The Boston Red Sox today announced that they have hired Tony La Russa as Vice President, Special Assistant to the President of Baseball Operations.
President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski made the announcement.
In his role with the Red Sox, La Russa, 73, will assist Dombrowski in all areas of baseball operations, including player development and consultation with the major and minor league coaching staffs.
La Russa recently completed his 56th season in professional baseball, the last four of which have come with the Arizona Diamondbacks (2014-17). In 2017 he served as Chief Baseball Analyst, advising Arizona's baseball operations department in all facets of the game. Prior to serving in that role, he spent three seasons as the Diamondbacks' Chief Baseball Officer.
Elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2014 by the Expansion Era Committee, La Russa ranks third on MLB's all-time managerial wins list, having compiled a record of 2,728-2,365 (.536) in 33 seasons from 1979-2011 with the Chicago White Sox (1979-86), Oakland A's (1986-95), and St. Louis Cardinals (1996-2011). He won three World Series titles (1989, 2006, 2011) and was named BBWAA Manager of the Year four times (1983, 1988, 1992, 2002). In 2014, La Russa was elected to the Cardinals Hall of Fame, with the club also retiring his uniform number (10).
Following his 33-year managing career, La Russa joined MLB's league office as a Special Assistant to Commissioner Alan H. "Bud" Selig during the 2012-13 seasons. He has also served on the Commissioner's 14-member Special Committee for On-Field Matters since December 2009.
In addition to his 33 years as a major league manager and six in an executive role, La Russa compiled a 16-year playing career from 1962-77. The former infielder appeared in 132 major league games with the Kansas City/Oakland A's (1963, 1968-71), Atlanta Braves (1971), and Chicago Cubs (1973). He began his managing career at only 33 years old with Double-A Knoxville in 1978, and in 1979 he managed Triple-A Iowa before taking over for the White Sox for their final 54 games of the season.
La Russa graduated from the University of South Florida with a degree in industrial management and earned his Juris Doctor from Florida State University in 1978, passing the Florida Bar in 1979. He and his wife, Elaine, reside in Alamo, CA and have two daughters, Bianca and Devon. Since 1991, following Elaine's passion and sense of urgency, Tony La Russa's Animal Rescue Foundation has dominated the family's personal time.