St. Louis ? If Jack McKeon could do it, why not Whitey Herzog?

Herzog, who hasn’t managed since leaving the St. Louis Cardinals in July 1990, told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch he had interest in managing in Boston. The Red Sox Monday fired Grady Little.

“Sure, I’d listen if they called me,” said Herzog, who lives in St. Louis. “All I’ve been doing is fishing, and I’m tired of fishing.”

Herzog, 71, has enjoyed reminding friends that he is a year younger than McKeon, who led Florida to a six-game win over the New York Yankees in the World Series.

“With Jack winning, a lot of old managers are probably going to get calls,” Herzog said.

Herzog succeeded McKeon as manager of the Royals in 1975, and won division titles in 1976, 1977 and 1978. He was manager of Texas in 1973.

Herzog came to the Cardinals midway through the 1980 season and led St. Louis to the 1982 world championship. His Cardinals teams also won NL pennants in 1985 and 1987.

Two offseasons ago, when Joe Kerrigan was managing the Red Sox, Herzog was offered the job as Boston bench coach. But Herzog declined, saying he didn’t want to leave the impression that he was waiting in the wings to take over if Kerrigan was fired.

Kerrigan was fired in spring training of the next season, with Little taking over before opening day.

The decision to part ways with Little came less than two weeks after Boston lost a chance to play in the World Series when its ace, Pedro Martinez, couldn’t hold a lead against the Yankees. Little was criticized for leaving Martinez in too long.