Tony La Russa’s date of birth: October 4, 1944
Charlie Manuel’s date of birth: January 4, 1944
I understand how one may assume that La Russa is the oldest manager in baseball by virtue of him constantly implying that he invented the damn game, but Cholly is older. Both in actual age and in spirit.
I mean, I once interviewed Manuel while sitting in an automat that, on his instructions, I reached by streetcar (“you know, because of the gas rationing, what with the war on and all,” he said to me.). I tried to go back there the next day but the automat and the streetcar had strangely disappeared. I tried to call him on the number he gave me -- “KLondike 5-3532" -- but the number was disconnected.
Weirdest thing.
