Manager Legend Tony La Russa's Visit To Blue Wahoos Stadium Part Of Eventful Homestand and 'The Nine Initiative'
Adron Chambers opened the door to the visitors’ broadcast booth on June 19 at Blue Wahoos Stadium and was bear-hugged by a legend. More than 10 years had passed since he saw Tony La Russa, one of the greatest managers in Major League Baseball history, after the two were connected
Adron Chambers opened the door to the visitors’ broadcast booth on June 19 at Blue Wahoos Stadium and was bear-hugged by a legend.
More than 10 years had passed since he saw Tony La Russa, one of the greatest managers in Major League Baseball history, after the two were connected on the 2011 St. Louis Cardinals World Series championship team.
La Russa, now 81, greeted Chambers like a reunited family member.
“We wouldn’t have done it without you,” he said to Chambers, a Pensacola native and former two-sport star at Pensacola High, who made his MLB debut that season on Sept. 6, 2011 and played a role in the Cardinals’ post-season run.
“The fact he immediately hugged me like that, I was like, ‘Wow!” That was special. That made my day,” said Chambers, his voice cracking with emotion later. “He has always said that run we made (with Cardinals) is still one of his favorites.”
This poignant moment at Blue Wahoos Stadium was part of the Blue Wahoos’ eventful past homestand against the Birmingham Barons.
The two visited again on June 21 in a game where the Blue Wahoos partnered with sponsor Cox Communications to celebrate Minor League Baseball “The Nine Initiative,” which honors the number worn by baseball icon Jackie Robinson when he played in the minor leagues before breaking MLB’s color barrier in 1947 with the Brooklyn Dodgers.
La Russa, whose 2,884 MLB managerial wins are second only to Connie Mack, who first managed in 1894 with the Pittsburgh Pirates, then made his fame from 1901-1950 with the Philadelphia Phillies, spent the entire six game series in Pensacola.
His friendship with former MLB manager Jim Leyland, whose son, Pat, is in his first year as Birmingham Barons manager, brought him to Pensacola. La Russa and Jim Leyland, a fellow member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, have been long-time pals.
La Russa knew Pat Leyland since he was a child. La Russa had a pregame and postgame meetings in the Barons clubhouse as a consultant.
La Russa charted all six games of the series, all the way through two lengthy rain-delayed games. His time at Blue Wahoos Stadiumhim to visit w ith Chambers before two games, as well as meet Blue Wahoos fans, along with game day staff working in the press box.
During the first game of the homestand on June 16, La Russa visited with Blue Wahoos owner Quint Studer, who first met La Russa in 2017 when he traveled to Pensacola for the 2017 Southern League All-Star Game – the year he was inducted into the Southern League Hall of Fame.
Chambers learned of La Russa’s visit to Pensacola and brought his two small children to the ballpark for them to meet his former manager.
“He’s been such an inspiration to me,” Chambers said. “I remember when Dusty Baker was in Cincinnati (as then-Reds manager) came to me one night and said to me, ‘You know I wanted you over here.’
“And Tony immediately said, ‘You ain’t going nowhere.’
“Tony has so many people he’s connected with and he showed me how to be a professional. That means more to me than anyone can ever imagine.”
Chambers played parts of three seasons (2011-13) for the Cardinals. It was a pinnacle of his remarkable rise from being a former star quarterback at Pensacola High, who then went to Mississippi State on a football scholarship, before converting into a professional baseball player.
The former outfielder was drafted by the Cardinals in 2007 in the 38th round – back when the MLB draft was doubled in draft size to 40 rounds – and worked his way into becoming a World Series winner.
Chambers has authored a book on his rise, “From Pensacola to the World Series,” as well as two children’s books.
“Tony is like a father figure to me,” Chambers said. “When I came up in St. Louis, I was 24-years-old, not really knowing anything about playing in Busch Stadium (Cardinals home), and really not knowing what I was doing.
“Tony made it easy for me. He didn’t put me in any crazy situations. He was doing things to help me and make my career. He never put me in a position where I couldn’t succeed.”
Earlier in the homestand against the Barons, La Russa visited with Randy McGilberry, a Mobile native, who pitched two seasons for the Kansas City Royals in 1977-78 and wanted to meet La Russa, who was on the Chicago White Sox coaching staff in 1978, prior to taking over as manager.
‘The Nine’ Celebrated For Fifth Time
The Blue Wahoos wore the throwback uniforms of the Pensacola Seagulls, a former feeder team for the Negro Southern League, during their games on June 19th and the series finale on June 21.
That Sunday game was the fifth time the Blue Wahoos joined with Minor League Baseball to celebrate “The Nine Initiative.”
Chambers, along with former MLB player J.J. Cannon, who played at Pensacola State before advancing to his MLB debut with the Houston Astros in 1977, were honored during pregame ceremonies with Richard Mobley, a former member of the Pensacola Seagulls.
Cannon and Mobley partnered decades ago to build the Lewis Powell Athletic Park, part of the City of Pensacola’s extensive parks and community centers.
“My father was a military man and I went to Wedgewood Middle School (which closed in 2008),” Cannon said. “Sometime in the early ‘70’s we built Lewis Powell field from scratch. My brother helped us and landscaped and measured it.
“That was special. And I know back then the Seagulls were well-known.”
In partnership with Cox Communications, the Blue Wahoos since 2022 have played a game with “The Nine Initiative,” which is a black community outreach program from Major League Baseball designed to recognize the history of the game.
“We’re very grateful for the partnership with Cox Communications,” said Blue Wahoos president Jonathan Griffith. “They have been with us since our first season in 2012 and they are constantly looking for new ways to get involved and make an impact.
“Our Cox Clubhouse area behind home plate on the concourse is something that is used year-round. It is used during all of our public events. And Cox high-speed internet is available for use by the fans in their seasons and throughout all areas of the stadium, so it has been a wonderful relationship.”