Tony La Russa's beef with Dusty Baker fueled brawls and soured a decades-long friendship

Tony La Russa and Dusty Baker were teammates in the '70s, and became friends in the '80s. There's a universe in which they remained friends forever. Not our universe, though. In our universe, these two men got into coaching, and took manager jobs for rival teams multiple times over. Some shouting matches and media blow-ups and brawls later ... they might say they're friends, but it definitely doesn't look like that anymore.
Directed by Joe Ali
Written and produced by Seth Rosenthal
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[@theenglishman]

Beef history: Dusty Baker vs. holding a lead in the playoffs

[@JoseGonzalez-pv5ox]

I’ll never forget before game 5 of the 2016 NLDS, Dusty told the media he had already packed bags for Chicago, in anticipation of beating the dodgers. Guess who won that series

[@dionruffin3996]

I loved Dusty as a reds fan but that’s no 🧢

[@AccountTermed]

2003 Cubs🙂

[@dcbandnerd]

As a Nationals fan, this one makes me B I G S A D

[@jvtagle]

Angry Giants noises

[@AdamLaMore]

"No one intimidates me but my dad and Bob Gibson" - Jon Bois needs to go back and add that Dusty quote to "The Bob Emergency"

[@AzureKite]

Oh absolutely

[@eyeconqueror1185]

Wait, he didn't mention Bob Gibson in that? Time to rewatch it.... Again.

[@AdamLaMore]

@@eyeconqueror1185 Gibby was the focus of the end of episode 1. I just meant that this quote from Dusty would have been a great inclusion in the segment.

[@dortdiplo]

I Read that as my dad bob Gibson 💀

[@williamberry4615]

What about a woman lying to police about you?

[@a1gamer561]

I need Seth Rosenthal to narrate my life

[@shanepigg1629]

Ong he the best one at secret base

[@samortmann5003]

@@shanepigg1629 Jon Bois erasure. But everyone putting out videos here is doing an amazing job.

[@THEKINGSWOOSH]

@@samortmann5003 Agree on that last part, everyone on here is doing great

[@savaged1503]

No cap

[@kenb.1096]

I don’t care about baseball but since Seth did the video ……

[@mostlymexican]

“Rivalry has ground this friendship into beef” 👏🏼 👏🏼 👏🏼

[@eyeconqueror1185]

The best beefs are the tender cuts of friendship pounded and shaped into juicy beef

[@lewrl1]

OH I DIDNT EVEN GET THAT PUN THATS SO SMART

[@irmaharvey5088]

That's a Bar!!🤣🤣

[@Hottiedonkey]

@@eyeconqueror1185 what?? jackass.

[@bringinthedope5929]

@@eyeconqueror1185 idk why someone called you a jackass, your comment is golden lol

[@puddlespuddles5208]

a 500 dollar fine, lmaooo yea I bet they really learned their lesson after that one.

[@ScoopNeck_]

​@whatever yo E X A T L Y

[@ScoopNeck_]

@whatever yo OOF

[@adrnaline]

they probably wipe their ass with 500$

[@SiegeRock]

@@adrnaline exactly

[@SmoothCriminal12]

Unrelated but I love how Tony is still huffing and puffing about game "integrity", yet he's the one who spent years covering up Mark Mcgwire's riding and getting into DUIs. Any manager with a pulse would be leading the currents White Sox to a division.

[@bearsarefast1483]

hes got a pulse, but its set by a pacemaker

[@samortmann5003]

It's disappointing because they're a pretty fun and and likable team apart from their manager.

[@adamhardek3008]

Sox are missing 4 starters and still are 15 games over, he’s a HOF manager for a reason

[@elchancho8432]

He is leading them to a division so far he has a 7.5 game lead lmao

[@genius179]

Yeah I don't like him one bit, he represents so much about what I don't like in baseball

[@ImJustHereToWatch14]

"An alternate universe that might not contain beef" 'Tis a silly place, let's not go there

[@NoNameNo.5]

There is no beef-less universe

[@noahcrouse9789]

@@NoNameNo.5 I don’t wanna live in a universe without beef

[@SFforlife]

What if there’s much rejoicing?

[@dicktanbomutumbe]

I appreciate that roast lol

[@JJJameson.]

Do vegans bicker with electric beef?

[@queirais]

"Nearly the end of his playing career, La Russa spent a short stint in ATL, where he was briefly the teammate of a young Dusty Baker" Wait a minute, how freaking old is La Russa 😂

[@pullt]

Mid 70s? I know when he got hired by CWS in early 80s it was commented on how he was still in his 30s

[@samortmann5003]

76. And he looks even older.

[@MrShanester117]

Like 150 I think

[@annalisahartmann5661]

As old as baseball itself

[@MrShanester117]

@@annalisahartmann5661 I hear He taught Babe Ruth the curveball when he was a spry 50 year old

[@DiaDeLaDead]

You know a beef is going to be really good when it starts as a friendship.

[@TPTGopher]

And now at 77 and 72 they're going up against each other in the playoffs...

[@djaznballa2324]

Now we got the White Sox and Astros ALDS! This beef just won’t end

[@KingSpaceySprockets]

Don’t remind me bro

[@dnasty312]

🎶 Neverending be-ee‐ef

[@josephvanhorn5347]

LaRussa was near the end of his playing career 50 years ago? Jesus Christ.

[@wyatthill6252]

LaRussa was old when I was a kid and that was 20 years ago

[@weregretohio7728]

He's ancient and he manages like it.

[@Phil-ui4tm]

Seems like it should be longer

[@rsuriyop]

I know right? Dude's in the same boat as Willie Mays who retired 48 years ago. And Willie Mays is 90!

[@charlieme5150]

My grandfather said he was still a kid when LaRussa retired from playing baseball.

[@Justin3Santiago]

Dusty will forever be a legend for being one half of the duo who invented the high five

[@dennismonk9559]

that is crazy. I didn't know what you were talking about until I googled it. What an accomplishment (seriously)

[@JahNuhThunDeeTheOneAndOnly]

One thing both managers have in common was that they each had a juiced-up superstar in the batting order at one point in their careers.

[@barryallen871]

*multiple juiced-up superstars(at multiple points in their careers)

[@montblancnoland4034]

Everyone did lol

[@16ktsgamma]

Everyone did it. To be fair Bonds and McGuire should be friends now.

[@pullt]

Here's a list of managers who didn't:

[@CIARUNSITE]

Ya so did every other person who managed in the 90s and 00s. They also had juiced up pitchers too. And Baker and LaRussa no doubt gobbled greenies just like Hank Aaron.

[@ajgonzalez8451]

Dusty finally has his championship. What a day to be alive.

[@AlecLapierre108]

Still 2 behind Tony

[@astrostar49]

@@AlecLapierre108 Who cares Dusty actually won one as a player in the majors with a long career while Tony was barely able to have a cup of coffee there.

[@AlecLapierre108]

@@astrostar49 who cares? This is about who was the most successful manager.

[@astrostar49]

​@@AlecLapierre108 According to who? Don't worry, you're not obligated to stop at just their managing careers when comparing their success in professional baseball.

[@AlecLapierre108]

@TheLoneDraftsman fine, overall Tony still has more rings. Tony > Baker

[@billnye6311]

And now they are playing in the ALDS

[@derrickjohn411]

That Reds/Cards brawl was legendary. I went to that game with my dad. The entire 2 hour drive from my rural Ohio town to Cincinnati, we were talking about BP’s comments and how there was gonna be some fireworks. It didn’t take long

[@cosmo2244]

Update: La russa did led his white Sox team to a division title but would lose 2021 ALDS 3-1 to dusty baker and the astros.

[@tomcruze7898]

Update: dusty Baker would again lose a world series

[@SplicerOtter]

Yea Dusty will best Tony during the season, but Tony knows how to win the series unlike Dusty

[@nickhughes8179]

The Chisox are under .500 this year. LaRussa may be sleeping off hangovers in the clubhouse.

[@SplicerOtter]

@@nickhughes8179 yea but they’re only 6 games back for division lead, with half a season still to play A lot of baseball still to happen, and LaRussa teams tend to get the late season push that launches them to some of the best hot streaks in MLB

[@nickhughes8179]

@@SplicerOtter True, especially the Cardinals Magic meme. I just wanted to make a LaRussa drinking joke

[@TheWileycyote95]

And now both managers will play against each other in this years ALDS!!

[@kennyg2213]

Looks like someone decided to warm some leftover beef. #ALDS2021

[@sizzledan31]

Who's here before Game 1 of the ALDS between Dusty's Astros and Tony's White Sox?

[@harambedagorilla559]

Baker with the Astros and La Russa with the Sox 2021. This rivalry is present to this Day!

[@chenrayen]

As a Giants fan, as long as we’re not up against a Dusty Baker team I’m always rooting for him. So heartbreaking every time he falls short of a WS

[@spark20]

Dusty got his first tonight.

[@SportsFan2001]

And now they're meeting in the postseason again

[@theblacksheep5226]

And here they are battling each other yet again!

[@kedharswaminathan7571]

Video Ideas- Rewinder: John Elway’s Helicopter in Super Bowl 32 Collapse: How the Philadelphia Eagles floundered after winning it all in 2017 Beef History: Kevin Durant vs Russell Westbrook Untitled: Reggie Miller

[@samortmann5003]

Back when Elway was universally liked by broncos fans.

[@CommanderTK9091]

Too early for an Eagles collapse video.

[@yankees2864]

@@CommanderTK9091 when the coach and quarterback from that squad are both gone, its not too close.

[@ethan60645]

It’s still crazy that the nl central had 6 teams and the al west only had 4

[@deadcenterfilms3878]

Blame bud selig for being biased towards. The brewers

[@davidquinn2382]

Um. I may be wrong but dont both have 5? Astros use to be nl central

[@ethan60645]

@@davidquinn2382 NL central had CHC, CIN, STL, MIL, PIT, HOU. AL west only had TEX, LAA, SEA, OAK until 2012 I believe

[@StanStacks]

Total anarchy

[@notsauer]

I don’t like constant interleague play. Bring back the 5-6-5, 5-5-4 alignment

[@tiagocardoso5106]

who’s here before they meet in the playoffs again?

[@joaquinnieto4237]

Now it's the fact that they are facing each other in the ALDS...LMAO

[@blazer6248]

Man talk about nostalgia. These were my dudes! I was 110% baseball back then.

[@skippythealien9627]

it is crazy to think the Giants-Cardinals-Cubs era was almost 20 years ago...and the Reds-Cardinals beef is almost 15 years ago already. Really does seem like it was just yesterday

[@teen_laqueefa]

@@skippythealien9627 31 years ago Reds had the nasty boys and went wire 2 wire. 31 years

[@lukagarzafan9537]

It’s always a good day when secret base posts

[@ericbosse]

Finally, after years of waiting, some Cincinnati Reds content

[@kevinthomas522]

The Reds have wasted good pitching over the last couple of years...i think of the playoff game last yr against the braves that no team could score that went into extras. That was fascinating to get updates from while watching another gane

[@ryanmaurer7759]

Last time I was this early Tony LaRussa wasn’t yelling at people for swinging 3-0

[@SmoothCriminal12]

Isnt he the same dude that covered up Mcgwire's roid use?

[@genius179]

@@SmoothCriminal12 with multiple franchises

[@thedude3065]

"TAKE! TAKE! TAKE!" Yermin Mercedes: I'm about to do what's caled a pro gaamer move

[@itsyourenotyour9101]

@@SmoothCriminal12 Him and everyone else, considering everyone was cheating. Judging him from that is stupid.

[@casey6226]

Best part is this beef has an opportunity to be reheated

[@kevinthomas522]

I think it will....white sox and Astros will meet in the ALCS

[@thedude3065]

@@kevinthomas522 assuming Dusty doesn't go through ANOTHER collapse

[@alexandradaniels6048]

As a Cardinals fan who posted that “Larussa and Baker literally despise each other because one didn’t hire the other” on another video on here…I am here for this

[@MiamiMarkYT]

Oh who knew this would conclude with Houston and Chicago squaring off in the ALDS?! Had it happened in a movie people would complain it was too unbelievable.

[@alexisisanarieka4311]

I remember when NBC Sports Chicago showed this in our game during the Astros 🤣 just two old men jawing at each other

[@i.theworstguys298]

still upset we got swept the way we did against the astros. they’re better than us as of now. eloy is coming back though 👀

[@alexisisanarieka4311]

@@i.theworstguys298 me too, but I have a feeling when we see them in a few days things are gonna go a lot different!

[@kevinthomas522]

Sox are the beat team in baseball at home....they may return the favor.

[@Tacocasa432]

And it continues with them playing each other in this year's playoffs

[@natemarx4999]

It makes me happy that Dusty is still managing today.

[@djtrankilo231]

What about LaRussa?

[@petern326]

And is makes me depressed that la russa still does

[@samortmann5003]

@@petern326 The white Sox are good in spite of La Russa.

[@tombstonejones9581]

@@djtrankilo231 He just kind of exists. You see any of his interviews this year? Man looks like he's already dead.

[@billslocum9819]

He's chasing Connie Mack, who didn't know when to quit either.

[@mkz2017]

Dusty Baker gave me the first autograph I ever got at a major league game. I’ll always be #TeamDusty in this beef

[@davidquinn2382]

Marge schott gave me mine. She jad her St. Bernard sitting next to her.

[@thedude3065]

he's a good man, but when Mark Prior's career only lasted five year, I have to hold a grudge, dreams do not deserve to die like that

[@bushraptor]

@@davidquinn2382 yikes

[@carlosd.norford2669]

THIS IS LIKE A MOVIE!!! Because Now they meet yet again at this Year's ALDS (Playoffs) Houston Astros VS Chicago White Sox beginning Thursday! . YOU LITERALLY CANNOT WRITE THIS STUFF UP!!!

[@Matts_Smirkingrevenge]

Them games in 03 and 10 were some spicy ones! Also as a cards fan some of the best in memory!

[@pandoralover21]

REWINDER OF THE 1991 WORLD SERIES I HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR YEARS

[@YankeesFan0620]

What’s worse than Tony LaRussa complaining about unwritten rules? Tony LaRussa in charge of baseball operations (2016 DBacks)

[@youmightknowsports]

Didn’t they make the playoffs in his last season there? 2017, right?

[@YankeesFan0620]

@@youmightknowsports I thought that he got demoted after 2016. What really stood out for me was trading 1st round pick Dansby Swanson for pitcher Shelby Miller.

[@YankeesFan0620]

@@youmightknowsports They did get the wildcard, but LaRussa had been demoted before the 2017 season and replaced by Mike Hazen

[@wednesday181]

Honestly, Tony LaRussa driving anything of significance is a bad idea at this point.

[@Paralysisbyanlysis]

LaRussa was a great manager, but terrible at developing young players as he didn’t trust them. Neither is he good at acquiring talent in front officr

[@theleftuprightatsoldierfield]

I’m just quietly waiting for when the White Sox and Astros meet in the playoffs

[@jpthomas9491]

Even without the added layer of manager beef, they still owe us for 2005

[@spark20]

That might happen. Both are in 1st place in their divisions at the moment.

[@tillitsdone]

They face each other the first 3 games after the ASB. Astros swept a 4 game series with the White Sox in June.

[@kevinthomas522]

White sox the best team in baseball at home....may take 2 of 3 from them after the break.

[@josephsarto689]

If they don’t meet in the first round, they won’t meet in the playoffs cause the Astros will most likely blow a 2 games to 0 lead in the ALDS with dusty at the helm

[@dannydorito8019]

And they’re gonna be facing each other in the 2021 ALDS. Man I love Beef

[@SuperJdog6]

And now they face off in the ALDS, White Sox vs. Astros. The beef has new life

[@jmiogo]

Shoulda subcontracted Jomboy to real lips on this one.

[@waltoncummins719]

Yes

[@nothingcankilldagrimace]

I thought the same thing. First thing that played in my head was, “LET’S GOOOOOO!”

[@eyeconqueror1185]

@@nothingcankilldagrimace when he says "let's goooo" in that whispery voice, it kills me every time lol

[@_gamepoint_]

"that's horseshit"

[@itsyourenotyour9101]

@@eyeconqueror1185 It's almost like it's the go to phrase in baseball haha. That and "that's bullshit!"

[@beardymcj2026]

These and Untitled are the two best ones. i wish we got more of these, at least as many as there are Rewinds

[@terrancewilliams1045]

Crazy how they might meet in the playoffs this year

[@markokuhar670]

Well well well, look who’s facing each other in the ALDS this year

[@NickAppelbaum]

I’ve been waiting for this episode of Beef History ever since the show started

[@jah2827]

I really hope the Astros face the White Sox face off in the playoffs now lmao

[@samortmann5003]

That'd be interesting. A loveable team with a hated manager in the Sox vs a hated team with a loveable manager in the astros.

[@i.theworstguys298]

we got swept by the astros this season so i hope they get bounced before we see them 😭

[@kevind7708]

Your wish has been granted. 2005 WS Rematch in 2021 ALDS pal!

[@jah2827]

@@kevind7708 yessir! Can’t wait

[@jayden7163]

And now they’re in the playoffs against each other

[@willkohnen7681]

Growing up in Cincinnati when baker was the manager I remember how heated those cardinal games got. Especially when the owner of the cardinals grandkids went to my school.

[@uncreative5766]

As a Giants fan, I'm still haunted by Dusty giving Russ Ortiz the game ball as Dusty pulled Russ in Game 6.

[@thedude3065]

as a Cubs fan I'm still haunted by the sight of him sitting idle in the dugout while Mark Prior has to fend for his life

[@troyhung4307]

as a Reds fan I'm still haunted by Dusty blowing 2-0 lead against the Giants in the NLDS

[@WavyKid13]

As a cardinals fan, I can’t help but be grateful for him creating all 3 of those collapses 😂

[@chaminadecrew79]

Why? We have 8 WS now

[@nervewracking4971]

I know everybody in SB is always doing a good job. But there is always something when Seth narrates it. I'm not that big fan of baseball but it's like I'm lured into playing the video just because of how good Seth is with this.

[@WavyKid13]

He’s the best. Really bummed he wasn’t the one narrating Freese’s Game 6 Walkoff HR Rewinder video :/

[@roljamas]

As a Cubs fan in my early life, that 2003 5 game series was the turning point for that team. The Cubs were fed beef and ate it with gusto, riiiiight up until about late October.

[@TecHDynamic]

Whos here after the Astros absolutely thrashed LaRussa's white sox?

[@leonardodelarosa8328]

🙋🏽‍♂️

[@Unbreaded1984]

World Series champs!!

[@JoelCastro5206]

Beef history: Isiah Thomas vs Karl Malone

[@samortmann5003]

I kinda hope they chronicle more of Isiah Thomas's feud with everyone. He appears to have squashed it with Magic but he and MJ still don't like each other.

[@princemalcolm7195]

A harraser vs a mmm well we all know what Malone did

[@jacksonmare683]

Id like to see Bryan Burner Colangelo vs Joel Embiid

[@monstermikeheinrichs]

@@princemalcolm7195 Wait, I don't know what Malone did. You mind letting me in the loop?

[@mikewines7852]

Both Karl Malone and Isiah Thomas were POS cheap shot players. Neither were liked by teammates and other players. They deserved each other.

[@SuperBitCube64]

They're about to face off again in the ALCS

[@cgrizz33]

I was at that game between the Reds and Cardinals in August 2010. It was absolutely packed that night and then that fight breaks out. Absolutely crazy stuff

[@rileynunes1357]

Whose watching this when the white Sox and Astros will officially play eachother in the ALDS thursday

[@geg6315]

And now these two will meet again in the divisional round of the playoffs

[@notc0ol]

Dry aged beef: Baker destroyed La Russa in the 2021 ALDS

[@alntr2872]

Very good story telling :)

[@lisports2154]

Anyone else watching this in preparation for White Sox vs Astros playoffs series?

[@markokuhar670]

Yep

[@tylito4764]

Pitchers spend 6 hours in between pitches but get mad at a dude taking his time around the bases lol

[@brianmack2945]

Every time there's a Dusty Baker video, I keep hoping they'll make a reference to his greatest achievement, how he may have invented the high five.

[@mjisthegoat88]

Glenn Burke deserves credit too

[@eddietigre6233]

Don't forget, him waiting the last second to make a "spectacular" diving catch. Oh, almost forgot, he did give the toothpick industry a big boost

[@alexanderguerrero347]

I swear Dusty baker could turn a team into a contender but could never win

[@youlookcute]

I know you guys usually don't do professional wrestling but a beef history between Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels would be amazing!

[@stonethrower24]

yeah because wrestling is stupid and not real

[@jonathankae420]

mourinho vs guardiola beef history plz. Everybody is waiting for it

[@LMarcon11]

@@chrispatterson9324 except they do and even made a beef history video about Brazilian legends

[@brewersstink9721]

At least dusty baker doesn’t bring down players morale

[@legochickenguy4938]

Yeah well for all of Tony’s problems he is (or at least was) the best manager in modern baseball history and it’s not even close

[@myluckythumb5987]

At least Larussa won a lot.

[@usinger8448]

And he's not a drunk as well

[@garyhall7867]

@@legochickenguy4938 eh, idk, Joe Torre is pretty up there, and I'm an Os fan

[@shrihithtalapaneni9227]

Dusty Baker also isn't the 2nd best manger since the 80s.

[@blacknrd05]

It's a good day when Cincinnati sports is mentioned and it's not overtly negative.

[@Sup-zv3tz]

Astros vs White Sox in the ALDS. Couldn't write this any better.

[@lanceinthepants]

Now Tony’s getting his cheeks clapped in the playoffs

[@michaellyga4726]

Astros in the World Series, and 73 year old Dusty Baker is their manager. 3rd times the charm?

[@smashboogietheilladelic5740]

Great segment as always!

[@konnorballard945]

This was well needed

[@PatchesOhoulihan159]

It's ironic and fascinating because the Astros and White Sox are about to clash in the playoffs in a week

[@JordanCosine]

who’s here after baker beat larussa again in 2021

[@richnicka]

possibly my favorite beef history. awesome video

[@markkirves9842]

“For those of you that read lips he’s saying he’s I’m not having a fine time” 😂

[@Nascar995]

Man, Dusty Baker’s an awesome manager lmao

[@peter7371]

Watching this the day before they play each other again 😂 LET’S GO STROS

[@archonmarch3965]

Hit by a pitch...lol history repeats itself??? Go STROs we won!!!!!!!

[@goldenarms36]

crazy how they are now facing off in the ALDS

[@Playoffmamba]

Great episode guys

[@joshvasco2926]

They could meet in the playoffs this year that is really cool

[@CentralGaming131]

As a Reds fan, that was some BS that those select few Reds All-Stars weren't starting-- but, what can ya do lol

[@ahuman8657]

As a cardinals fan I agree lol. Cueto was awesome to watch play.

[@markwillcox5680]

Thanks for the video! As a longtime Cards fan I had to watch!

[@Temuclix]

These videos are awesome and always accurate and told perfectly

[@MrDuneedon]

Thanks, SB. This video is a sobering reminder that the Angels, as bad as they've been lately, won the World Series 12 years more recently than my team, the Cincinnati Reds. Sigh.

[@jackbarton417]

T

[@Leafgreen1976]

This is why guys fight, we get along afterward.

[@BennyCalloway]

Dope video man.. having been a cardinals fan for the last 20 years or so, I've gotten to see all this up close.. it's been entertaining to say the least!

[@shanepigg1629]

Never stop making these

[@churdle92]

This was fantastic, Seth. Let’s have more baseball beef, please!

[@djtrankilo231]

Oh God! If the White Sox and the Astros face each other in the playoffs this year. . .

[@alexwei2573]

Could happen!

[@philrivera1163]

Astros already busted LaRussa’s in the first regular season meeting, swept them four games without Bregman and Brantley

[@fixerman54]

Dusty, Cards fans know you didn't start this nonsense! We love you and admire you! La Russa was always the problem. You're a class act for sure!

[@jackmarkowitz9507]

We're gonna get more of this during the Divisional Round of the playoffs this year

[@jtp3162]

Feel like these guys are just too old at this point to be beefing.

[@spark20]

Pretty much beef jerky at this point. lol

[@pliskin8116]

Idk sometimes age doesn’t matter? 😳😤😜