"It's rare to see Tony La Russa overburdened. But there he was one recent morning, trying to make it from his SUV to the front door of the Animal Rescue Foundation without dropping a stack of papers and boxes tucked under his chin. When an acquaintance happened along to relieve him of one of the boxes, La Russa, feigning infirmity, handed him the second as well.

"I'm a retiree," he cracked.

It's difficult to believe La Russa has left the dugout. And it's even more difficult to believe is the manner in which he spent the final 10 weeks of his 32-year managerial career.

On Aug. 25, his Cardinals were 10 games behind in the National League Central Division. With five games left, they were three games out in the wild card. They clinched a postseason spot on the season's final day. They survived two win-or-go-home games to beat Philadelphia in the first round of the playoffs. They were a strike away from elimination — twice — in Game 6 of the World Series before beating Texas 10-9 in 11 epic innings. The following day they won the 11th World Series championship in team history. It was La Russa's third as a manager.

"Unbelievable," he said."