LaRussa goes from Vancouver to Cooperstown

(Scotiabank Field at Nat Bailey Stadium - Vancouver, B.C.) - The Vancouver Mounties offered up very little in the summer of 1968 gasping to a record of 58-88 (.397) in front of a handful of fans on most nights, but little did we know during that bleak but warm Vancouver summer, that a slender yet feisty second baseman would one day find his way into Cooperstown. 

Tony LaRussa did find his way this week, as the native of Tampa, Florida, known much more for his efforts as manager of teams like the Oakland A's and St. Louis Cardinals - both franchises he guided to World Series Championships.

LaRussa wasn't looking to find his way to the West Coast in 1968, at least not in the minor leagues, but after a sluggish start to his campaign, he would make his way here to Vancouver to join a Mounties team that wasn't exactly lighting up the Pacific Coast League. As a matter of fact, at the time of LaRussa's arrival, the Mounties were fighting just to stay out of the cellar in their respective division.

He went from stroking a single in Oakland (just months after the Athletics moved from Kansas City) to trying to help right the ship here at Capilano Stadium (our ballpark didn't become Nat Bailey Stadium until 1978).

LaRussa wasn't thrilled at the demotion - as it is said Tony took four full days to report to Vancouver but played with a passion once he slipped himself into a Mounties uniform.

He smacked a base hit in his Vancouver debut in front of a sparse crowd of just over 17-hundred fans which for the season was actually one of the better turnouts, as the struggling franchise played in front of crowds announced at around a thousand.

The stat line for Tony here in Vancouver most certainly didn't play into Cooperstown's decision to come calling - but in his long journey through baseball, there is no doubt the now legendary manager remembers our fair city well.

If you look at the roster from the Mounties of '68, there would be five players who would later go on to manage in the Major Leagues, five!

LaRussa would be joined by Joe Nossek, Steve Boros and the Lachemann brothers (Rene and Marcel). 

The Vancouver Canadians Baseball Club and its many fans congratulate Tony LaRussa on his induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame. A wonderful career capped off by baseball's highest honour.

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