What do you give to a man who has everything? Immortality.
That's what former Cardinals manager Tony La Russa is experiencing now that he's been inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. During a weekend full of parades, speeches, dedications and parties, La Russa's legend has been secured for a lifetime. Joined by pitcher Greg Maddux, pitcher Tom Glavine, first baseman/DH Frank Thomas, manager Bobby Cox and manager Joe Torre, La Russa was inducted into the Hall of Fame on July 27 after being unanimously voted in by the membership committee back in December.
See also: - Five Things We Learned from Tony La Russa's Commencement Address at Washington U. - Tony La Russa, Former Cardinals Manager, Unanimously Voted into Baseball Hall of Fame
It's been quite a whirlwind weekend for La Russa -- one that began with the St. Louis Cardinals naming their upcoming Cardinals Care's 22nd youth ball field at the 12th & Park Recreation Center after the former Redbirds skipper:
Bill DeWitt Jr. announces #CardsCare field in STL to be named for Tony La Russa #TLRHOF #HOFWKND pic.twitter.com/1UDyvsOWey
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) July 27, 2014
"There is no more fitting tribute to honor you than dedicating this field serving kids in need," DeWitt said #TLRHOF
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) July 27, 2014
La Russa was the fifth out of six inductees to be brought to the Hall of Fame stage. Here's his Cooperstown biography video:
Tony La Russa is up. Video montage begins. Dave Duncan talking...and there's Julio Cruz crossing home plate in 1983. "Na-na-na-na..."
— David Haugh (@DavidHaugh) July 27, 2014
In his speech, La Russa thanked many people who inspired and helped him throughout his career, paid homage to every team he worked with and spoke from the heart about his love of baseball:
"If we didn't have Dunc, you could subtract hundreds of those wins ... " ~ Tony LaRussa
— Lisa Lo (@llockness) July 27, 2014
Tony La Russa on baseball: "More you love it, more you want to learn.
More you learn it, more you love it." #HOF2014
— Mark C. Anderson (@MontereyMCA) July 27, 2014
La Russa: "Then I went to St. Louis ... all of that tradition ... so spectacular ... we were motivated to be caretakers."
#STLCards
— STLCardinalBaseball (@STLCardinals01) July 27, 2014
Tony La Russa managed by the three Ts - Team, Tenacity, Toughness. #HOFWKND pic.twitter.com/mK8x2EeQsq
— MLB (@MLB) July 27, 2014
Not everyone loved La Russa or his speech, though. Plenty of people took to Twitter to let the world know just how much they hated La Russa's entry into the Hall of fame.
On page two, see all the Twitter rage, plus more photos.
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