New Details Emerge In White Sox Manager Tony La Russa's Arrest

CHICAGO — Newly hired White Sox manager Tony La Russa is just weeks into his new job his second stint on the Chicago’s South Side is already off to a tumultuous start.

Team officials have acknowledged they were aware that the 76-year-old Hall of Famer had been charged with driving under the influence of alcohol in Arizona the day before he was introduced as the White Sox new manager last month, ESPN and other media outlets reported Monday night.

The charges, which stem from an incident in February when La Russa reportedly drove his SUV into the curb near the Phoenix airport, were filed in October, ESPN reported Monday night. According to reports, La Russa’s job with the White Sox is not in jeopardy and he will not face discipline from the team.

The new charges are the second time La Russa has been charged with a DUI after he previously pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges in Florida in 2007 while he was the manager of the St. Louis Cardinals. In the latest incident, La Russa was reportedly discovered standing outside of his car by a peace officer who said he detected a “light odor of an alcoholic beverage” at 11:40 p.m. on Feb. 24. La Russa told the officer he had been out to dinner with friends from the Los Angeles Angels, who he was working for as a special advisor. He told the officer he had hit something with his car, which caused his tire to blow out. La Russa, who was described as “argumentative” with the officer, was taken into custody following a field sobriety test, ESPN reported.

According to Maricopa County (Arizona) court records, La Russa registered a blood alcohol content reading of .08 percent or higher.

The White Sox confirmed Monday night they were aware of the incident but could not comment further because it is an active case. When contacted by ESPN Monday night, La Russa said, “I have nothing to say” and hung up the phone.”

ESPN reported Tuesday that it had obtained the police report from the February incident and in it, La Russa told the officer that he had a glass of wine with dinner. According to the report, while the officer was placing La Russa in the back of the police car, La Russa said, "Do you see my ring?"

The officer asked La Russa what he was talking, about to which the manager replied, "I'm a hall of famer baseball person ... I'm legit, I'm a hall of famer, brother. Your (sic) trying to embarrass me."

The charges come to light after La Russa was introduced as the replacement for Rick Renteria, who was fired by the White Sox despite guiding the team to its first postseason appearance in 12 years. Renteria is a finalist for the American League Manager of the Year award.

La Russa, who has maintained a close relationship with White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf since he managed on the South Side from 1979-1986, has not managed since 2011 when he guided the Cardinals to a World Series championship, the third he has won has a manager. On Monday night, a “high-ranking” team official told USA Today that La Russa is not in danger of losing his job.

Following his 2007 arrest for DUI, La Russa – who was discovered asleep behind the wheel of his car at a traffic stop – vowed that he would not put himself in a similar situation again.

"(The) situation is the opposite of feeling good," La Russa said following the arrest 13 years ago. "It was an embarrassment, so I apologize to anyone who is close to me, members of the Cardinals organization, our fans. I regret it, take responsibility and I'm not sure there is anything else I can say."

When La Russa was introduced by the White Sox on Oct. 29, he indicated that he was ready to take on the challenge of managing again despite having not worked from the dugout since 2011. He also said that his views about players expressing themselves in terms of social injustice issues had changed since La Russa made comments in 2016 stating that he would not allow players to kneel during the national anthem while protesting social issues.

At the time, White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said that the team’s front office believes La Russa is the right person to help deliver World Series championships to the team and declined to specify who else the team discussed its managerial opening with. A day later, the Detroit Tigers introduced former Houston Astros manager A.J. Hinch as their new skipper and team officials joked that the White Sox had done them a favor by not pursuing Hinch.

Last week, White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson told reporters he has not yet spoken with La Russa, but said that he would not change his playing style – bat flips included – despite La Russa’s old-school methods of approaching the game.

"There's been a lot of news saying that we might not get along,'' Anderson said, chuckling. "Hopefully, we can get along and continue to do what the ultimate goal is -- to try to win a championship on the South Side. I'm just ready to pick his brain and learn the knowledge. ... Just try to have fun with it, if he allows that."