La Russa's impressive legacy

October, 31, 2011

10/31/11

2:39

PM ET

By Jim Bowden | ESPN.com

Before every game of the World Series, I'd ask St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa whether this was it, whether he would retire if the Cardinals won the World Series. And every time, so as not to jinx himself, he'd say to me "I'll tell you tomorrow."

Just before Game 7, I sat with Tony and asked him once again, "Are you going to hang it up if you win?"

He just smiled and with his batting glove-clad hand he motioned like he was going to punch me. I didn't really understand why he did that until now. He was trying to say something without jinxing his team. He wanted to say it but couldn't just yet; he was done.

To continue reading this article you must be an Insider

ESPN The Magazine subscribers

Activate your Insider account »
Need more information?

View Insider Benefits »

ABOUT THIS BLOG

Jim Bowden

Bowden, who served as the senior vice president and GM for the Cincinnati Reds and the Washington Nationals, is an analyst for ESPN.com. In 1992, Bowden became the youngest GM in MLB history when the Reds hired him at age 31. The Reds finished in first place twice during his 10 years as GM, and he was named MLB Executive of the Year by Baseball America in 1999. After working for ESPN in 2004, Bowden became the first GM of the Washington Nationals when the franchise relocated from Montreal to Washington, D.C., in 2005, working in that role until the 2009 season. Bowden co-hosts the "Inside Pitch" radio show on Sirius XM satellite radio. Follow on Twitter: @JimBowdenESPNxm.