Manager title a record 4th for Cards' La Russa

NEW YORK -- Mike Scioscia was surrounded by screaming youngsters once again Wednesday. Only this time, they weren't his Anaheim Angels, they were fifth-graders on a field trip to a botanical garden.

Still on a high 10 days after his team won the World Series, Scioscia was honored with the AL Manager of the Year award and spoke about it as he went on a field trip with his daughter Taylor's class in Thousand Oaks, Calif.

"I'm learning a lot about botany," he said.

He learned a lot about winning this year, too, especially following a terrible 2001 and the worst start in team history.

St. Louis manager Tony La Russa had to overcome even more difficulties, tragedies that struck the Cardinals off the field, and won his record fourth Manager of the Year award, his first in the NL.

La Russa's Cardinals won their division during a season in which the team was traumatized by the deaths of pitcher Darryl Kile and longtime broadcaster Jack Buck.

"Nothing will describe how sad and how deeply affected everyone was with Darryl, Jack," La Russa said. "The personal side was really, really rough. I don't know how anybody would describe it. I think this award is recognition our club, our organization, just didn't give into it."

In voting conducted before the start of the postseason, Scioscia received 17 first-place votes, 10 seconds and one third for 116 points from a panel of the Baseball Writers' Association of America.

La Russa, who earned the AL award with Chicago in 1983 and with Oakland in 1988 and 1992, joined Bobby Cox as the only managers to win the award in both leagues. La Russa received 22 first-place votes, six second-place votes and one third for 129 points.

Cox was next with 93 points, followed by Montreal's Frank Robinson (23).

La Russa has led teams to nine first-place finishes in 24 seasons, winning four division titles during seven seasons with St. Louis.

"I am 0-for-4 in getting to the World Series," he said. "A lot of times, 0-for-4 and the manager sits you."