Valley gets Hall of Fame visit
Baseball legend La Russa to speak at Chamber event
LINCOLN – On April 4, 2018 the Northern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce will host the annual PawSox Luncheon at the Twin River Events Center from 11:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. All are welcome to attend and celebrate America’s favorite past-time with delicious food and an exciting crowd.
This is an afternoon spent with the entire PawSox team, and with featured keynote Boston Red Sox Vice President Special Assistant to the President of Baseball Operations- Tony La Russa. He guided his teams to three World Series titles, six league championships, and twelve division titles. His 2,728 wins are third most for a major league manager.
The 2018 season will mark La Russa’s 57th in professional baseball, the last four of which were spent 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 serv- ing 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 (197986), 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.
Tickets are $40 per person. For additional information and to register, call the Chamber at 334-1000 or visit www.nrichamber.com