'I Did Not Do My Job': White Sox Manager La Russa Retires From Post

CHICAGO — Chicago White Sox manager Tony La Russa knows he was brought back to the city’s South Side for a second time with the hopes of bringing another World Series championship to the franchise.

But after two seasons that resulted in the Sox not only not coming close to adding another title, but also failing to make the playoffs in their second year under the 77-year-old Hall of Fame manager. On Monday, La Russa — who has won three championships during his career — announced that ongoing treatments for a heart issue will prevent him from returning to the club in 2023.

La Russa announced on Monday that he is stepping away from the Sox dugout after his health forced him to leave the team on Aug. 30. In a statement released by the Sox Monday afternoon, he said that he had a pacemaker inserted into his chest prior to spring training —a procedure that he did not believe at the time would prevent him from effectively managing this season.

However, La Russa said in the statement that he was made aware of an issue by his doctors, which required him to step away from his managerial duties and not return to the team. La Russa will turn 78 on Tuesday.

He said that a periodic check of the pacemaker revealed a problem, which led doctors to remove him from his job in late August. La Russa said that he would allow doctors to dictate the timetable for a possible return, which never took place. He had the pacemaker updated in Arizona and was never cleared to return to the dugout.

La Russa said that he was diagnosed with a second health issue in early 2022 and that he delayed dealing with that issue until after this season. La Russa said on Monday that he has been undergoing a corrective plan and says his overall health prognosis is "good."

But he said that because of the ongoing issues, he cannot return in 2023.

“It has become obvious that the length of the (heart) treatment and recovery from this second health issue makes it impossible for me to be the White Sox manager,” La Russa said in the statement. “The timing of this announcement now enables the front office to include filling the manager position with their other off-season priorities.”

General manager Rick Hahn told reporters on Monday that he is confident that the managerial search will be much different than the one that landed La Russa with the franchise for the second time. While it appeared that former Astros manager A.J. Hinch was the first choice of Hahn to replace Rick Renteria, owner Jerry Reinsdorf made the decision to bring back La Russa, who had not managed since leading the St. Louis Cardinals to a World Series title in 2011.

Hahn told reporters Monday that while the Sox would consider candidates who are either part of the franchise or have ties to the team, he said the team is "eager" to get some outside perspectives in filling the role.

"I think we are going to use this opportunity to get different perspectives (and get) a new way of looking at things, a little different from those who have been a little more insular to the organization," said Hahn, who is expected to oversee the search process.

But like La Russa, Hahn told reporters on Monday that he is disappointed not only with the way the season ended but with how La Russa's tenure ended in Chicago. He said no one in the Sox front office wants to experience a feeling like the one that is permeating around Guaranteed Rate Field this week as the season draws to a close.

“None of us are happy with this being the end result,” Hahn said on Monday. “Tony was brought in with the absolute best intentions and pure motivation to get us to that last level of winning a championship, to finish off this rebuild with championships.

“We fell short and that’s disappointing across the board, and it ending this way is unfortunate because you never want to see someone’s health interfere with their career aspirational goals. But that’s the way it played out.”

He added: "The squandering of this year is something that I know individually I will carry with me for a while.”

The Sox experienced a bevy of key injuries this season but still were considered major underachievers after being tabbed as a team with championship-contending potential. Fans called for La Russa to be fired earlier this year, and La Russa said the chants of “Fire Tony” did not create any resentment on his part.

He called the team’s record “an unacceptable disappointment” in a season in which there were a number of plusses but “too many minuses,” La Russa said in the statement.

“In the Major Leagues, you either (win) or you don’t,” La Russa said in the statement. “Explanations come across as excuses. Respect and trust demand accountability and during my managerial career, I understood that the ultimate responsibility for each minus belongs to the manager.

“I was hired to provide positive, difference-making leadership support. Our record is proof. I did not do my job.”

Expressing disappointment for not being able to finish what he started, including a season that included a postseason appearance last year, La Russa said he is proud of his time in Chicago, which he said included more positives than negatives.

He referred to Sox fans as the "most electric" crowd he has ever experienced, which he said will be part of the takeaway he leaves Chicago with as he departs.

"As I have said many times during my career, no manager has ever had more good fortune than I have," La Russa said.

He added: "I am sincerely disappointed that I am leaving without the opportunity to finish what I was brought in to do. I still appreciate the chance to come back home to Chicago to the White Sox and leave today with many more good memories than disappointments."