Joe Torre
Encyclopedia
Joseph Paul Torre is a former American
professional
baseball
player and manager
who currently serves as Major League Baseball’s Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations. A nine-time All-Star
, he played in Major League Baseball
as a catcher
, first baseman
and a third baseman
for the Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves
, New York Mets
, and the St. Louis Cardinals
. After his retirement as a player, he later managed all three teams.
Torre managed the New York Yankees
from 1996
to 2007
. The Yankees reached the post season each year and won ten American League East
Division titles, six American League pennants
, four World Series
titles, and compiled a .605 winning percentage overall. With 2,326 wins, he is currently ranked 5th on the list of Major League Baseball all-time managerial wins
.
footsteps when he was signed by the Milwaukee Braves as an amateur free agent
in 1960
. In his first season in the minor leagues
with the Class A Eau Claire Braves, he won the Northern League
batting championship with a .344 batting average
. Torre made his major league debut late in the season on September 21, 1960. He was assigned to the Triple A Louisville Colonels for the season where, the Braves had planned to groom him as the eventual successor to their All-Star
catcher, Del Crandall
. However, those plans were changed when Crandall injured his throwing arm in May 1961
, forcing the Braves to promote Torre to the major leagues with just over a year of minor league experience. Torre rose to the occasion, hitting for a .278 batting average with 21 doubles
and 10 home run
s. He finished the season ranked second to Billy Williams in the National League
Rookie of the Year voting.
Crandall resumed his role as the number one catcher in 1962
while Torre stayed on as the back up catcher. By the 1963
season, the Braves had begun to play Crandall at first base as Torre had taken over the starting catcher's role. He ended the season with a .293 batting average with 14 home runs and 71 runs batted in and, earned a spot as a reserve for the National League team in the 1963 All-Star Game
. In December , the Braves traded Crandall to the San Francisco Giants leaving Torre as the undisputed number one catcher.
Torre had a breakout year in 1964
when he hit 12 home runs along with a .312 batting average by mid-season and was voted to be the starting catcher for the National League in the 1964 All-Star Game
. He ended the season with a .321 batting average, fourth highest in the league, along with 20 home runs and 109 runs batted in and led National League catchers with a .995 fielding percentage
. Despite the fact that the Braves finished the season in fifth place, Torre ranked fifth in voting for the National League Most Valuable Player Award.
In 1965
, Torre was once again voted to be the starting catcher for the National League in the 1965 All-Star Game
and won his first and only Gold Glove Award
. He ended the season with 27 home runs and 80 runs batted in although his batting average dipped to .291. In his book, The Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract
, baseball historian Bill James
said the decision to award Torre the Gold Glove was absurd, stating that he was given the award because of his offensive statistics and that, either John Roseboro or Tom Haller
were more deserved of the award. In an article for the St. Petersburg Independent that year, Beat Generation
author Jack Kerouac
called Torre "the best catcher since Roy Campanella
."
The Braves relocated to Atlanta for the 1966
season and would play their games in the new Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium
which, due to its less dense atmosphere in the high elevation in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, made it favorable to home run hitters, resulting in the nickname The Launching Pad. Torre would produce a career-high 36 home runs with 101 runs batted in, a .315 batting average, a .382 on base percentage
and, led National League catchers with a 48.6% caught stealing
percentage. He was voted as the starting catcher for the National League All-Star team
for the third successive year. His offensive production tapered off in 1967
with a .277 batting average with 68 runs batted in although he still hit 20 home runs and won his fourth consecutive start in the 1967 All-Star Game
. He posted another sub-par season in 1968
with a .271 batting average, 10 home runs and 55 runs batted in however, he led National League catchers with a .996 fielding percentage.
Before the 1969 season, Torre became embroiled in a feud with Braves General Manager
Paul Richards
over his salary. Eventually, the Braves would trade Torre to the St. Louis Cardinals for the Most Valuable Player Award winner, Orlando Cepeda
.
as their starting catcher so, Torre replaced the departed Cepeda as their first baseman for the 1969
season. His offensive statistics rebounded and he ended the season with a .289 batting average with 18 home runs and 101 runs batted in. In 1970
, the Cardinals traded away McCarver along with Byron Browne
, Curt Flood
and Joe Hoerner
to the Philadelphia Phillies for Dick Allen
, Jerry Johnson
and Cookie Rojas
. Allen would take over as the Cardinals' first baseman while, Torre would split his playing time as a third baseman and sharing catching duties with young prospect Ted Simmons
. His offensive statistics continued to improve, hitting 21 home runs with 100 runs batted in and finished second to Rico Carty
in the National League batting championship with a .325 batting average.
The Cardinals made Simmons their full-time catcher in 1971
, leaving Torre to concentrate on playing at third base. Freed from the mentally challenging, strength-sapping job of catching, Torre had a career-season offensively. He was hitting for a .359 batting average at mid-season and was voted to be the starting third baseman for the National League in the 1971 All-Star Game
. Torre won the National League Batting Championship, hitting .363 and led the league with 137 runs batted in, enroute to winning the National League Most Valuable Player award. Adapting to a new defensive position proved to be a challenge as Torre led the league's third basemen with 21 errors
. In December, he was awarded the 1971 Hutch Award
, given annually to the player who best exemplifies the fighting spirit and competitive desire of Fred Hutchinson
.
In 1972
, Torre won his second consecutive starting role as third baseman for the National League in the All-Star Game
, however, his offensive numbers for the season dipped to a .289 batting average with 11 home runs and 81 runs batted in. After two more sub-par seasons, the Cardinals traded the 34 year old Torre to the New York Mets for Ray Sadecki
with Tommy Moore
.
s in one game. When Torre's batting average fell to .247 in 1975
, it appeared his best years might be behind him however, his average rebounded 59 points in 1976
to finish the year with a .306 batting average. In May 1977
, the Mets fired manager Joe Frazier
and named Torre as their player-manager. Because he believed he could not do the job properly while still playing, he decided to retire at age 37, but did serve 18 days as a player-manager (only having 2 at-bats), becoming the second of three players in the 1970s to take on both roles (Frank Robinson
, in the two previous seasons with the Cleveland Indians
, and Don Kessinger
, in with the Chicago White Sox
, were the others).
, accumulating 2,342 hits
in 7,874 at bats for a .297 career batting average along with 252 home runs, 1,185 runs batted in and an on base percentage
of .365. He retired with a .990 fielding percentage in 903 games as a catcher, a .993 fielding percentage in 787 games as a first baseman and a .951 fielding percentage in 515 games as a third baseman. During his career, Torre hit over .300 five times, had over 100 runs batted in five seasons and hit over 20 home runs six times. A nine-time All-Star
, he was the recipient of one Most Valuable Player Award and claimed one batting championship along with one RBI crown. Torre was also a Gold Glove Award winner and led National League catchers twice in fielding percentage. Torre never reached the post-season during his playing career.
to 1981
season, but failed to improve the team's record. After five years without a winning season, he was fired at the end of the strike-shortened season.
, Torre replaced Bobby Cox
as the manager of the Atlanta Braves, and immediately guided them to a Major League-record 13 straight wins to open the season. Atlanta subsequently went on to finish 89-73 and capture the NL Western Division title, its first playoff appearance since the 1969 National League Championship Series
. In Game 1 of the 1982 National League Championship Series
against the St. Louis Cardinals
, the Braves jumped to a 1-0 lead before the game was rain delayed after four innings and eventually canceled just three outs short of an official game. St. Louis won the rematch and went on to sweep the series.
The Braves slipped to second place in 1983
, but their 88-74 record was just one game off the previous season, and marked the first consecutive winning seasons for the organization since moving from Milwaukee in 1966. In 1984
, Atlanta slipped to 80-82 the following season but, again finished runner-up in the division (tied with Houston Astros).
for the California Angels
. While working as a guest analyst for ESPN
during the 1989 World Series
, Torre was on hand for the Loma Prieta earthquake (October 17).
, Torre replaced the popular Whitey Herzog
as Cardinals manager and posted a 351–354 record. Though the Cardinals were unable to reach the playoffs during Torre's tenure, they had winning records in each of the three full seasons he spent with the club (excluding the strike-shortened ). Despite a last place prediction from many commentators, the Cardinals finished in second place and won 84 games in 1991
, Torre's first full season at the helm. His best record was 87–75 in 1993
. Torre was fired in June 1995
for his poor record that year as part of a rebuilding project while Anheuser-Busch
prepared to sell the team.
, who was famous for frequently firing his team's managers. Torre lasted 12 full seasons, managing 1,942 regular season games (with a won-loss record of 1173–767). and took the team to the post-season playoffs every one of his twelve seasons with the club, winning six American League pennants and four World Series. This was by far the longest tenure for a Yankees skipper in the Steinbrenner era. Torre's was the second-longest managerial tenure in the club's history: only Joe McCarthy lasted longer.
Torre got off to a rough start with the Yankees
. The New York City
press
(and fans) thought his hiring was a colossal mistake and greeted him with headlines
such as "Clueless Joe."
However, it was with the Yankees that he enjoyed the greatest success of his managerial career
, leading them to the playoffs in each of his 12 seasons (1996–2007) with the club. He would eventually become a fan favorite. In , he was named Manager of the Year
. Torre, building on the Yankees' Wild Card
berth in 1995
, made his first-ever trip to the "Fall Classic," leading the Yankees to their first World Series
since . After the Yankees defeated the Atlanta Braves
, Steinbrenner tore up Torre's contract and gave him a new, more lucrative and longer contract as a reward.
After losing to the Cleveland Indians
in the AL playoffs
in , the team won three straight World Series titles from to , and additional American League pennants in and .
The season was Torre's most successful. Despite a slow start that included losing four of the first five games of the season, the Yankees set a then-American League record of 114 regular season wins, including David Wells
's perfect game
on May 17. During the playoffs
, the Yankees easily bested the Texas Rangers
, fought off the Cleveland Indians
for the AL pennant
, and swept the San Diego Padres
in the World Series
, marking the only time during the 1990s dynasty that the Yankees did not win a World Series against either the New York Mets or the Atlanta Braves. Torre won Manager of the Year
honors, and the team is now widely regarded as one of the greatest baseball teams, along with the Yankee teams of 1927
, and , the 1972
–1974 Oakland Athletics
, and the 1975–1976 Cincinnati Reds
. When ESPN
launched its Who's #1?
series on June 15, , the 1998 Yankees topped the network's list of best teams over the years 1979 to 2003.
In , Torre suffered his greatest setback, marking the end of the Yankees' dominance. After building a 3–0 lead in the ALCS
against the Boston Red Sox
, his team would go on to suffer one of the worst collapses in baseball history and lose the next four games and the ALCS.
Despite pitching issues and injuries the Yankees won another AL East title in 2006.
In 2007, Torre got his 2000th win and became the first major league manager to win 2000 games and have 2,000 hits. Torre later notched his 2,010th managerial win, overtaking Leo Durocher
for 9th place on the MLB all-time managerial wins list.
He also passed Casey Stengel
on the Yankees all time managerial wins list in 2007 and recorded his 1,150th victory with the team Yankees. Torre led the Yankees to their 13th consecutive postseason appearance.
In the 2007 post-season after the Yankees lost two games to the Cleveland Indians
in the Division Series, George Steinbrenner
said in an interview that Torre's contract would not be renewed if the Yankees did not defeat the Indians. The Yankees saved their season, and potentially Torre's job, for one day, as they won Game 3 at Yankee Stadium. Following the Yankees' elimination the following night, earning them another first-round exit, Torre's fate remained uncertain. That night, as Torre went out to make what would be his last pitching change with the team, the fans in Yankee Stadium gave Torre a standing ovation and chanted his name.
After the season the Yankees offered Torre a one-year contract with a $5,000,000 base pay and $1,000,000 bonuses, to be paid for each of three benchmarks the team reached: winning the American League Divisional Series; winning the American League Championship Series
; and winning the World Series. Also, if the Yankees made it to the World Series, Torre would pick up an option for a new contract for the following year. The contract, despite the pay cut, would still have kept Torre as the highest-paid manager in the game. However, it was portrayed in the New York media as an insult. Torre turned down the offer, ending his era with the Yankees. On October 19, 2007, Torre held a news conference to explain his decision. After first thanking owner George Steinbrenner
, he said: "I just felt the contract offer and the terms of the contract were probably the thing I had the toughest time with."
On February 3, 2009, Torre released a book about his experiences with the Yankees, called The Yankee Years
, co-authored by Tom Verducci
.
Torre returned to Yankee Stadium for the first time since vacating the Yankees managerial job on September 20, 2010, to pay respect to George Steinbrenner on the night of the previous owner's monument being unveiled in Monument Park.
On November 1, 2007, the Los Angeles Dodgers announced that Torre would be their manager beginning with the 2008 season
, filling the void left when Grady Little
resigned his post two days before. This marked the return of Torre to the National League, the only league he had played or managed in prior to becoming the Yankees skipper. According to ESPN, his contract was valued at $13 million over 3 years.
Torre brought two members of his 2007 Yankees coaching staff with him. Don Mattingly
, who had served as Torre's bench coach, was tabbed as the hitting coach, and third base coach Larry Bowa
was brought in to fill the same position with the Dodgers. In January 2008, Mattingly was moved to the role of special assignment coach for the 2008 season due to family concerns. He was replaced as hitting coach by Mike Easler
. In addition, Torre brought in Bob Schaefer
to be bench coach, and retained first base coach Mariano Duncan
and pitching coach Rick Honeycutt
from Little's staff. Ken Howell
was promoted from Triple-A
pitching coach to bullpen coach, completing his staff. Torre as a young boy lived in Brooklyn when the Dodgers played there, but admitted to being a New York Giants
fan then, adding another key note in the longstanding rivalry between the two clubs.
On March 31, 2008, Joe Torre made his managerial debut with the Dodgers in a 5–0 victory. Coincidentally, he would be managing several former Red Sox players, such as Manny Ramirez
, Derek Lowe
, and Nomar Garciaparra
. On September 25, 2008, the Dodgers clinched the NL West title, giving Torre his 13th consecutive postseason appearance. October 4, 2008 saw Torre managing the Dodgers to a 3–0 victory over the Chicago Cubs
in the National League Division Series
, earning the Dodgers their first post season series victory since their championship season of 1988. Torre's Dodgers were beaten in the NLCS
four games to one by the Phillies
(who went on to win the World Series
) with a 5–1 loss on October 15.
In 2009
the Dodgers had the National League's best record (95–67), clinching the top seed. The Dodgers faced Torre's old club the Cardinals in the National League Division Series
, sweeping them three games to nothing. However, they went on to lose to the Philadelphia Phillies in the NLCS in five games, ending their season once again with a loss to the Phillies. (Phillies lost to his former team in the World Series.)
During the 2010 season
, Torre and his Dodgers played games against both the Yankees and the Red Sox. The Dodgers managed to only go 1-5 against the two teams. It was the first time ever he faced the Yankees and the first time he faced the Sox since leaving the Yankees.
On September 17, 2010, Torre announced he would step down as Dodgers manager after the 2010 season, with Don Mattingly
being Torre's replacement for the 2011 campaign.
On October 3, 2010, the Dodgers beat the Arizona Diamondbacks
3-1 at Dodger Stadium for Torre's 2,326th career win. The victory was his last with the Dodgers as he stepped down as the team's manager at the conclusion of the game.
appointed Joe Torre as the new Executive Vice President for Baseball Operations for Major League Baseball.
Torre drew criticism when, during the 10th year anniversary of the September 11th, 2001 attacks, MLB denied the New York Mets
the right to wear tribute caps to First Responders, like they did in the month following the attacks.
In September 2009, Torre was named Sporting News Manager of the Decade.
In December 2009, Sports Illustrated named Torre as the Best Manager of the Decade. Sports Illustrated also selected Torre as number 3 on its list of the Top 10 Coaches/Managers of the Decade in U.S. professional and college sports.
Under current rules, if Torre remains retired from managing, he will become eligible for induction to the Hall of Fame
as a manager in 2014, which is the next induction class in which post-1972 managers can be considered.
film Taking Care of Business, which showed a fictional World Series between the Angels and the Chicago Cubs
.
In the 1997 TV movie Joe Torre: Curveballs Along the Way
, Torre was played by Paul Sorvino
.
Torre also was featured as the "Voice of the Yankees' Manager" in the 2006
animated feature Everyone's Hero
. Torre's character manages a team that includes a fictional Babe Ruth
.
Torre appeared with Willie Randolph
in a set of Subway
commercials. During the 2008 season, Torre appeared in TV ads for State Farm Insurance
, poking fun at both himself and Hollywood stereotypes.
On June 15, 2009, Torre was a guest on The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien
and has made appearances on Sesame Street
, Castle
and Gary Unmarried
. Torre also appeared as himself in the 2002 Mafia comedy Analyze That
starring Robert DeNiro and Billy Crystal
.
His older brother Frank Torre
was also a Major League Baseball player. He also had another brother, Rocco, an NYPD officer who died in 1996. His older sister, Marguerite is a Roman Catholic nun
and teacher, and was until 2007 principal of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary School in Ozone Park Queens
.
Torre was treated for prostate cancer
in 1999.
He is an avid thoroughbred horse racing enthusiast. He is a part owner of Sis City, winner of the 2005 Ashland Stakes at Keeneland Race Course. She had been the dominant 3-year-old filly
that year until finishing fourth in the May 6 Kentucky Oaks
. However, a few weeks later on June 26, Wild Desert, in which Torre is also a partner, won the $1 million Queen's Plate
, the first leg of the Canadian Triple Crown
. Wild Desert is also partially owned by Keith Jones, an NHL player.
On December 14, 2005, Torre carried the Olympic Flame
in Florence, Italy, as part of the torch relay of the 2006 Winter Olympics
in Turin
, running it 405 meters and ending at the world famous Ponte Vecchio
.
In 1997, Torre's autobiography, Chasing the Dream, was released. Later, he authored an advice book, titled Joe Torre's Ground Rules for Winners. His third book, The Yankee Years
, was released in February 2009. The book, co-authored by Sports Illustrated
writer Tom Verducci
, details Torre's tenure as manager of the New York Yankees.
in his home in Brooklyn. The foundation operates approximately a dozen domestic violence resource centers called Margaret's Place, named after Torre's mother, in New York City and Westchester County, New York
.
In October 2007, the Joe Torre Foundation partnered with Union City, New Jersey
's Board of Education and the North Hudson
Community Action Corporation (NHCAC) to create New Jersey's first Margaret's Place, at Union City's Jose Marti Middle School. Aspects of Union City's Margaret's Place will include a peer counseling program and an anti-violence campaign within the school, in order to encourage children to discuss family problems more freely, and training for teachers and counselors. The haven, which is housed in its own secure room at the school, was funded by a $325,000 grant from Verizon and is administered by health care professionals from North Hudson Community Action Corp.
Torre is also a supporter of other domestic violence programs. In September 2008, he recorded a public service announcement and personal voice message in support of the RESPECT! Campaign against domestic violence.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
player and manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
who currently serves as Major League Baseball’s Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations. A nine-time All-Star
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
, he played in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
as a catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
, first baseman
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
and a third baseman
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
for the Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
, New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
, and the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
. After his retirement as a player, he later managed all three teams.
Torre managed the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
from 1996
1996 New York Yankees season
The 1996 New York Yankees season was the 94th season for the Yankees. The 1996 New York Yankees were managed by Joe Torre, and played at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx....
to 2007
2007 New York Yankees season
The New York Yankees' 2007 season was the Yankees' 105th in New York and their 107th overall dating back to their origins in Baltimore. The season started with the Yankees trying to win the AL East championship, a title they had won every season since after the 1997 season, but ultimately they came...
. The Yankees reached the post season each year and won ten American League East
American League East
The American League Eastern Division is one of Major League Baseball's six divisions . This division was created before the start of the 1969 season along with the Western Division...
Division titles, six American League pennants
American League Championship Series
In Major League Baseball, the American League Championship Series , played in October, is a round in the postseason that determines the winner of the American League pennant...
, four World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
titles, and compiled a .605 winning percentage overall. With 2,326 wins, he is currently ranked 5th on the list of Major League Baseball all-time managerial wins
Major League Baseball all-time managerial wins
This article contains a list of all Major League Baseball managers with at least 1,000 career regular-season wins through the close of the 2011 regular season, as well as a list of the managers who have win percentages greater than .540 and have managed at least 600 games.Connie Mack, who managed...
.
Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves (1960–68)
Torre followed in his brother Frank'sFrank Torre
Frank Joseph Torre is a former first baseman in Major League Baseball. Torre, who batted and threw left-handed, played for the Milwaukee Braves and Philadelphia Phillies...
footsteps when he was signed by the Milwaukee Braves as an amateur free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
in 1960
1960 Milwaukee Braves season
The 1960 Milwaukee Braves season was the eighth for the franchise in Milwaukee, and the 85th overall in the National League. The Braves finished in second place in the NL with a record of 88-66, seven games behind the NL and World Series Champion Pittsburgh Pirates.- Offseason :* October 13, 1959:...
. In his first season in the minor leagues
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
with the Class A Eau Claire Braves, he won the Northern League
Northern League (baseball, 1902-71)
This article refers to the original incarnations of the Northern League, which operated between 1902 and 1971. For the more recent league, see Northern League ...
batting championship with a .344 batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
. Torre made his major league debut late in the season on September 21, 1960. He was assigned to the Triple A Louisville Colonels for the season where, the Braves had planned to groom him as the eventual successor to their All-Star
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
catcher, Del Crandall
Del Crandall
Delmar Wesley Crandall is a former professional baseball catcher and manager in Major League Baseball who played most of his career with the Boston & Milwaukee Braves...
. However, those plans were changed when Crandall injured his throwing arm in May 1961
1961 Milwaukee Braves season
- Offseason :* October 14, 1960: Red Schoendienst was released by the Braves.* October 14, 1960: Stan Lopata was released by the Braves.* December 3, 1960: Billy Martin was purchased by the Braves from the Cincinnati Reds....
, forcing the Braves to promote Torre to the major leagues with just over a year of minor league experience. Torre rose to the occasion, hitting for a .278 batting average with 21 doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
and 10 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s. He finished the season ranked second to Billy Williams in the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
Rookie of the Year voting.
Crandall resumed his role as the number one catcher in 1962
1962 Milwaukee Braves season
- Offseason :* October 10, 1961: Merritt Ranew was drafted from the Braves by the Houston Colt .45s in the 1961 MLB expansion draft.* November 8, 1961: Ellis Burton and Lou Jackson were acquired by the Braves from the Toronto Maple Leafs as part of a minor league working agreement.* November 28,...
while Torre stayed on as the back up catcher. By the 1963
1963 Milwaukee Braves season
- Offseason :* October 11, 1962: Ron Hunt was purchased from the Braves by the New York Mets.* November 26, 1962: Ellis Burton was drafted from the Braves by the Houston Colt .45s in the 1962 rule 5 draft.* November 26, 1962: 1962 first-year draft...
season, the Braves had begun to play Crandall at first base as Torre had taken over the starting catcher's role. He ended the season with a .293 batting average with 14 home runs and 71 runs batted in and, earned a spot as a reserve for the National League team in the 1963 All-Star Game
1963 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1963 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 31st playing of the midsummer classic between the all-stars of the American League and National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was held in Cleveland, Ohio, at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, home of the American...
. In December , the Braves traded Crandall to the San Francisco Giants leaving Torre as the undisputed number one catcher.
Torre had a breakout year in 1964
1964 Milwaukee Braves season
The Milwaukee Braves season was the team's 12th and penultimate season for the franchise in Milwaukee. The fifth-place Braves finished with a record of 88 wins and 74 losses, five games behind the National League and World Series Champion St...
when he hit 12 home runs along with a .312 batting average by mid-season and was voted to be the starting catcher for the National League in the 1964 All-Star Game
1964 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1964 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 35th midseason exhibition between the all-stars of the American League and the National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was played on July 7, 1964 at Shea Stadium in New York City, New York, home of the New...
. He ended the season with a .321 batting average, fourth highest in the league, along with 20 home runs and 109 runs batted in and led National League catchers with a .995 fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
. Despite the fact that the Braves finished the season in fifth place, Torre ranked fifth in voting for the National League Most Valuable Player Award.
In 1965
1965 Milwaukee Braves season
The Milwaukee Braves season was the 13th and final season for the franchise in Milwaukee before moving to Atlanta for the following season. The Braves finished the season with a record of 86-76, 11 games behind the eventual World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers...
, Torre was once again voted to be the starting catcher for the National League in the 1965 All-Star Game
1965 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1965 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 36th midseason exhibition between the all-stars of the American League and the National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was played on July 13, 1965 at Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington, Minnesota...
and won his first and only Gold Glove Award
Gold Glove Award
The Rawlings Gold Glove Award, usually referred to as the Gold Glove, is the award given annually to the Major League Baseball players judged to have exhibited superior individual fielding performances at each fielding position in both the National League and the American League , as voted by the...
. He ended the season with 27 home runs and 80 runs batted in although his batting average dipped to .291. In his book, The Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract
The Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract
The Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract is a reference-type book written by Bill James featuring an overview of baseball decade by decade, along with rankings of the top 100 players at each position. The original edition was published in 1985 by Villard Books, followed by The New Bill James...
, baseball historian Bill James
Bill James
George William “Bill” James is a baseball writer, historian, and statistician whose work has been widely influential. Since 1977, James has written more than two dozen books devoted to baseball history and statistics...
said the decision to award Torre the Gold Glove was absurd, stating that he was given the award because of his offensive statistics and that, either John Roseboro or Tom Haller
Tom Haller
Thomas Frank Haller was an American professional baseball player and baseball executive. He played as a catcher in Major League Baseball with the San Francisco Giants , Los Angeles Dodgers and Detroit Tigers...
were more deserved of the award. In an article for the St. Petersburg Independent that year, Beat Generation
Beat generation
The Beat Generation refers to a group of American post-WWII writers who came to prominence in the 1950s, as well as the cultural phenomena that they both documented and inspired...
author Jack Kerouac
Jack Kerouac
Jean-Louis "Jack" Lebris de Kerouac was an American novelist and poet. He is considered a literary iconoclast and, alongside William S. Burroughs and Allen Ginsberg, a pioneer of the Beat Generation. Kerouac is recognized for his spontaneous method of writing, covering topics such as Catholic...
called Torre "the best catcher since Roy Campanella
Roy Campanella
Roy Campanella , nicknamed "Campy", was an American baseball player, primarily at the position of catcher, in the Negro leagues and Major League Baseball...
."
The Braves relocated to Atlanta for the 1966
1966 Atlanta Braves season
The Atlanta Braves season was the first for the franchise in Atlanta, following their relocation from Milwaukee, where the team had played the previous 13 seasons. The Braves finished their inaugural year in Atlanta in fifth place in the National League with a record of 85-77, ten games behind the...
season and would play their games in the new Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium
Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium
Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, often shortened to "Fulton County Stadium," was a multi-purpose stadium that formerly stood in Atlanta, Georgia, United States.-History:...
which, due to its less dense atmosphere in the high elevation in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, made it favorable to home run hitters, resulting in the nickname The Launching Pad. Torre would produce a career-high 36 home runs with 101 runs batted in, a .315 batting average, a .382 on base percentage
On base percentage
In baseball statistics, on-base percentage is a measure of how often a batter reaches base for any reason other than a fielding error, fielder's choice, dropped/uncaught third strike, fielder's obstruction, or catcher's interference In baseball statistics, on-base percentage (OBP) (sometimes...
and, led National League catchers with a 48.6% caught stealing
Caught stealing
In baseball, a runner is charged, and the fielders involved are credited, with a time caught stealing when the runner attempts to advance or lead off from one base to another without the ball being batted and then is tagged out by a fielder while making the attempt...
percentage. He was voted as the starting catcher for the National League All-Star team
1966 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1966 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 37th midseason exhibition between the all-stars of the American League and the National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was played on July 12, 1966 at Busch Memorial Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri...
for the third successive year. His offensive production tapered off in 1967
1967 Atlanta Braves season
The Atlanta Braves season was the Braves' second season in Atlanta. The team went 77-85, as they suffered their first losing season since 1952, the franchise's final season in Boston. The seventh-place Braves finished 24½ games behind the National League and World Series Champion St...
with a .277 batting average with 68 runs batted in although he still hit 20 home runs and won his fourth consecutive start in the 1967 All-Star Game
1967 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1967 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 38th midseason exhibition between the all-stars of the American League and the National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was played on July 11, 1967 at Anaheim Stadium in Anaheim, California. The game resulted...
. He posted another sub-par season in 1968
1968 Atlanta Braves season
- Offseason :* October 6, 1967: Bob Uecker was released by the Braves.* November 28, 1967: Ramón Hernández was drafted from the Braves by the Chicago Cubs in the 1967 rule 5 draft....
with a .271 batting average, 10 home runs and 55 runs batted in however, he led National League catchers with a .996 fielding percentage.
Before the 1969 season, Torre became embroiled in a feud with Braves General Manager
General manager (baseball)
In Major League Baseball, the general manager of a team typically controls player transactions and bears the primary responsibility on behalf of the ballclub during contract discussions with players....
Paul Richards
Paul Richards (baseball)
Paul Rapier Richards was an American professional baseball player, manager, scout and executive in Major League Baseball. During his playing career, he was a catcher and right-handed batter with the Brooklyn Dodgers , New York Giants , Philadelphia Athletics and Detroit Tigers...
over his salary. Eventually, the Braves would trade Torre to the St. Louis Cardinals for the Most Valuable Player Award winner, Orlando Cepeda
Orlando Cepeda
Orlando Manuel Cepeda Pennes is a former Puerto Rican Major League Baseball first baseman.Cepeda was born to a poor family. His father, Pedro Cepeda, was a baseball player in Puerto Rico, which influenced his interest in the sport from a young age. His first contact with professional baseball was...
.
St. Louis Cardinals (1969–74)
The Cardinals had Tim McCarverTim McCarver
James Timothy "Tim" McCarver is an American former Major League Baseball catcher, and a current sportscaster in residence for Fox Sports.-Playing career:...
as their starting catcher so, Torre replaced the departed Cepeda as their first baseman for the 1969
1969 St. Louis Cardinals season
The 1969 St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 88th season in St. Louis, Missouri and its 78th season in the National League. The Cardinals went 87-75 during the season and finished fourth in the newly-established National League East, 13 games behind the eventual NL pennant and World Series...
season. His offensive statistics rebounded and he ended the season with a .289 batting average with 18 home runs and 101 runs batted in. In 1970
1970 St. Louis Cardinals season
The St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 89th season in St. Louis, Missouri and the 79th season in the National League. The Cardinals went 76-86 during the season and finished fourth in the National League East, 13 games behind the Pittsburgh Pirates...
, the Cardinals traded away McCarver along with Byron Browne
Byron Browne
Byron Ellis Browne is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. Browne was signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates as an amateur free agent in 1963. In his first Major League at-bat, Browne lined out in the second inning of Sandy Koufax's 1965 perfect game. Browne had the dubious distinction of...
, Curt Flood
Curt Flood
Curtis Charles Flood was a Major League Baseball player who spent most of his career as a center fielder for the St. Louis Cardinals. A defensive standout, he led the National League in putouts four times and in fielding percentage twice, winning Gold Glove Awards in his last seven full seasons...
and Joe Hoerner
Joe Hoerner
Joseph Walter Hoerner was a Major League Baseball relief pitcher. A native of Dubuque, Iowa, the left-hander was signed by the Chicago White Sox as an amateur free agent before the 1957 season. He played for the Houston Colt .45s , St...
to the Philadelphia Phillies for Dick Allen
Dick Allen
Richard Anthony Allen is a former Major League Baseball player and R&B singer. He played first and third base and outfield in Major League Baseball and ranked among his sport's top offensive producers of the 1960s and early 1970s...
, Jerry Johnson
Jerry Johnson (baseball)
Jerry Michael Johnson is a former Major League Baseball pitcher from through . He batted and threw right-handed.-Third baseman:Johnson was signed by the New York Mets as an amateur free agent third baseman in...
and Cookie Rojas
Cookie Rojas
Octavio Victor Rojas Rivas , better known as Cookie Rojas, is a former Major League Baseball second baseman and outfielder who played for the Cincinnati Reds, Philadelphia Phillies, St. Louis Cardinals, and Kansas City Royals. After retiring as a player he went on to both coach and manage in the...
. Allen would take over as the Cardinals' first baseman while, Torre would split his playing time as a third baseman and sharing catching duties with young prospect Ted Simmons
Ted Simmons
Ted Lyle Simmons is an American former professional baseball player and coach. A switch-hitter, Simmons was a catcher for most of his Major League Baseball career with the St. Louis Cardinals , the Milwaukee Brewers and the Atlanta Braves...
. His offensive statistics continued to improve, hitting 21 home runs with 100 runs batted in and finished second to Rico Carty
Rico Carty
Ricardo Adolfo Jacobo Carty is a former professional baseball player. Nicknamed Beeg Boy, he played mostly as an outfielder in Major League Baseball from to...
in the National League batting championship with a .325 batting average.
The Cardinals made Simmons their full-time catcher in 1971
1971 St. Louis Cardinals season
The St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 90th season in St. Louis, Missouri and its 80th season in the National League. The Cardinals went 90-72 during the season and finished second in the National League East, seven games behind the eventual NL pennant and World Series champion Pittsburgh...
, leaving Torre to concentrate on playing at third base. Freed from the mentally challenging, strength-sapping job of catching, Torre had a career-season offensively. He was hitting for a .359 batting average at mid-season and was voted to be the starting third baseman for the National League in the 1971 All-Star Game
1971 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1971 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, the 42nd such game, was played on July 13, 1971. The all-stars from the American League and the National League faced each other at Tiger Stadium, home of the Detroit Tigers...
. Torre won the National League Batting Championship, hitting .363 and led the league with 137 runs batted in, enroute to winning the National League Most Valuable Player award. Adapting to a new defensive position proved to be a challenge as Torre led the league's third basemen with 21 errors
Error (baseball)
In baseball statistics, an error is the act, in the judgment of the official scorer, of a fielder misplaying a ball in a manner that allows a batter or baserunner to reach one or more additional bases, when such an advance would have been prevented given ordinary effort by the fielder.The term ...
. In December, he was awarded the 1971 Hutch Award
Hutch Award
The Hutch Award is given annually to an active Major League Baseball player who best exemplifies the fighting spirit and competitive desire of Fred Hutchinson...
, given annually to the player who best exemplifies the fighting spirit and competitive desire of Fred Hutchinson
Fred Hutchinson
Frederick Charles Hutchinson was an American professional baseball player, a major league pitcher for the Detroit Tigers. He also was a manager for three major league teams...
.
In 1972
1972 St. Louis Cardinals season
The St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 91st season in St. Louis, Missouri and its 81st season in the National League. The Cardinals went 75-81 during the season and finished fourth in the National League East, 21½ games behind the Pittsburgh Pirates....
, Torre won his second consecutive starting role as third baseman for the National League in the All-Star Game
1972 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1972 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, the 43rd such game, was played on July 25, 1972. The all-stars from the American League and the National League faced each other at Atlanta Stadium, home of the Atlanta Braves...
, however, his offensive numbers for the season dipped to a .289 batting average with 11 home runs and 81 runs batted in. After two more sub-par seasons, the Cardinals traded the 34 year old Torre to the New York Mets for Ray Sadecki
Ray Sadecki
Raymond Michael Sadecki is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. A left-hander, Sadecki pitched for the St...
with Tommy Moore
Tommy Moore (baseball)
Tommy Joe Moore is a former Major League Baseball pitcher for the New York Mets , St. Louis Cardinals , Texas Rangers , and Seattle Mariners .-External links:...
.
New York Mets (1975–77)
With the Mets in , Torre became the third player in major league history, and first in the National League, to hit into four double playDouble play
In baseball, a double play for a team or a fielder is the act of making two outs during the same continuous playing action. In baseball slang, making a double play is referred to as "turning two"....
s in one game. When Torre's batting average fell to .247 in 1975
1975 New York Mets season
The New York Mets season was the 14th regular season for the Mets, who played their home games at Shea Stadium. Initially led by manager Yogi Berra followed by Roy McMillan, the team had an 82-80 record yielding a third-place finish in the National League's Eastern Division.- Offseason :* October...
, it appeared his best years might be behind him however, his average rebounded 59 points in 1976
1976 New York Mets season
The New York Mets season was the 15th regular season for the Mets, who played home games at Shea Stadium. Led by manager Joe Frazier, the team had a 86-76 record yielding a 3rd place finish in the National League East.- Offseason :...
to finish the year with a .306 batting average. In May 1977
1977 New York Mets season
The 1977 New York Mets season was the 16th regular season for the Mets, who played home games at Shea Stadium. Initially led by manager Joe Frazier followed by Joe Torre, the team finished in last place for the first time since 1967, and for the first time since divisional play was introduced in...
, the Mets fired manager Joe Frazier
Joe Frazier (baseball)
Joseph Filmore Frazier was a former outfielder and manager in Major League Baseball. He was signed as an amateur free agent in 1941, but did not play in the major leagues until 1947. After 1947, he spent parts of three seasons in the 1950s, primarily with the St. Louis Cardinals...
and named Torre as their player-manager. Because he believed he could not do the job properly while still playing, he decided to retire at age 37, but did serve 18 days as a player-manager (only having 2 at-bats), becoming the second of three players in the 1970s to take on both roles (Frank Robinson
Frank Robinson
Frank Robinson , is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and manager. He played from 1956–1976, most notably for the Cincinnati Reds and the Baltimore Orioles. He is the only player to win league MVP honors in both the National and American Leagues...
, in the two previous seasons with the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
, and Don Kessinger
Don Kessinger
Donald Eulon Kessinger is a former American professional baseball player and manager. He played in Major League Baseball as a shortstop from to for the Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals and the Chicago White Sox...
, in with the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
, were the others).
Career statistics
In an 18 year major league career, Torre played in 2,209 gamesGames played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
, accumulating 2,342 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
in 7,874 at bats for a .297 career batting average along with 252 home runs, 1,185 runs batted in and an on base percentage
On base percentage
In baseball statistics, on-base percentage is a measure of how often a batter reaches base for any reason other than a fielding error, fielder's choice, dropped/uncaught third strike, fielder's obstruction, or catcher's interference In baseball statistics, on-base percentage (OBP) (sometimes...
of .365. He retired with a .990 fielding percentage in 903 games as a catcher, a .993 fielding percentage in 787 games as a first baseman and a .951 fielding percentage in 515 games as a third baseman. During his career, Torre hit over .300 five times, had over 100 runs batted in five seasons and hit over 20 home runs six times. A nine-time All-Star
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
, he was the recipient of one Most Valuable Player Award and claimed one batting championship along with one RBI crown. Torre was also a Gold Glove Award winner and led National League catchers twice in fielding percentage. Torre never reached the post-season during his playing career.
New York Mets (1977–81)
Torre managed the Mets from 19771977 New York Mets season
The 1977 New York Mets season was the 16th regular season for the Mets, who played home games at Shea Stadium. Initially led by manager Joe Frazier followed by Joe Torre, the team finished in last place for the first time since 1967, and for the first time since divisional play was introduced in...
to 1981
1981 New York Mets season
The New York Mets' 1981 season was the 20th regular season for the Mets. They went 41-62 and finished 5th in the NL East. They were managed by Joe Torre. They played home games at Shea Stadium...
season, but failed to improve the team's record. After five years without a winning season, he was fired at the end of the strike-shortened season.
Atlanta Braves (1982–84)
In 19821982 Atlanta Braves season
- Offseason :* October 5, 1981: Gaylord Perry was released by the Braves.* March 23, 1982: Brian Asselstine was released by the Braves.During the offseason, the Braves acquired manager Joe Torre from the New York Mets in hopes of bringing the Braves their first postseason appearance since 1969.-...
, Torre replaced Bobby Cox
Bobby Cox
Robert Joseph "Bobby" Cox is a former Major League Baseball third baseman and manager. He first led the Atlanta Braves from 1978 to 1981, and then managed the Toronto Blue Jays from 1982 to 1985. He later rejoined the Braves in 1985 as a general manager...
as the manager of the Atlanta Braves, and immediately guided them to a Major League-record 13 straight wins to open the season. Atlanta subsequently went on to finish 89-73 and capture the NL Western Division title, its first playoff appearance since the 1969 National League Championship Series
1969 National League Championship Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 4, 1969 at Atlanta Stadium in Atlanta, GeorgiaThe Mets struck first in the second off Phil Niekro when Jerry Grote singled in a run and Ken Boswell scored on a passed ball by Braves catcher Bob Didier...
. In Game 1 of the 1982 National League Championship Series
1982 National League Championship Series
The National League Championship Series was played between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Atlanta Braves from October 6 to October 10.-Background:...
against the St. Louis Cardinals
1982 St. Louis Cardinals season
The St. Louis Cardinals' 1982 season was the team's 101st season in St. Louis, Missouri and the 91st season in the National League. Making up for the previous year's near-miss, the Cardinals went 92-70 during the season and won their first-ever National League East Division title by three games...
, the Braves jumped to a 1-0 lead before the game was rain delayed after four innings and eventually canceled just three outs short of an official game. St. Louis won the rematch and went on to sweep the series.
The Braves slipped to second place in 1983
1983 Atlanta Braves season
- Regular season :The 1983 season was one of hope for the Braves of Atlanta. The previous season they had won 89 games and advanced to the playoffs before succumbing to the St. Louis Cardinals in three consecutive games. This was a season to prove that the 1982 National League West Division...
, but their 88-74 record was just one game off the previous season, and marked the first consecutive winning seasons for the organization since moving from Milwaukee in 1966. In 1984
1984 Atlanta Braves season
The 1984 season was the 114th season for the Atlanta Braves.-Offseason:* October 4, 1983: Tommy Boggs was released by the Braves.* October 21, 1983: Brett Butler and Brook Jacoby were sent by the Braves to the Cleveland Indians to complete an earlier deal made on August 28, 1983.-Regular...
, Atlanta slipped to 80-82 the following season but, again finished runner-up in the division (tied with Houston Astros).
Broadcast booth (1985–90)
From to , Torre worked as a television color commentatorColor commentator
A color commentator is a sports commentator who assists the play-by-play announcer, often by filling in any time when play is not in progress. The color analyst and main commentator will often exchange comments freely throughout the broadcast, when the play-by-play announcer is not describing the...
for the California Angels
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
. While working as a guest analyst for ESPN
ESPN Major League Baseball
ESPN Major League Baseball is a promotion of Major League Baseball on ESPN and ESPN2, with simulcasts on ESPNHD or ESPN2HD. ESPN's MLB coverage debuted on April 9, 1990 with three Opening Day telecasts. ESPN Major League Baseball is guaranteed to remain on air until 2013.The title is derived from...
during the 1989 World Series
1989 World Series
†: Game 3 was originally slated for October 17 at 5:35 pm; however, it was postponed when an earthquake occurred at 5:04 pm.-Game 1:Saturday, October 14, 1989 at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, California...
, Torre was on hand for the Loma Prieta earthquake (October 17).
St. Louis Cardinals (1990–95)
In 19901990 St. Louis Cardinals season
The 1990 St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 109th season in St. Louis, Missouri and its 99th season in the National League. The Cardinals went 70-92 during the season and finished 6th in the National League East division.-Offseason:...
, Torre replaced the popular Whitey Herzog
Whitey Herzog
Dorrel Norman Elvert "Whitey" Herzog is a former Major League Baseball manager. Born in New Athens, Illinois, he made his debut as a player in 1956 with the Washington Senators. After his playing career ended in 1963, Herzog went on to perform a variety of roles in Major League Baseball, including...
as Cardinals manager and posted a 351–354 record. Though the Cardinals were unable to reach the playoffs during Torre's tenure, they had winning records in each of the three full seasons he spent with the club (excluding the strike-shortened ). Despite a last place prediction from many commentators, the Cardinals finished in second place and won 84 games in 1991
1991 St. Louis Cardinals season
The St. Louis Cardinals 1991 season was the team's 110th season in St. Louis, Missouri and the 100th season in the National League. The Cardinals went 84-78 during the season and finished 2nd in the National League East division....
, Torre's first full season at the helm. His best record was 87–75 in 1993
1993 St. Louis Cardinals season
The St. Louis Cardinals 1993 season was the team's 112th season in St. Louis, Missouri and the 102nd season in the National League. The Cardinals went 87-75 during the season and finished 3rd in the National League East division. This was the final season in the NL East for the...
. Torre was fired in June 1995
1995 St. Louis Cardinals season
The St. Louis Cardinals 1995 season was the team's 114th season in St. Louis, Missouri and the 104th season in the National League. The Cardinals went 62-81 during the season and finished 4th in the National League Central division...
for his poor record that year as part of a rebuilding project while Anheuser-Busch
Anheuser-Busch
Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc. , is an American brewing company. The company operates 12 breweries in the United States and 18 in other countries. It was, until December 2009, also one of America's largest theme park operators; operating ten theme parks across the United States through the...
prepared to sell the team.
New York Yankees (1996–2007)
Torre served as the Yankees manager under owner George SteinbrennerGeorge Steinbrenner
George Michael Steinbrenner III was an American businessman who was the principal owner and managing partner of Major League Baseball's New York Yankees. During Steinbrenner's 37-year ownership from 1973 to his death in July 2010, the longest in club history, the Yankees earned seven World Series...
, who was famous for frequently firing his team's managers. Torre lasted 12 full seasons, managing 1,942 regular season games (with a won-loss record of 1173–767). and took the team to the post-season playoffs every one of his twelve seasons with the club, winning six American League pennants and four World Series. This was by far the longest tenure for a Yankees skipper in the Steinbrenner era. Torre's was the second-longest managerial tenure in the club's history: only Joe McCarthy lasted longer.
1996–2005
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
. The New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
press
Press (newspaper)
Press is a daily tabloid newspaper published in Belgrade.Press Publishing Group also owns a daily aimed at businesspeople called Biznis, as well as a lifestyle weekly magazine Lola and a glossy monthly magazine called FAME...
(and fans) thought his hiring was a colossal mistake and greeted him with headlines
Headlines
Headlines may refer to:* Headlines , a 2010 song by Alcazar* Headlines , a 2011 song by Drake* Headlines , a 2007 song by the Spice Girls...
such as "Clueless Joe."
However, it was with the Yankees that he enjoyed the greatest success of his managerial career
Career
Career is defined by the Oxford English Dictionary as a person's "course or progress through life ". It is usually considered to pertain to remunerative work ....
, leading them to the playoffs in each of his 12 seasons (1996–2007) with the club. He would eventually become a fan favorite. In , he was named Manager of the Year
Manager of the Year Award
In Major League Baseball, the Manager of the Year Award is an honor given annually since 1983 to the best managers in the American League and the National League . The winner is voted on by 28 members of the Baseball Writers Association of America . Each places a vote for first, second, and third...
. Torre, building on the Yankees' Wild Card
Wild card (sports)
The term wild card refers broadly to a tournament or playoff berth awarded to an individual or team that has not qualified through normal play.-International sports:...
berth in 1995
1995 American League Division Series
-Seattle Mariners vs. New York Yankees:-Game 1, Tuesday, October 3:Jacobs Field in Cleveland, OhioAfter a 39-minute rain delay, Game 1 got underway with two veterans, Roger Clemens and Dennis Martínez, starting the opener. The Red Sox jumped in front first in the third on John Valentin's two run...
, made his first-ever trip to the "Fall Classic," leading the Yankees to their first World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
since . After the Yankees defeated the Atlanta Braves
1996 Atlanta Braves season
-Offseason:* January 3, 1996: Jerome Walton was signed as a Free Agent with the Atlanta Braves.* January 9, 1996: Mike Kelly was traded by the Atlanta Braves to the Cincinnati Reds for a player to be named later and Chad Fox...
, Steinbrenner tore up Torre's contract and gave him a new, more lucrative and longer contract as a reward.
After losing to the Cleveland Indians
1997 Cleveland Indians season
The Cleveland Indians season was a season in American baseball. It involved the Indians making their second World Series appearance in three years...
in the AL playoffs
1997 American League Division Series
-Cleveland Indians vs. New York Yankees:-Game 1, October 1:Kingdome in Seattle, WashingtonThe Orioles had gone wire-to-wire and the Mariners had won the AL West for the second time in the decade. In Game 1, both teams had their best on the mound: Mike Mussina for the Orioles and Randy Johnson for...
in , the team won three straight World Series titles from to , and additional American League pennants in and .
The season was Torre's most successful. Despite a slow start that included losing four of the first five games of the season, the Yankees set a then-American League record of 114 regular season wins, including David Wells
David Wells
David Lee Wells , nicknamed "Boomer", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. Wells was considered to be one of the game's better left-handed pitchers, especially during his years with the New York Yankees and the Toronto Blue Jays. He pitched the fifteenth perfect game in baseball history...
's perfect game
Perfect game
A perfect game is defined by Major League Baseball as a game in which a pitcher pitches a victory that lasts a minimum of nine innings and in which no opposing player reaches base. Thus, the pitcher cannot allow any hits, walks, hit batsmen, or any opposing player to reach base safely for any...
on May 17. During the playoffs
1998 American League Division Series
-Cleveland Indians vs. Boston Red Sox:-Game 1, September 29:Yankee Stadium in Bronx, New YorkScott Brosius was the hero of Game 1, as Todd Stottlemyre faced David Wells. In the bottom of the second, Stottlemyre yielded two runs when Brosius singled in Jorge Posada after Chad Curtis doubled and...
, the Yankees easily bested the Texas Rangers
1998 Texas Rangers season
The Texas Rangers season involved the Rangers finishing 1st in the American League west with a record of 88 wins and 74 losses. It would be the team's second post-season appearance, but the team would be swept 3-0 by the New York Yankees.-Offseason:...
, fought off the Cleveland Indians
1998 Cleveland Indians season
-Offseason:*November 12, 1997: Paul Assenmacher was signed as a Free Agent with the Cleveland Indians.*December 1, 1997: Matt Williams was traded by the Cleveland Indians to the Arizona Diamondbacks for Travis Fryman, Tom Martin, and cash....
for the AL pennant
1998 American League Championship Series
-Game 1:Tuesday, October 6, 1998 at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, New YorkCleveland came in as heavy underdogs, but also were the defending American League Champions. In Game 1, the Yankees got off to a good start, by hitting four straight singles in the bottom of the first to score two runs...
, and swept the San Diego Padres
1998 San Diego Padres season
The San Diego Padres season was a Major League Baseball season. The Padres won the National League championship and advanced to the World Series for the second time in franchise history....
in the World Series
1998 World Series
The 1998 World Series, the 94th edition of Major League Baseball's championship series, matched the New York Yankees against the San Diego Padres . The Yankees swept the Series in four games to capture their second championship in three years, and their 24th overall...
, marking the only time during the 1990s dynasty that the Yankees did not win a World Series against either the New York Mets or the Atlanta Braves. Torre won Manager of the Year
Manager of the Year Award
In Major League Baseball, the Manager of the Year Award is an honor given annually since 1983 to the best managers in the American League and the National League . The winner is voted on by 28 members of the Baseball Writers Association of America . Each places a vote for first, second, and third...
honors, and the team is now widely regarded as one of the greatest baseball teams, along with the Yankee teams of 1927
Murderers' Row
Murderers’ Row was the nickname given to the New York Yankees baseball team of the late 1920s, in particular the first six hitters in the 1927 team lineup: Earle Combs, Mark Koenig, Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Bob Meusel and Tony Lazzeri....
, and , the 1972
1972 Oakland Athletics season
The Oakland Athletics season involved the A's winning the American League West with a record of 93 wins and 62 losses. In the playoffs, they defeated the Detroit Tigers in a five-game ALCS, followed by a seven-game World Series, in which they defeated the Cincinnati Reds for their first World...
–1974 Oakland Athletics
1974 Oakland Athletics season
The Oakland Athletics season involved the A's winning their fourth consecutive American League West title with a record of 90 wins and 72 losses...
, and the 1975–1976 Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
. When ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
launched its Who's #1?
Who's No. 1?
Who’s No. 1? is a sports series that debuted on ESPN25 in 2004 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of ESPN. Hosted by Stuart Scott, the show counted down a “Top 25 over the last 25 Years” list, counting down to #1, in such categories as Best Teams, Worst Teams, Biggest Flops, Greatest Records, Most...
series on June 15, , the 1998 Yankees topped the network's list of best teams over the years 1979 to 2003.
In , Torre suffered his greatest setback, marking the end of the Yankees' dominance. After building a 3–0 lead in the ALCS
2004 American League Championship Series
The 2004 American League Championship Series was the Major League Baseball playoff series to decide the American League champion for the 2004 season. It was played between the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees, at Fenway Park and the original Yankee Stadium, from October 12 to October 20, 2004...
against the Boston Red Sox
2004 Boston Red Sox season
The Boston Red Sox 2004 season was the 103rd Major League Baseball season for the Boston Red Sox franchise. Managed under Terry Francona, the team finished with a 98–64 record...
, his team would go on to suffer one of the worst collapses in baseball history and lose the next four games and the ALCS.
2006–2007
In 2007, Torre got his 2000th win and became the first major league manager to win 2000 games and have 2,000 hits. Torre later notched his 2,010th managerial win, overtaking Leo Durocher
Leo Durocher
Leo Ernest Durocher , nicknamed Leo the Lip, was an American infielder and manager in Major League Baseball. Upon his retirement, he ranked fifth all-time among managers with 2,009 career victories, second only to John McGraw in National League history. Durocher still ranks tenth in career wins by...
for 9th place on the MLB all-time managerial wins list.
He also passed Casey Stengel
Casey Stengel
Charles Dillon "Casey" Stengel , nicknamed "The Old Perfessor", was an American Major League Baseball outfielder and manager. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in ....
on the Yankees all time managerial wins list in 2007 and recorded his 1,150th victory with the team Yankees. Torre led the Yankees to their 13th consecutive postseason appearance.
In the 2007 post-season after the Yankees lost two games to the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
in the Division Series, George Steinbrenner
George Steinbrenner
George Michael Steinbrenner III was an American businessman who was the principal owner and managing partner of Major League Baseball's New York Yankees. During Steinbrenner's 37-year ownership from 1973 to his death in July 2010, the longest in club history, the Yankees earned seven World Series...
said in an interview that Torre's contract would not be renewed if the Yankees did not defeat the Indians. The Yankees saved their season, and potentially Torre's job, for one day, as they won Game 3 at Yankee Stadium. Following the Yankees' elimination the following night, earning them another first-round exit, Torre's fate remained uncertain. That night, as Torre went out to make what would be his last pitching change with the team, the fans in Yankee Stadium gave Torre a standing ovation and chanted his name.
After the season the Yankees offered Torre a one-year contract with a $5,000,000 base pay and $1,000,000 bonuses, to be paid for each of three benchmarks the team reached: winning the American League Divisional Series; winning the American League Championship Series
American League Championship Series
In Major League Baseball, the American League Championship Series , played in October, is a round in the postseason that determines the winner of the American League pennant...
; and winning the World Series. Also, if the Yankees made it to the World Series, Torre would pick up an option for a new contract for the following year. The contract, despite the pay cut, would still have kept Torre as the highest-paid manager in the game. However, it was portrayed in the New York media as an insult. Torre turned down the offer, ending his era with the Yankees. On October 19, 2007, Torre held a news conference to explain his decision. After first thanking owner George Steinbrenner
George Steinbrenner
George Michael Steinbrenner III was an American businessman who was the principal owner and managing partner of Major League Baseball's New York Yankees. During Steinbrenner's 37-year ownership from 1973 to his death in July 2010, the longest in club history, the Yankees earned seven World Series...
, he said: "I just felt the contract offer and the terms of the contract were probably the thing I had the toughest time with."
On February 3, 2009, Torre released a book about his experiences with the Yankees, called The Yankee Years
The Yankee Years
The Yankee Years is a book written by Tom Verducci and Joe Torre. The book chronicles Torre's years as manager of Major League Baseball's New York Yankees from 1996 to 2007. It goes into great detail on Torre's relationship with the players, general manager Brian Cashman, team owner George...
, co-authored by Tom Verducci
Tom Verducci
Tom Verducci is an American sportswriter who is currently writing for Sports Illustrated and its online magazine SI.com. He writes primarily about baseball. He is also a field reporter for the MLB postseason on TBS...
.
Torre returned to Yankee Stadium for the first time since vacating the Yankees managerial job on September 20, 2010, to pay respect to George Steinbrenner on the night of the previous owner's monument being unveiled in Monument Park.
Los Angeles Dodgers (2008–2010)
2008 Major League Baseball season
The 2008 Major League Baseball season began on March 25, 2008 in Tokyo, Japan with the 2007 World Series champion Boston Red Sox defeating the Oakland Athletics at the Tokyo Dome 6–5 in the first game of a two-game series, and ended on September 30 with the host Chicago White Sox defeating the...
, filling the void left when Grady Little
Grady Little
William Grady Little is a former manager in Major League Baseball. He managed the Boston Red Sox from 2002 to 2003 and the Los Angeles Dodgers from 2006 to 2007...
resigned his post two days before. This marked the return of Torre to the National League, the only league he had played or managed in prior to becoming the Yankees skipper. According to ESPN, his contract was valued at $13 million over 3 years.
Torre brought two members of his 2007 Yankees coaching staff with him. Don Mattingly
Don Mattingly
Donald Arthur "Don" Mattingly is a former Major League Baseball first baseman and current manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Nicknamed "The Hit Man" and "Donnie Baseball", he played his entire 14-year baseball career for the New York Yankees...
, who had served as Torre's bench coach, was tabbed as the hitting coach, and third base coach Larry Bowa
Larry Bowa
Lawrence Robert Bowa is a former middle infielder, playing mainly as a shortstop, and manager in Major League Baseball.-Early life:...
was brought in to fill the same position with the Dodgers. In January 2008, Mattingly was moved to the role of special assignment coach for the 2008 season due to family concerns. He was replaced as hitting coach by Mike Easler
Mike Easler
Michael Anthony Easler is a retired Major League Baseball outfielder who enjoyed a 14 year major league career from 1973 to 1987 with the Houston Astros, Pittsburgh Pirates, Philadelphia Phillies, California Angels, Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees...
. In addition, Torre brought in Bob Schaefer
Bob Schaefer
Robert Walden Schaefer is a former interim manager, bench coach and farm system official in American Major League Baseball. He is currently the special assistant to the general manager with the Washington Nationals....
to be bench coach, and retained first base coach Mariano Duncan
Mariano Duncan
Mariano Duncan Nalasco is a retired second baseman and shortstop who played for several Major League Baseball teams during his 12 year career. He was the infield coach and 1st base coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers under Managers Grady Little and Joe Torre...
and pitching coach Rick Honeycutt
Rick Honeycutt
Frederick Wayne "Rick" Honeycutt is the current pitching coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Honeycutt was a left-handed pitcher for 21 years from 1977 to 1997. He played with the Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers, Los Angeles Dodgers, Oakland Athletics, New York Yankees, and the St. Louis Cardinals...
from Little's staff. Ken Howell
Ken Howell
Kenneth Howell, Jr. , is a former professional baseball player.Howell was born in Detroit, Michigan, and pitched in the Major Leagues from 1984-90...
was promoted from Triple-A
AAA (baseball)
Triple-A refers to the highest level of play in minor league baseball in the United States and Mexico.-Purpose:Triple-A teams' main purpose is to prepare players for the Major Leagues:...
pitching coach to bullpen coach, completing his staff. Torre as a young boy lived in Brooklyn when the Dodgers played there, but admitted to being a New York Giants
History of the New York Giants (NL)
The history of the New York Giants, before the franchise moved to San Francisco, lasted from 1883 to 1957. It featured five of the franchise's six World Series wins and 17 of its 21 National League pennants...
fan then, adding another key note in the longstanding rivalry between the two clubs.
On March 31, 2008, Joe Torre made his managerial debut with the Dodgers in a 5–0 victory. Coincidentally, he would be managing several former Red Sox players, such as Manny Ramirez
Manny Ramírez
Manuel "Manny" Arístides Ramírez Onelcida is a retired Dominican-American professional baseball outfielder. He was recognized for great batting skill and power, a nine-time Silver Slugger and one of 25 players to hit 500 career home runs. Ramirez's 21 grand slams are third all-time, and his 28...
, Derek Lowe
Derek Lowe
Derek Christopher Lowe is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Cleveland Indians. He throws and bats right-handed. He is 6'6" and 230 pounds.-Early years:...
, and Nomar Garciaparra
Nomar Garciaparra
Anthony Nomar Garciaparra is a former Major League Baseball player. After playing parts of 9 seasons as an All-Star shortstop for the Boston Red Sox, he played third base, first base, and designated hitter for the Oakland Athletics, first base and third base for the Los Angeles Dodgers, and...
. On September 25, 2008, the Dodgers clinched the NL West title, giving Torre his 13th consecutive postseason appearance. October 4, 2008 saw Torre managing the Dodgers to a 3–0 victory over the Chicago Cubs
2008 Chicago Cubs season
The Chicago Cubs' 2008 season was the 136th season for the Chicago Cubs. It is considered one of their most impressive regular seasons in the entire history of the franchise. Despite 97 regular season wins—the most since 1945—they failed to make it past the first round of the playoffs, losing 3-0...
in the National League Division Series
2008 National League Division Series
-Philadelphia Phillies vs. Milwaukee Brewers:-Game 1, October 1:Wrigley Field in Chicago, IllinoisThe Dodgers swiped Game 1 from the Cubs at Wrigley Field. Mark DeRosa gave the Cubs an early lead in the second inning with an opposite-field home run. James Loney's fifth inning grand slam proved to...
, earning the Dodgers their first post season series victory since their championship season of 1988. Torre's Dodgers were beaten in the NLCS
2008 National League Championship Series
-Game 1:Thursday, October 9, 2008 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaDerek Lowe and Cole Hamels faced each other at Citizens Bank Park for Game 1. In the first inning, Manny Ramírez missed a home run by mere feet to center field and settled for an RBI double to give LA a 1–0 lead,...
four games to one by the Phillies
2008 Philadelphia Phillies season
The Philadelphia Phillies' 2008 season was the 126th in the history of the franchise. The team finished with a regular season record of 92–70, first in the National League East. In the post-season, the Phillies won the World Series; this was the first major sports championship for...
(who went on to win the World Series
2008 World Series
The 2008 World Series was the 104th World Series between the American and National Leagues for the championship of Major League Baseball. The Philadelphia Phillies as champions of the National League and the Tampa Bay Rays, as American League champions, competed to win four games out of a possible...
) with a 5–1 loss on October 15.
In 2009
2009 Major League Baseball season
The 2009 Major League Baseball season began on Sunday, April 5, 2009 with the Atlanta Braves defeating the 2008 World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies 4–1. The regular season ended on October 6, extended two days for a one-game playoff between the Detroit Tigers and the Minnesota Twins to...
the Dodgers had the National League's best record (95–67), clinching the top seed. The Dodgers faced Torre's old club the Cardinals in the National League Division Series
2009 National League Division Series
The National League Division Series consisted of two concurrent best-of-five game series that determined the participating teams in the 2009 National League Championship Series. Three divisional winners and a "wild card" team played in the two series. The NLDS began on Wednesday, October 7 and...
, sweeping them three games to nothing. However, they went on to lose to the Philadelphia Phillies in the NLCS in five games, ending their season once again with a loss to the Phillies. (Phillies lost to his former team in the World Series.)
During the 2010 season
2010 Los Angeles Dodgers season
The 2010 Los Angeles Dodgers season saw the team failing to defend their back-to-back National League West titles as they played their 53rd season in Southern California, since moving from Brooklyn after the 1957 season.-McCourt divorce proceedings:...
, Torre and his Dodgers played games against both the Yankees and the Red Sox. The Dodgers managed to only go 1-5 against the two teams. It was the first time ever he faced the Yankees and the first time he faced the Sox since leaving the Yankees.
On September 17, 2010, Torre announced he would step down as Dodgers manager after the 2010 season, with Don Mattingly
Don Mattingly
Donald Arthur "Don" Mattingly is a former Major League Baseball first baseman and current manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Nicknamed "The Hit Man" and "Donnie Baseball", he played his entire 14-year baseball career for the New York Yankees...
being Torre's replacement for the 2011 campaign.
On October 3, 2010, the Dodgers beat the Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
3-1 at Dodger Stadium for Torre's 2,326th career win. The victory was his last with the Dodgers as he stepped down as the team's manager at the conclusion of the game.
Commissioner's Office (2011)
On February 26, 2011 Commissioner Bud SeligBud Selig
Allan Huber "Bud" Selig is the ninth and current Commissioner of Major League Baseball, having served in that capacity since 1992 as the acting commissioner, and as the official commissioner since 1998...
appointed Joe Torre as the new Executive Vice President for Baseball Operations for Major League Baseball.
Torre drew criticism when, during the 10th year anniversary of the September 11th, 2001 attacks, MLB denied the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
the right to wear tribute caps to First Responders, like they did in the month following the attacks.
Honors and awards
In 2007, Torre was the first recipient of the Chuck Tanner Major League Baseball Manager of the Year Award.In September 2009, Torre was named Sporting News Manager of the Decade.
In December 2009, Sports Illustrated named Torre as the Best Manager of the Decade. Sports Illustrated also selected Torre as number 3 on its list of the Top 10 Coaches/Managers of the Decade in U.S. professional and college sports.
Under current rules, if Torre remains retired from managing, he will become eligible for induction to the Hall of Fame
National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is an American history museum and hall of fame, located at 25 Main Street in Cooperstown, New York, operated by private interests serving as the central point for the study of the history of baseball in the United States and beyond, the display of...
as a manager in 2014, which is the next induction class in which post-1972 managers can be considered.
Film and television appearances
He appeared as himself in the broadcast booth in the 19901990 in film
The year 1990 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* CGI technique is expanded with motion capture for CGI characters, used in Total Recall .* The first digitally-manipulated matte painting is used, in Die Hard 2....
film Taking Care of Business, which showed a fictional World Series between the Angels and the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
.
In the 1997 TV movie Joe Torre: Curveballs Along the Way
Joe Torre: Curveballs Along the Way
Joe Torre: Curveballs Along the Way is a 1997 television movie chronicling Joe Torre's first year as manager of the New York Yankees when they won the World Series in 1996. It stars Paul Sorvino as Joe Torre....
, Torre was played by Paul Sorvino
Paul Sorvino
Paul Anthony Sorvino is an American actor. He often portrays authority figures on both sides of the law, and is possibly best known for his roles as Paulie Cicero, a portrayal of Paul Vario in the film Goodfellas and Sgt. Phil Cerreta on the police procedural and legal drama television series Law...
.
Torre also was featured as the "Voice of the Yankees' Manager" in the 2006
2006 in film
- Highest-grossing films :Please note that following the tradition of the English-language film industry, these are the top-grossing films that were first released in the United States in 2006...
animated feature Everyone's Hero
Everyone's Hero
The soundtrack, released on the Columbia Records/Sony Music Soundtrax labels, features tracks by the star of the film Raven-Symoné, Grammy-winners Wyclef Jean, Brooks & Dunn, Mary Chapin Carpenter, and various other artists....
. Torre's character manages a team that includes a fictional Babe Ruth
Babe Ruth
George Herman Ruth, Jr. , best known as "Babe" Ruth and nicknamed "the Bambino" and "the Sultan of Swat", was an American Major League baseball player from 1914–1935...
.
Torre appeared with Willie Randolph
Willie Randolph
Willie Larry Randolph is a former Major League Baseball second baseman and manager, most recently the third base coach for the Baltimore Orioles...
in a set of Subway
Subway (restaurant)
Subway is an American restaurant franchise that primarily sells submarine sandwiches and salads. It is owned and operated by Doctor's Associates, Inc. . Subway is one of the fastest growing franchises in the world with 35,519 restaurants in 98 countries and territories as of October 25th, 2011...
commercials. During the 2008 season, Torre appeared in TV ads for State Farm Insurance
State Farm Insurance
State Farm Insurance is a group of insurance and financial services companies in the United States. The company also has operations in Canada....
, poking fun at both himself and Hollywood stereotypes.
On June 15, 2009, Torre was a guest on The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien
The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien
The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien is an American late-night talk show that featured Conan O'Brien as host from June 1, 2009 to January 22, 2010 as part of NBC's long-running Tonight Show franchise...
and has made appearances on Sesame Street
Sesame Street
Sesame Street has undergone significant changes in its history. According to writer Michael Davis, by the mid-1970s the show had become "an American institution". The cast and crew expanded during this time, including the hiring of women in the crew and additional minorities in the cast. The...
, Castle
Castle (TV series)
Castle is an American comedy-drama television series, which premiered on ABC on March 9, 2009. The series is produced by Beacon Pictures and ABC Studios. On January 10, 2011, Castle was renewed for a fourth season...
and Gary Unmarried
Gary Unmarried
Gary Unmarried was an American sitcom created by Ed Yeager, which ran on CBS from September 24, 2008 to March 17, 2010. The series focuses on a recently divorced couple sharing custody of their kids while starting new relationships...
. Torre also appeared as himself in the 2002 Mafia comedy Analyze That
Analyze That
Analyze That is a 2002 mafia comedy film, and a sequel to the 1999 film Analyze This. The film was directed and co-written by Harold Ramis and stars Robert De Niro and Billy Crystal who respectively reprise their roles as mobster Paul Vitti and psychiatrist Ben Sobel.-Plot:Near the completion of...
starring Robert DeNiro and Billy Crystal
Billy Crystal
William Edward "Billy" Crystal is an American actor, writer, producer, comedian and film director. He gained prominence in the 1970s for playing Jodie Dallas on the ABC sitcom Soap and became a Hollywood film star during the late 1980s and 1990s, appearing in the critical and box office successes...
.
Personal
Joseph Torre is of Italian descent and was born in Brooklyn, New York. He has one son, Michael, by his first wife, Jackie, whom he married in 1963. He has two daughters, Lauren and Christina, by his second wife, Dani, whom he married in 1968. Both marriages ended in divorce. On August 23, 1987, he married Alice (Ali) Wolterman. They have a daughter, Andrea.His older brother Frank Torre
Frank Torre
Frank Joseph Torre is a former first baseman in Major League Baseball. Torre, who batted and threw left-handed, played for the Milwaukee Braves and Philadelphia Phillies...
was also a Major League Baseball player. He also had another brother, Rocco, an NYPD officer who died in 1996. His older sister, Marguerite is a Roman Catholic nun
Nun
A nun is a woman who has taken vows committing her to live a spiritual life. She may be an ascetic who voluntarily chooses to leave mainstream society and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent...
and teacher, and was until 2007 principal of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary School in Ozone Park Queens
Queens
Queens is the easternmost of the five boroughs of New York City. The largest borough in area and the second-largest in population, it is coextensive with Queens County, an administrative division of New York state, in the United States....
.
Torre was treated for prostate cancer
Prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is a form of cancer that develops in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system. Most prostate cancers are slow growing; however, there are cases of aggressive prostate cancers. The cancer cells may metastasize from the prostate to other parts of the body, particularly...
in 1999.
He is an avid thoroughbred horse racing enthusiast. He is a part owner of Sis City, winner of the 2005 Ashland Stakes at Keeneland Race Course. She had been the dominant 3-year-old filly
Filly
A filly is a young female horse too young to be called a mare. There are several specific definitions in use.*In most cases filly is a female horse under the age of four years old....
that year until finishing fourth in the May 6 Kentucky Oaks
Kentucky Oaks
The Kentucky Oaks is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred fillies staged annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States. The race currently covers 1⅛ miles at Churchill Downs; the horses carry 121 pounds . The Kentucky Oaks is held on the Friday before the Kentucky Derby each year...
. However, a few weeks later on June 26, Wild Desert, in which Torre is also a partner, won the $1 million Queen's Plate
Queen's Plate
The Queen's Plate is Canada's oldest thoroughbred horse race. It is run at a distance of 1¼ miles for 3-year-old thoroughbred horses foaled in Canada. The race takes place each summer in June or July at Woodbine Racetrack, Etobicoke , Ontario...
, the first leg of the Canadian Triple Crown
Canadian Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing
The Canadian Triple Crown is a series of three Thoroughbred horse races run annually in Canada which is open to three-year-old horses foaled in Canada...
. Wild Desert is also partially owned by Keith Jones, an NHL player.
On December 14, 2005, Torre carried the Olympic Flame
Olympic Flame
The Olympic Flame or Olympic Torch is a symbol of the Olympic Games. Commemorating the theft of fire from the Greek god Zeus by Prometheus, its origins lie in ancient Greece, where a fire was kept burning throughout the celebration of the ancient Olympics. The fire was reintroduced at the 1928...
in Florence, Italy, as part of the torch relay of the 2006 Winter Olympics
2006 Winter Olympics
The 2006 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XX Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in Turin, Italy from February 10, 2006, through February 26, 2006. This marked the second time Italy hosted the Olympic Winter Games, the first being the VII Olympic Winter...
in Turin
Turin
Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
, running it 405 meters and ending at the world famous Ponte Vecchio
Ponte Vecchio
The Ponte Vecchio is a Medieval stone closed-spandrel segmental arch bridge over the Arno River, in Florence, Italy, noted for still having shops built along it, as was once common. Butchers initially occupied the shops; the present tenants are jewellers, art dealers and souvenir sellers...
.
In 1997, Torre's autobiography, Chasing the Dream, was released. Later, he authored an advice book, titled Joe Torre's Ground Rules for Winners. His third book, The Yankee Years
The Yankee Years
The Yankee Years is a book written by Tom Verducci and Joe Torre. The book chronicles Torre's years as manager of Major League Baseball's New York Yankees from 1996 to 2007. It goes into great detail on Torre's relationship with the players, general manager Brian Cashman, team owner George...
, was released in February 2009. The book, co-authored by Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
writer Tom Verducci
Tom Verducci
Tom Verducci is an American sportswriter who is currently writing for Sports Illustrated and its online magazine SI.com. He writes primarily about baseball. He is also a field reporter for the MLB postseason on TBS...
, details Torre's tenure as manager of the New York Yankees.
Joe Torre Foundation
Torre and his wife Ali created the Joe Torre Safe at Home Foundation, inspired by Torre's experiences growing up as a witness to domestic violenceDomestic violence
Domestic violence, also known as domestic abuse, spousal abuse, battering, family violence, and intimate partner violence , is broadly defined as a pattern of abusive behaviors by one or both partners in an intimate relationship such as marriage, dating, family, or cohabitation...
in his home in Brooklyn. The foundation operates approximately a dozen domestic violence resource centers called Margaret's Place, named after Torre's mother, in New York City and Westchester County, New York
Westchester County, New York
Westchester County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. Westchester covers an area of and has a population of 949,113 according to the 2010 Census, residing in 45 municipalities...
.
In October 2007, the Joe Torre Foundation partnered with Union City, New Jersey
Union City, New Jersey
Union City is a city in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. According to the 2010 United States Census the city had a total population of 66,455. All of the city is on land, an area of...
's Board of Education and the North Hudson
Hudson County, New Jersey
Hudson County is the smallest county in New Jersey and one of the most densely populated in United States. It takes its name from the Hudson River, which creates part of its eastern border. Part of the New York metropolitan area, its county seat and largest city is Jersey City.- Municipalities...
Community Action Corporation (NHCAC) to create New Jersey's first Margaret's Place, at Union City's Jose Marti Middle School. Aspects of Union City's Margaret's Place will include a peer counseling program and an anti-violence campaign within the school, in order to encourage children to discuss family problems more freely, and training for teachers and counselors. The haven, which is housed in its own secure room at the school, was funded by a $325,000 grant from Verizon and is administered by health care professionals from North Hudson Community Action Corp.
Torre is also a supporter of other domestic violence programs. In September 2008, he recorded a public service announcement and personal voice message in support of the RESPECT! Campaign against domestic violence.
Quotes
- "I'd like to thank Félix MillánFélix MillánFélix Bernardo Millán Martínez is a former second baseman in Major League Baseball.-Baseball career:Millán, nicknamed "The Kitten" , born in Yabucoa, Puerto Rico, made his major league debut on June 2, 1966 with the Atlanta Braves, and played for Atlanta until 1973. Millan was primarily a second...
for making all of this possible." (Regarding setting the NL record for most double plays grounded into in a single game, 4, July 21, 1975. Millan batted ahead of Torre in the lineup, singling in all four of his at bats.) - (On his thinning hairstyle) "I call it the Watergate. I try to cover up as much as I can."
See also
- List of top 300 Major League Baseball home run hitters
- List of major league players with 2,000 hits
- List of Major League Baseball players with 1000 RBI
- Hitting for the cycleHitting for the cycleIn baseball, hitting for the cycle is the accomplishment of one batter hitting a single, a double, a triple, and a home run in the same game. Collecting the hits in that order is known as a "natural cycle". Cycles are uncommon in Major League Baseball , occurring 293 times since the first by Curry...
- List of Major League Baseball RBI champions
- List of Major League Baseball batting champions
- List of Major League Baseball managers in 2006
- List of Major League Baseball managers in 2007
- List of Major League Baseball managers in 2008
- List of All-Time Managerial Wins