Hometown Hero La Russa's Last Ride and Miracle World for the St. Louis Cardinals

In 2011, Tony La Russa, a legendary figure in St. Louis baseball, returned to manage the Cardinals for one final season. His return sparked a magical run that culminated in a World Series victory, providing a fitting end to his illustrious career.

11 in '11: A Hometown Hero, La Russa's Last Ride, and a Miracle World Series for the St. Louis Cardinals

by Benjamin Hochman

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	4844 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	245 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

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La Russa, a native of Tampa, Florida, had spent 16 seasons managing the Cardinals, leading them to three World Series titles. He left the team in 2009 to manage the Chicago White Sox, but returned to St. Louis two years later.

The Cardinals' 2011 season was a tale of two halves. They struggled in the first half, finishing with a 46-46 record. However, they turned things around in the second half, going 47-29 to finish with a record of 93-69.

The Cardinals' turnaround was sparked by the emergence of several young players, including Allen Craig, Matt Holliday, and David Freese. Craig led the team in batting average (.321),while Holliday led the team in home runs (29) and RBIs (103). Freese emerged as a key player in the playoffs, hitting a game-winning home run in the National League Championship Series and a game-tying triple in the World Series.

The Cardinals' pitching staff also played a key role in their success. Chris Carpenter, Jaime Garcia, and Adam Wainwright all had strong seasons, and the bullpen was solid.

The Cardinals entered the playoffs as the National League Wild Card team. They defeated the Philadelphia Phillies in the Division Series and the Milwaukee Brewers in the League Championship Series to advance to the World Series.

In the World Series, the Cardinals faced the Texas Rangers. The Rangers were a tough opponent, but the Cardinals ultimately prevailed in seven games.

The Cardinals' World Series victory was a magical moment for the city of St. Louis. It was the team's first World Series title since 2006, and it marked the end of an era for La Russa.

La Russa retired from managing after the 2011 season. He finished his career with a record of 2,728 wins and 2,365 losses. He is a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame.

The Cardinals' 2011 World Series victory was a fitting end to La Russa's illustrious career. He is a true hometown hero, and his legacy will forever be etched in the hearts of Cardinals fans.

Tony La Russa's return to the St. Louis Cardinals in 2011 was a storybook ending to his legendary career. He led the team to a World Series victory, providing a fitting end to his illustrious career. The Cardinals' 2011 season was a magical run, and it will always be remembered as one of the greatest seasons in franchise history.

11 in '11: A Hometown Hero, La Russa's Last Ride, and a Miracle World Series for the St. Louis Cardinals

by Benjamin Hochman

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	4844 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	245 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE