(Sports Network) - The St. Louis Cardinals announced on Monday Tony La Russa will come back for a 15th season as the team's manager.

La Russa, who guided the Cardinals to the NL Central title this season, agreed to a one-year contract.

"It's a great place to manage," La Russa said at Monday's press conference. "Selfishly, I wanted to be the guy that enjoys it again in 2010."

The club also named Mark McGwire as hitting coach, replacing Hal McRae, who had been with the club since 2005.

"We're replacing a man I have great respect for. It's not anything that Hal [did]," said LaRussa, who also announced the rest of the coaching staff will remain the same, including pitching coach Dave Duncan.

La Russa had signed a two-year contract with St. Louis in 2007 and was unsure of his return after the Cardinals were swept in the division series by the Dodgers this postseason.

The 65-year-old skipper ranks third on the all-time managerial wins list with 2,552 victories for the White Sox (1979-1986), Athletics (1986-1995) and Cardinals (1996-present).

La Russa has won the manager of the year award on four different occasions and has taken St. Louis to eight postseasons and a World Series title in 2006. The Cardinals also won the NL pennant with La Russa in 2004.

In 31 seasons as a big league manager, La Russa has a record of 2,552-2,217. He also won a championship with Oakland and McGwire in 1989, making La Russa one of only two men to skipper a World Series winner in both leagues. Sparky Anderson won with the Cincinnati Reds and Detroit Tigers.

McGwire, 46, has not played or coached in the major leagues since retiring in 2001 due to chronic injuries amid steroid controversy. He had arguably the most storied season in baseball history with St. Louis in 1998, when he smashed Roger Maris' infamous home run record with 70 round-tippers, which has since been passed by the equally enigmatic Barry Bonds (73, 2001).

"He knows what he's doing and he wants to teach it," La Russa said of McGwire, who was not present at the press conference. "I think you will be very impressed with his work ethic. That's one of the reasons why I'm such a staunch supporter of his. No one, including [current Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols], has worked as hard as him."

The controversial figure, who finished his career with 583 home runs, 1,414 RBI and a .263 batting average over a 16-year career, had declined to join the Cardinals as an instructor in spring training despite repeated invites.



Copyright 2009 The Sports Network
All rights reserved

 Email To Friend