Chicago Tribune

Paul Sullivan: Tony La Russa vs. Dusty Baker is a rivalry that never grows old as the managers square off again

CHICAGO — Baseball’s best rivalry grabs the national spotlight Sunday night when the Chicago White Sox and Houston Astros meet in the finale of a three-game series at Minute Maid Park. Tony La Russa versus Dusty Baker remains the gold standard of managerial rivalries, a throwback to the days of Billy Martin-Whitey Herzog or Tommy Lasorda-Sparky Anderson, when the battle of wits in the dugouts ...
St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa and Chicago Cubs manager Dusty Baker meet with umpires prior to the start of a game at Wrigley Field on May 9, 2003, in Chicago.

CHICAGO — Baseball’s best rivalry grabs the national spotlight Sunday night when the Chicago White Sox and Houston Astros meet in the finale of a three-game series at Minute Maid Park.

Tony La Russa versus Dusty Baker remains the gold standard of managerial rivalries, a throwback to the days of Billy Martin-Whitey Herzog or Tommy Lasorda-Sparky Anderson, when the battle of wits in the dugouts was as intriguing as the pitching matchups.

The narrative that La Russa and Baker don’t like each other has softened since La Russa’s return to the Sox dugout last year. The 2021 postseason matchup gave both managers an opportunity to speak kindly of each other, and they outdid themselves in praising

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