La Russa announces charity event celebrating 2006 World Series team
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ST. LOUIS – Former Cardinals manager Tony La Russa on Tuesday announced a fan-friendly charity event in conjunction with the team’s Hall of Fame induction ceremony in September.
The event called “2004 + 2005 = 2006 World Series Champions” will take place on Sunday, Sept. 13, at 6:45 p.m. CT at The Factory in Chesterfield, Mo. Albert Pujols, Yadier Molina, Jim Edmonds and other Cardinals players from the 2006 World Series team are scheduled to attend and share stories about the championship run.
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“At this event, if you just take the baseball apart, we've done it before. You talk about an important memory, show the video and then you have the person give the inside [information], and fans just love it,” La Russa said.
On top of the baseball, the event will feature comedy from Greg Warren. Aviation Hall of Famer and Top Gun leader Jim DiMatteo will lead a tribute to veterans and first responders – which includes honoring Gold Star member Whitney Hopkins and her family – and former Anheuser-Busch executive vice president Bob Lachky will discuss some of the beer giant’s legendary commercials.
“It's like one big family celebration, and that's really what the Sunday show is,” La Russa said. “The fans, there's always been this amazing connection between fans and the Cardinals, so we're going to connect with them in a fun way, and it's not going to be expensive.”
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Tickets will be priced at $35, $50 and $75, and they will go on sale soon. There will also be a limited number of tickets at $150 for an exclusive post-event reception.
The event is presented by La Russa Rescue Champions, and proceeds will benefit several nonprofit organizations devoted to helping children and to companion animal welfare.
Sponsorships are available.
La Russa is excited to be able to host the event a day after Pujols and Molina are inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame.
“These guys were like geniuses, and they were great leaders,” La Russa said. “I saw both of them right here in this dugout, going 0-for-4, on the top step cheering. They weren’t sitting around. It's going to be a great weekend.”