Tony La Russa can trace his relationship with Dave Stewart all the way back to the very first game he managed for the Oakland Athletics, when he pulled the recently acquired right-handed reliever out of the bullpen to start against Roger Clemens in the summer of 1986. Stewart beat Clemens and went on win three World Series while becoming “like a brother from another mother,” according to La Russa. Along the way, the Hall-of-Fame manager learned of a hidden talent that Stewart only revealed when the clubhouse doors closed, or maybe after a couple drinks at dinner. He has kept the secret closely guarded for nearly 40 years. Until now. You could say “Smoke” has pipes....
