting 2021) and made 14 playoff appearances, winning six pennants and three World Series titles.
La Russa is now 967 wins behind Connie Mack, who managed the Philadelphia A's for 50 seasons.