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One Last Strike: Fifty Years in Baseball, Ten and Half Games Back, and One Final Championship Season
The team that refused to give up
their manager in his final season
A comeback that changed baseball
After thirty-three seasons managing in Major League Baseball, Tony La Russa thought he had seen it all—that is, until the 2011 Cardinals. Down ten and a half games with little more than a month to play, the Cardinals had long been ruled out as serious postseason contenders. Y...more
their manager in his final season
A comeback that changed baseball
After thirty-three seasons managing in Major League Baseball, Tony La Russa thought he had seen it all—that is, until the 2011 Cardinals. Down ten and a half games with little more than a month to play, the Cardinals had long been ruled out as serious postseason contenders. Y...more
ebook, 432 pages
Published
September 25th 2012
by William Morrow
(first published September 11th 2012)
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As a converted Cardinal fan, the 2011 season was a roller coaster ride of a season, one that tested every fan's capacity for excitement. The subsequent post season became a microcosm of the season, albeit in a much more exciting form and a more compressed time scale.
I had hoped that someone would write a book about the season, but I was delighted and a bit conflicted after hearing that Tony La Russa was working on such a book. excited because I knew we would get a look behind the curtain, confli...more
I had hoped that someone would write a book about the season, but I was delighted and a bit conflicted after hearing that Tony La Russa was working on such a book. excited because I knew we would get a look behind the curtain, confli...more
After following TLR for the past 16 seasons and watching the number of controversies and rivalries he had started with seemingly the majority of the NL, it was odd that this book took a benign stance when it came to the controversial subjects. He doesn’t go into much detail about the Colby Rasmus trade other than to say that he thought Rasmus could be a middle-of-the-lineup player who would contribute on par with the Pujols, Holliday and Berkman core if he ever reached his potential, which the r...more
The book: One Last Strike by Tony La Russa is a must read. Throughout the novel Tony discusses all the highs and lows throughout his time in the game. He is the third all time winning manager and has three World Series rings to show for this tremendous accomplishment. The 2011 Cardinals team had very good chemistry, something a tested leader would love to keep intact. Having their share of Veterans and Rookies it created a good team vibe.
All the thrills and team efforts that are required afte...more
All the thrills and team efforts that are required afte...more
Tony La Russa is one of my favorite managers, so this is a must read for me. I'm not a big fan of authors who read their own books, but when it is autobiographical, it can be an enhancement. You can imagine my surprise, when Chapter 2 began . . . without the rich tones of Tony's voice continuing from Chapter 1. Not only am I disappointed that Tony is not reading, but I am highly disappointed with the high-pitched narrator reading the book. On top of a bad choice for a voice, the recording qualit...more
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One Last Strike was another book i read about Tony LaRussa, I didn't think it was as good as 3 Nights In August but it still was a very good book. This book in the beginning talked about his how he used to manage for the Chicago White Sox and Oakland Athletics. But it most talks about the St. Louis Cardinals 2011 season and the cardinals great comeback. TLR talks about how he kept the team positive and some of his techniques he used in the game of baseball. He explained how Dave Duncan was a gre...more
As much as I think I will always hate the St. Louis Cardinals, this book is so good I am sure I will read it again. In it he answers all the questions I'd had that Don Mattingly caused me to wonder re what is it a manager is supposed to do, anyway. He tells so much about the thought that goes into how to order a line-up, pitchers, catchers and how they think, and what he calls the "dance" between them, that my understanding of the game of baseball has grown exponentially. He also tells some spic...more
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Good for Cards fans, OK for baseball fans
This is an overview of the St. Louis Cardinals' 2011 run to the World Series victory over the Texas Rangers, mixed with TLR giving an overview of his managerial career in general.
Specific to the Cards, and a bit to the Oakland A's, TLR again says, as briefly as he can, that he knew nothing about roiding by Mark McGwire and/or Jose Canseco.
He also briefly but emphatically gives his side of the 2002 final-season blowout with Ozzie Smith.
Let's just say that...more
This is an overview of the St. Louis Cardinals' 2011 run to the World Series victory over the Texas Rangers, mixed with TLR giving an overview of his managerial career in general.
Specific to the Cards, and a bit to the Oakland A's, TLR again says, as briefly as he can, that he knew nothing about roiding by Mark McGwire and/or Jose Canseco.
He also briefly but emphatically gives his side of the 2002 final-season blowout with Ozzie Smith.
Let's just say that...more
Part memoir, part managerial strategy, Tony La Russa's book does possess some redemptive elements, although I cannot see someone slogging through its minutia without either an abiding love of baseball or long-held adoration of the St. Louis Cardinals. As a lifelong Redbirds fan, I fit Criteria #2 but still had trouble tracking with Tony's tidbits of managerial wisdom, lore, biography, and strategy. Part of the problem is that baseball has been trumped in my soccer-obsessed household, and I no lo...more
Over the weekend I read Rick Hummel and Tony La Russa’s book One Last Strike: Fifty Years in Baseball, Ten and a Half Games Back, and One Final Championship Season, recently published by William Morrow. I gave it 5 out of 5 stars over on Goodreads.
Before you start blasting me for just being a Cardinals homer, hear me out. :-) I will readily admit that this excellent rating is in part more as a baseball fan than as a straight-up book reviewer, but I honestly say that from the perspective of a ba...more
Before you start blasting me for just being a Cardinals homer, hear me out. :-) I will readily admit that this excellent rating is in part more as a baseball fan than as a straight-up book reviewer, but I honestly say that from the perspective of a ba...more
This is a must-read for fans of the 2011 St. Louis Cardinals. It is a great way to re-live that almost-storybook. I say "almost" because nobody would believe the story if it was only written in a book. To believe it, we had to live through it.
If you're not a fan and/or didn't live through it, I'm not sure that this would be that meaningful to you. There are gaps to be filled in and nuance that you might not catch. Overall, it reminded me of one of the author's post-game news conferences. Okay, i...more
If you're not a fan and/or didn't live through it, I'm not sure that this would be that meaningful to you. There are gaps to be filled in and nuance that you might not catch. Overall, it reminded me of one of the author's post-game news conferences. Okay, i...more
I love baseball and I score every game I attend. I love the statistical part of the game. I also enjoy the physical and mental aspects of the game. However, I am not a Cardinals fan. To enjoy and understand this book, you have to love all three - baseball, statistics, and the Cardinals.
It is interesting to get into the head of a MLB manager because sometimes you watch a game and wonder what he was thinking when he makes a substitution or doesn't let a pitcher stay in the game longer. One Last S...more
It is interesting to get into the head of a MLB manager because sometimes you watch a game and wonder what he was thinking when he makes a substitution or doesn't let a pitcher stay in the game longer. One Last S...more
Being a Cardinal fan, it was enjoyable to recap the 2011 season through the insight of Tony. If you are a St. Louis fan, or a fan of baseball in general, I would recommend this book to you. His recollections of certain stories from, not only his last season with the Cardinals, but also his entire career in baseball are entertaining. However, if you have any dislike for Cardinal Nation or for LaRussa, even in the slightest, you might want to pass. LaRussa can be a bit smarmy at times and that may...more
The cover jacket for "One Last Strike" says that the book was written by Tony LaRussa with Rick Hummel. Of course, any one who follows baseball knows who Tony LaRussa is. However, outside of St. Louis, not too many people know Rick Hummel. Rick is the beat baseball writer for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. He is also a past president of the BBWAA and is a member of the Hall of Fame. You would think that, with those kind of credentials, it would be a well-written book about Tony's 50 years in baseb...more
Full disclosure: When it comes to anything and everything St. Louis Cardinals, I am an unabashed "homer." My bias is deeply ingrained, and cannot be removed.
Perhaps that is why it pains me to say that while Tony LaRussa's "One Last Strike" certainly has its moments, it is by and large a disappointing read.
My reasoning is simple: there simply is not enough "there" there.
TLR is a remarkably intelligent man, possessing perhaps one of the greatest baseball minds of his generation. But that doesn't...more
Perhaps that is why it pains me to say that while Tony LaRussa's "One Last Strike" certainly has its moments, it is by and large a disappointing read.
My reasoning is simple: there simply is not enough "there" there.
TLR is a remarkably intelligent man, possessing perhaps one of the greatest baseball minds of his generation. But that doesn't...more
I'm a huge Cardinals fan, so perhaps fans of other teams might not rate it so highly. It tells a great story, even one whose ending is known beforehand. It could perhaps be a little shorter, and sometimes La Russa's storytelling thread gets tangled up a bit when he looks back to other moments during his career. There were also a few head scratching items that seem like errors (for example, right at the end, he seems to say Tim Lincecum won the Cy Young in 2010, when actually Roy Halladay won). A...more
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I really, really enjoyed this book. La Russa dives into the magical 2011 season for the St. Louis Cardinals... and actually uses that driving narrative as a way to flashback to key moments and decisions throughout his career.
Being a Cardinal fan, I probably enjoyed this book more than most would... but make no mistake... the majority of this book is a handbook of managerial theory and leadership strategy. If you love baseball, you'll find something of interest in this book.
Being a Cardinal fan, I probably enjoyed this book more than most would... but make no mistake... the majority of this book is a handbook of managerial theory and leadership strategy. If you love baseball, you'll find something of interest in this book.
There are two types of people who would love this book: baseball nerds and Cardinal fans. In the interest of full disclosure, I confess that I am both. So I loved this story of the unbelievable 2011 Cardinals championship season, as told by sure-fire Hall of Fame manager Tony LaRussa. While not as good as Buzz Bissinger's Three Nights in August, it is still a fascinating look into a great baseball mind, and a great memoir of a season I will always remember.
An interesting account, at least to a Cardinal baseball fan, of the almost miraculous concluding season (2011) in Tony La Russa's managing career. La Russa provides a blow-by-blow account of the down-to-the-wire drive to make the playoffs, then the incredible comebacks that resulted in a World Series chanpionship. He gives the fan some insight into his logic and decision-making process while guiding the Cardinals and even his previous managerial stints in Oakland and Chicago are captured in this...more
As a baseball fan, I try to read anything and everything that has to do about the game. Though I am a Yankee fan, I found this to be an enjoyable read, especially when describing the feats of that unforgettable postseason. I think Cardinals fans will get the most out of it, but it should be read at least once by baseball fans regardless of team affiliation.
As a Cardinal fan, I enjoyed reliving the amazing 2011 season with manager Tony LaRussa. The book, however, wasn't as enlightening about certain key events (e.g. Game 5 of the World Series) as I would've liked. And it plodded and wandered a bit too much. Still, if you're interested in LaRussa or the Cards, it's worth checking out.
Great read for a Cardinals fan. TLR loved his players, well most of them, and they loved him.
Great insight on his career, how he managed the team, his relationship with Dave Duncan, and how he decided to retire.
I grew to love TLR more with every page, and loved the opportunity to reflect on a great Cardinals championship.
Great insight on his career, how he managed the team, his relationship with Dave Duncan, and how he decided to retire.
I grew to love TLR more with every page, and loved the opportunity to reflect on a great Cardinals championship.
A must read for any Cardinal fan. Tony talks about the 2011 year and World Series win. He also talks a lot about his past coaching jobs and things he learned there. He didn't reveal any real good juicy gossip of any sort, but he did explain many facets of the game that as an observer you never realize is happening. Good read. I look forward to reading Mike Matheny's book next year "One Last Strike Again"!! GO CARDS!
Perfect reading during postseason baseball, especially if you are a Cardinal baseball fan. Great insight into the man who coached the Cards to two World Series Championships, one which will likely be the most remarkable Series ever in history.
This is more than a book about baseball. It's a fascinating book about success in the most competitive environment. About working with people and getting the most out of them. And learning how to stay calm and focused under intense pressure.
There are no magic tricks to Tony La Russa's success. He plans for months ahead, checking every detail and watching every pitch the day of the game.
But, it's also a great baseball book. I haven't watched a game in years, but now I'm searching for a DVD of las...more
There are no magic tricks to Tony La Russa's success. He plans for months ahead, checking every detail and watching every pitch the day of the game.
But, it's also a great baseball book. I haven't watched a game in years, but now I'm searching for a DVD of las...more
I really enjoy a good baseball book, and I definitely thought this one was good. LaRussa weaves stories from his vast managerial experience in and out of an almost play by play telling of the improbable 2011 postseason and his experience of retiring on top. Definitely recommend to baseball fans. An added bonus of the audio edition was that LaRussa himself read the first and last chapters of the book.
This is not for the casual fan of baseball. This is for the fan who loves their team and/or obsessed Cards fans. There are times when he references players by last name and then calls them by first name. Even for me, a hardcore Cards fan, this got confusing.
With that said, I loved this book. It's a great look at the game from a great strategitarian. LaRussa is one of the last old school manager. Where he coaches more from the gut and heart than any saber metrics. Yes, it's about one heck of a la...more
With that said, I loved this book. It's a great look at the game from a great strategitarian. LaRussa is one of the last old school manager. Where he coaches more from the gut and heart than any saber metrics. Yes, it's about one heck of a la...more
Great book! Being an avid Cardinal fan, and loving every minute of the Cardinals climactic
win in the World Series, this book relives every minute. Thanks, TLR for writing such a classic!
win in the World Series, this book relives every minute. Thanks, TLR for writing such a classic!
Just OK. Cardinals fans and many baseball fans will like the book, but once an arrogant jackass, always an arrogant jackass. Nothing much here to change that.
Not bad, but more often than not reads like a La Russa press conference. The candid and honest portions are worth it, but are sadly in the minority of stories.
I've been studying these players for a project that is being written. I loved the insight and answers to the whys to the times of asking. La Russa is a funny and soft spoken man when I met and talked with him. What a man!
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