White Sox manager Tony La Russa, 76, pleads guilty to reckless driving and is sentenced to a day of home detention, a $1,400 fine, and community service following his February DUI arrest

Chicago White Sox manager Tony La Russa has pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of reckless driving stemming from his DUI arrest in the Phoenix area back in February. 

The 76-year-old La Russa pleaded guilty Monday in Maricopa County Justice Court. After initially facing a day in jail, La Russa was sentenced to one day of home detention, fined nearly $1,400 and is required to complete 20 hours of community service. 

'I brought this on myself,' La Russa told reporters during a conference call on Monday. 'I feel a deep remorse and regret over what I did.

'Obviously I displayed bad judgement that night in February. I am grateful for the White Sox for standing by me, even though this happened before they hired me. I really feel like I let them down and many others. My family, friends, and I think starting out in Chicago, I've let the fans down.'

The 76-year-old La Russa pleaded guilty Monday in Maricopa County Justice Court. After initially facing a day in jail, La Russa was sentenced to one day of home detention, fined nearly $1,400 and is required to complete 20 hours of community service. La Russa, who has a law degree from Florida State, was hired by Chicago in a surprise move after Rick Renteria was let go in what the team insisted was a mutual decision. La Russa, who is friends with team owner Jerry Reinsdorf, started his managing career with the White Sox during the 1979 season

La Russa, who was working for the Angels during spring training, allegedly ran his Lexus SUV into a curb in the Phoenix area on February 24. A peace officer found La Russa standing next to his SUV, according to an affidavit filed by the Arizona Department of Public Safety

Lawrence Kazan, La Russa's lawyer, said his client underwent alcohol counseling after his arrest. 

'That shows Mr. La Russa is taking this matter very seriously, and it is also indicative of the remorse he feels for having gotten himself involved in this matter,' Kazan said.

La Russa, who was working for the Los Angeles Angels during spring training, allegedly ran his Lexus SUV into a curb in the Phoenix area on February 24. 

A peace officer found La Russa standing next to his SUV, according to an affidavit filed by the Arizona Department of Public Safety. 

He was taken into custody after a field sobriety test. Police described him as 'argumentative,' and said he refused a breathalyzer test. 

'I asked La Russa if he could provide me with identification,' read the report from arresting officer Ivory Crawford, which was obtained by the Daily Mail. 'He then reached into his right back pocket and pulled a large amount of money out and shuffled through multiple credit cards including his California driver license multiple times. 

'I then asked La Russa where he came from. He advised me that he came from dinner with friends in connection with the Angels. While speaking with La Russa I observed there was a light odor of alcoholic beverage permeating from his person. I then advised La Russa that I was able to smell an odor of alcoholic beverage permeating from his person and had conducted the horizontal gaze nystagmus test and one leg stand test. 

'While documenting these tests I observed indicators that gave me reasonable suspicion to believe he maybe impaired.'

La Russa refused to 'provide a sample of his blood, breath, urine, or other bodily substance,' but police obtained a search warrant, revealing his blood to be above the legal limit of 0.08 percent.    

According to police records, the combative La Russa said at one point: 'I'm a hall of famer, brother, you're trying to embarrass me.' 

The arrest occurred Febuary 24, but the charges were filed October 28 - one day before his hiring by Chicago.

Tony La Russa previously managed the Chicago White Sox in the early 1980s 

La Russa pleaded guilty to driving under the influence in Florida in 2007 after police found him asleep inside his running SUV at a stop light and smelling of alcohol.

'I accept full responsibility for my conduct, and assure everyone that I have learned a very valuable lesson and that this will never occur again,' La Russa said at the time. 

La Russa, who has a law degree from Florida State, was hired by Chicago in a surprise move after Rick Renteria was let go in what the team insisted was a mutual decision. La Russa, who is friends with team owner Jerry Reinsdorf, started his managing career with the White Sox during the 1979 season.

The Hall of Famer hasn't managed a big league club since 2011, when he led St. Louis past Texas in the World Series. He also won championships with Oakland in 1989 and the Cardinals in 2006.

La Russa is the oldest manager in the major leagues by five years. Houston's Dusty Baker is 71.

La Russa is 2,728-2,365 with six pennants over 33 seasons with Chicago, Oakland and St. Louis. He was enshrined in Cooperstown in 2014. Only Hall of Famers Connie Mack (3,731) and John McGraw (2,763) have more victories. La Russa and Sparky Anderson are the only managers to win the World Series in the American League and National League.

As a Maricopa County Justice Courts spokesperson confirmed to the Daily Mail, the arrest occurred in February near the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport . The case was filed on October 28 - one day before La Russa's hiring was announced by the White Sox