Tony La Russa, the longtime manager of the St. Louis
Cardinals who retired following his Club’s 2011 World Series
Championship, will serve as the manager of the National League All-Star
Team for the 2012 Midsummer Classic at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City,
Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig announced today.

Commissioner Selig said: “Tony earned this opportunity
with the remarkable run that the Cardinals completed last October, and I
am delighted that he shared my enthusiasm about his staying in this
role.  The All-Star Game celebrates all the best of our game, and it is
very appropriate that we will have the chance to celebrate one of the
greatest managerial careers of all-time as a part of our festivities.”

La Russa will lead the N.L. All-Stars for the third time
(previous: 2005, 2007) and it will mark his sixth Midsummer Classic
managerial assignment, matching Joe Torre’s total and surpassed only by
Hall of Famers Casey Stengel (10), Walter Alston (9) and Joe McCarthy
(7).  While leading the Oakland Athletics, La Russa was the American
League All-Star skipper from 1989-1991.  La Russa has a 3-2 record in
his five Midsummer Classics as manager.  The remainder of La Russa’s
N.L. coaching staff will be announced in the months ahead.

La Russa, 67, managed 33 years in the Major Leagues, with
the Chicago White Sox (1979-1986), the A’s (1986-1995) and the Cardinals
(1996-2011).  His clubs won three World Series Championships and made
six World Series overall.  The four-time BBWAA Manager of the Year won
three National League pennants (2004, 2006, 2011) with St. Louis,
including its National League-best 10th and 11th World Series
Championships.

This will mark the second time that a retired manager will
lead an All-Star squad.  Hall of Fame manager John McGraw retired
following the 1932 season and managed the N.L. squad in the first
Midsummer Classic in 1933.  Two managers led an All-Star team after
moving on to new Clubs immediately following a World Series.  Dick
Williams was the 1974 A.L. All-Star manager after leaving the A’s for
the California Angels following the 1973 World Series.  Dusty Baker, who
managed the San Francisco Giants to the 2002 Fall Classic, was the 2003
N.L. All-Star manager after joining the Chicago Cubs.

The 2012 All-Star Game will be played at Kauffman Stadium on Tuesday,
July 10th.  The 83rd All-Star Game will be televised nationally by FOX
Sports.  For more information, please visit allstargame.com.