Bobby Valentine
Bobby Valentine | |
---|---|
Utility player / Manager | |
Born: Stamford, Connecticut, U.S. | May 13, 1950|
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
MLB debut | |
September 2, 1969, for the Los Angeles Dodgers | |
Last MLB appearance | |
September 30, 1979, for the Seattle Mariners | |
MLB statistics | |
Batting average | .260 |
Home runs | 12 |
Runs batted in | 157 |
Managerial record | 1,186–1,165 |
Winning % | .504 |
NPB statistics | |
Managerial record | 493–450 |
Winning % | .523 |
Teams | |
As player
As manager
As coach | |
Career highlights and awards | |
|
Robert John Valentine (born May 13, 1950),
Valentine has been an analyst for ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball.[2] In February 2013, CBSSports.com hired Valentine to represent its Fantasy Sports business,[3] including running a viral marketing campaign in which he made fun of the many times he was fired in his career and gave fans a chance to "Hire or Fire Bobby V" one more time.[4]
On November 2, 2021, Valentine lost the election to become mayor of his hometown of Stamford, Connecticut, to Caroline Simmons, the first female elected mayor in Stamford.[5]
Early years
Valentine was born in Stamford, Connecticut, to Joseph and Grace Valentine. He attended
He was recruited by the
Playing career
Minor leagues (1968–1970)
At age 18, Valentine made his professional debut playing with the Ogden Dodgers of the Rookie Pioneer League, winning the league's MVP Award, hitting .281 with a .460 slugging percentage and leading the league with 20 stolen bases. He was one of only three players in the league to appear in every game. His roommate was Tom Paciorek and was also teammates with Bill Buckner and Steve Garvey. The manager at Ogden was Tommy Lasorda, the start of a friendship that has lasted four decades.[7] In 1969, Valentine impressive enough in Spring Training that he was promoted to the Class AAA Spokane Indians of the Pacific Coast League. After the PCL season ended, he debuted with the Los Angeles Dodgers as a September call-up in 1969 at 19 years old. Though he did not record a major league at-bat that season, he appeared in 5 games as a pinch runner, scoring three runs.[11]
Back with the Spokane Indians for 1970, Valentine was again his league's MVP after batting .340 with fourteen home runs and leading the Pacific Coast League in eight offensive categories. Led by Valentine and manager Lasorda, Spokane won the league championship over the Hawaii Islanders.[citation needed] He suffered a fractured cheekbone when he was beaned in the PCL playoffs that season and also had right knee surgery to repair a ruptured ligament in January 1971.[12]
Los Angeles Dodgers (1971–1972)
Valentine made the Dodgers out of Spring Training in 1971 and batted .249 with one home run and 25 RBIs in 101 games. His first career MLB hit came on April 25, 1971, an RBI single off
California Angels (1973–1975)
Prior to the start of the 1973 season, Valentine was named Caribbean Series MVP playing shortstop for the series champions from the Dominican Republic, Tigres del Licey.[16] The team was managed by Tommy Lasorda.[citation needed]
As a regular starter for the Angels, Valentine had a strong start, leading the Angels with a .302 batting average. Four days after his 23rd birthday, he suffered a multiple compound leg fracture on May 17, 1973, at
San Diego Padres/New York Mets (1976–1978)
In 1976, Valentine spent most of the season with Padres AAA affiliate, the Hawaii Islanders, playing in 120 games batting .304 with 13 home runs.[11] On June 15, 1977, after playing 44 games with the Padres, he was part of the New York Mets infamous "Midnight Massacre", when the Mets traded Dave Kingman to San Diego for minor league pitcher Paul Siebert and Valentine, sent Tom Seaver to the Cincinnati Reds for Pat Zachry, Doug Flynn, Steve Henderson, and Dan Norman, and Mike Phillips to the St. Louis Cardinals for Joel Youngblood.[21]
Seattle Mariners
Valentine's role with the Mets became even more limited, and he was released in spring training, 1979. He signed with the Seattle Mariners shortly afterwards, and made his debut as a catcher that season. Following the season, he retired from baseball at 29 years of age.
Managerial career
Texas Rangers
Valentine was serving as a member of the Mets coaching staff when he was selected by the Texas Rangers to take over managing duties from Doug Rader 32 games into the 1985 season. The Rangers went 53–76 the rest of the season, finishing with an overall record of 62–99. In 1986 the Rangers finished second in the American League West with a record of 87–75,[22] and Valentine finished second in voting for the AL Manager of the Year. The Rangers fell back into sixth place the following two seasons, and Valentine was fired by managing partner George W. Bush[23] halfway through the 1992 season with a record of 45–41.[22] Toby Harrah took over as manager, and led the Rangers to a 77–85 record and a fourth-place finish. Valentine finished his Rangers' managerial career with a record of 581 wins and 605 losses with no post–season appearances.[22]
In 1989, while still managing the Rangers, Valentine worked as an on-the-field analyst for NBC's 1989 ALCS coverage[24] alongside Bob Costas and Tony Kubek.
Norfolk Tides
In 1994, Valentine managed the Mets' Triple-A affiliate, the Norfolk Tides, to a 67–75 record, and finished fourth in the five-team West Division of the International League.[25]
Chiba Lotte Marines
In 1995, Valentine began his first stint as manager of the Chiba Lotte Marines in the Japanese Pacific League. That season, the team surprised most Japanese baseball fans by finishing in second place (69–58–3); the Marines had not won the Japanese Pacific league pennant since 1974. However, he was fired abruptly due to a personal conflict with general manager Tatsuro Hirooka,[26] despite having a two-year contract.
New York Mets
Valentine returned to the Norfolk Tides in 1996, managing them to an 82–59 record and second place in the International League's West Division. He then was promoted to manager of the Mets with 31 games left in the 1996 season, and led them to a 12–19 record the rest of the way.
Over the next two seasons, Valentine led a Mets resurgence, finishing 14 games over .500 (88–74) both years. In the 12th inning of a 14-inning marathon against the Toronto Blue Jays on June 9, 1999, Valentine was ejected by home plate umpire Randy Marsh for arguing a catcher's interference call against Mike Piazza. Valentine returned to the dugout an inning later disguised with sunglasses and a fake moustache made from eye black. The Mets went on to win the game 4–3, and Major League Baseball fined Valentine $5,000 and suspended him for two games.[27]
Valentine led the Mets to a record of 97–66 and a wild card playoff berth that season. The Mets defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks in four games (3–1) en route to the National League Championship Series, where they eventually lost to their division rival the Atlanta Braves in six games (4–2).
In early 2000, Valentine allegedly mentioned to students at the
On July 14, 2001, Valentine won his 1,000th game as manager, doing so against the Boston Red Sox in his 1,958th game as manager.[32]
Valentine won the 2002 Branch Rickey Award for his donations and personal work with survivors of the September 11 attacks.[33] Valentine had an uneasy, if not volatile relationship with general manager Steve Phillips, who fired three of Valentine's coaches at the end of one season and refused to discipline Rickey Henderson and Bobby Bonilla for their actions in 1999 (the two were seen playing cards during the end of the NLCS that year and the latter asked Valentine to a fight in the dugout).[34] At one point, Phillips refused to let Valentine attend the winter meetings. At the end of the 2002 season, with owner Jeff Wilpon seeing no optimism for improvement in 2003, fired Valentine. Valentine described himself as a scapegoat and stated, "Nobody in this organization has done more for the community than I have. Steve Phillips has done nothing in the community. I went to his church for a father-son night, his church, and he was late."[35]
He finished his Mets managerial career with a record of 536 wins and 467 losses.[22]
Second stint with the Chiba Lotte Marines
In 2004, Valentine rejoined the Chiba Lotte Marines as manager, and in 2005 led the Marines to their first Pacific League pennant since 1974 following a close playoff with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks. On October 26, 2005, the Marines won the Japan Series in a four-game sweep of the Hanshin Tigers. The next day Valentine issued a challenge to the World Series champion Chicago White Sox on behalf of the Marines, calling for a series to be played between the American and Japanese championship teams.[36]
Following their Japan Series championship, the Marines won the inaugural
ESPN
Valentine accepted a position as a baseball analyst for ESPN. He had previously appeared on the cable network's Baseball Tonight show in 2003. He made his broadcasting debut for the 2009 American and National League Championship Series and World Series.[38]
In late 2009, Valentine was a candidate to replace
Valentine continued working with ESPN for the 2010 MLB season. He was interviewed for the
On December 1, 2010, Valentine,
Boston Red Sox
On November 21, 2011, Bobby met with the Boston Red Sox for a formal interview for the open manager's position, and on November 29, it was reported that he would be the new Red Sox manager and the successor to Terry Francona.[43] Valentine was introduced by Red Sox General Manager Ben Cherington on December 2, 2011, and chose to wear number 25 in honor of the late Tony Conigliaro, with whom he briefly roomed during spring training 1976 with the San Diego Padres.[44][45]
Valentine's first and only season with Boston was marred by injuries, public feuds with players, run-ins with the media, and a tumultuous relationship with his coaches.[46] Under Valentine's management, the 2012 Red Sox finished last in the AL East at 69–93, their worst record in 47 years.[22] Valentine was fired by the Red Sox on October 4, 2012, just one day after the conclusion of the regular season.[47]
Managerial record
- As of November 21, 2014
Team | Year | Regular season | Postseason | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Games | Won | Lost | Win % | Finish | Won | Lost | Win % | Result | ||
TEX | 1985 | 129 | 53 | 76 | .411 | 7th in AL West | – | – | – | – |
TEX | 1986 | 162 | 87 | 75 | .537 | 2nd in AL West | – | – | – | – |
TEX | 1987 | 162 | 75 | 87 | .463 | 6th in AL West | – | – | – | – |
TEX | 1988 | 161 | 70 | 91 | .435 | 6th in AL West | – | – | – | – |
TEX | 1989 | 162 | 83 | 79 | .512 | 4th in AL West | – | – | – | – |
TEX | 1990 | 162 | 83 | 79 | .512 | 3rd in AL West | – | – | – | – |
TEX | 1991 | 162 | 85 | 77 | .525 | 3rd in AL West | – | – | – | – |
TEX | 1992 | 86 | 45 | 41 | .523 | fired | – | – | – | – |
TEX total | 1186 | 581 | 605 | .490 | 0 | 0 | – | |||
NYM | 1996 | 31 | 12 | 19 | .387 | 4th in NL East | – | – | – | – |
NYM | 1997 | 162 | 88 | 74 | .543 | 3rd in NL East | – | – | – | – |
NYM | 1998 | 162 | 88 | 74 | .543 | 2nd in NL East | – | – | – | – |
NYM | 1999 | 163 | 97 | 66 | .595 | 2nd in NL East | 5 | 5 | .500 | Lost NLCS (ATL) |
NYM | 2000 | 162 | 94 | 68 | .580 | 2nd in NL East | 8 | 6 | .571 | Lost World Series (NYY) |
NYM | 2001 | 162 | 82 | 80 | .506 | 3rd in NL East | – | – | – | – |
NYM | 2002 | 161 | 75 | 86 | .466 | 5th in NL East | – | – | – | – |
NYM total | 1,003 | 536 | 467 | .534 | 13 | 11 | .542 | |||
BOS | 2012 | 162 | 69 | 93 | .426 | 5th in AL East | – | – | – | – |
BOS total | 162 | 69 | 93 | .426 | 0 | 0 | – | |||
Total[22] | 2,351 | 1,186 | 1,165 | .504 | 13 | 11 | .542 |
Sacred Heart University
Valentine took over as athletic director at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut, on July 1, 2013.
During his tenure Valentine helped to raise the visibility of Pioneer athletics, with appearances on ESPN, SNY and other national and regional media outlets. He oversaw the replacement of the playing surface on Campus Field, as well as its surrounding track, in addition to renovations to William H. Pitt Center. Sacred Heart University invested $21.8 million in the construction of the Bobby Valentine Health and Recreation Center, a 57,400-square foot, three-story, fitness facility for the whole student population, which includes an indoor track, a bowling center, an 18-bike spin center, a 45-foot climbing wall and exercise and weight-training rooms. The facility opened in August 2019.[48]
In addition, the Pioneers won their NEC-best eighth Joan Martin Commissioner's Cup for excellence in women's athletics in 2015, and overall the Pioneers have captured 13 conference championships since he has taken the helm. Programs have garnered national acclaim in that time, with the football team finishing the 2014 season nationally ranked, and the fencing squad finishing 11th in the NCAA at the 2014 championship.[49] In September 2016 Valentine was named the ECAC Division I Administrator of the Year.[50]
Awards and honors
- Elected to the Connecticut High School Coaches Hall of Fame (1986)
- New Jersey Sports Writers Association "Sports Humanitarian of the Year" (2001)
Beyond baseball
Since 1980, Valentine has owned and operated Bobby V's Restaurant & Sports Bar,
In 2010, Valentine started the production company, Makuhari Media, with producing partner Andrew J. Muscato. The company produces sports themed documentaries.[52]
In 2011, Mayor Michael Pavia named Valentine Director of Public Safety for the city of Stamford, Connecticut. Valentine was paid a token $10,000 salary for this position, which he pledged to donate to city charities.[53] Valentine left the position 11 months later to manage the Red Sox.
In 2013, on the twelfth anniversary of the
On December 9, 2016,
2021 Stamford mayoral election
On May 7, 2021, Valentine announced he was running for mayor of Stamford, Connecticut, in the 2021 election.[57] He ran as an unaffiliated candidate.
He was challenged by Democratic state representative Caroline Simmons[58][59] in the Stamford mayoral election that took place on Tuesday November 2, 2021.
Valentine lost the election to Simmons by 1,505 votes. With her election, Simmons became the first woman Mayor of Stamford by taking 52.5% of the vote. Valentine obtained 47.5% of the vote.[60] After the election, Valentine alleged voter fraud, which was disputed by Stamford's Registrar of Voters.[61]
Personal life
Valentine was married to Mary Branca, the daughter of former Brooklyn Dodgers pitcher Ralph Branca and together they have a son. They separated in 2011 and divorced in October 2021. He is currently in a relationship with a Japanese woman, Junko Ogino, whom he met in 1995 and became romantically involved with in 2007 while still married to Mary Branca.[62]
See also
References
- ^ Brown, Thomas J. Jr. "Bobby Valentine". sabr.org. Society for American Baseball Research (SABR). Retrieved March 1, 2021.
- ^ Kate King (January 14, 2011). "Pavia names Bobby Valentine as Stamford public safety director". Stamford Advocate.
- ^ "Bobby Valentine Pokes Fun At History Of Getting Fired In New Video". cbslocal.com. March 8, 2013.
- ^ "Hire of Fire Bobby V?". CBSSports.com. Archived from the original on April 10, 2013. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
- ^ "Former Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine loses bid to become Stamford mayor". Boston.com. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
- ^ "SALT — Bobby Valentine". SALT. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
- ^ a b c Altavilla, John (December 1, 2011). "From The Courant Archives: Bobby Valentine No. 12 On State List Of All-Time Athletes". Hartford Courant. Archived from the original on July 2, 2019. Retrieved May 7, 2021.
- ^ Sean Patrick Bowley (November 5, 2016). "Football: Mason ties state's career interception TD record as No. 7 Newtown trounces Notre Dame-Fairfield". Ct Insider. Retrieved September 21, 2019.
- ^ "Former Cape Leaguer Valentine named Red Sox manager". Capecodbaseball.org. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
- ^ "Bill Buckner". Sabr.org. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
- ^ a b c "Bobby Valentine Minor, Winter & Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 21, 2019.
- ^ 1992 Texas Rangers Media Guide page 9.
- ^ a b "Bobby Valentine Stats". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 21, 2019.
- ^ "Desert Sun 30 August 1972 — California Digital Newspaper Collection". Cdnc.ucr.edu. August 30, 1972. Retrieved September 21, 2019.
- ^ a b "Bobby Valentine Trades and Transactions by Baseball Almanac". Baseball-almanac.com. Retrieved September 21, 2019.
- ^ "Bobby Valentine". mlb.com. MLB Advance Media, LLC. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
- ^ "40th anniversary: Bobby Valentine breaks his leg | The Hardball Times". Tht.fangraphs.com. May 17, 2013. Retrieved September 21, 2019.
- ^ "Dick Green Stats". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 21, 2019.
- ^ Wulf, Steve. "The men who caught them remember Nolan Ryan's seven no-hitters". Sports Illustrated.
- ^ "San Diego Padres at San Francisco Giants Box Score, September 19, 1975". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 21, 2019.
- ^ Madden, Bill. "The true story of The Midnight Massacre," Daily News (New York City), Sunday, June 17, 2007. Retrieved September 18, 2019
- ^ a b c d e f "Bobby Valentine". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved November 21, 2014.
- ^ Brooks, David (August 2, 2000). "George W. Bush should be president – David Brooks". Salon.com. Retrieved December 5, 2011.
- ^ Ringolsby, Tracy (October 10, 1989). "A's charges anger Valentine; wants apology from La Russa". Dallas Morning News.
- ^ "1994 Norfolk Tides Roster". statscrew.com. Stats Crew. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
- ^ "Be Our Valentine: Fans Back Manager". May 22, 2009. Retrieved May 22, 2009.
- ^ "The 10 Most Bizarre Ejections in Sports". Bleacher Report. Retrieved September 2, 2009.
- ^ "The Whartongate Affair". Citypaper.net. Archived from the original on May 7, 2010. Retrieved December 5, 2011.
- ^ "2000 New York Mets Schedule". baseball-reference.com. Sports-Reference, LLC. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
- ^ Bringley, Pack (September 27, 2012). "This Date in Mets History: September 27 - 2000 Mets Clinch the Wild Card". amazinavenue.com. Vox Media, LLC. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
- ^ "2000 New York Mets Statistics". baseball-reference.com. Sports-Reference, LLC. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
- ^ Curry, Jack (July 15, 2001). "BASEBALL; 1,000th Victory for Valentine, Single Blemish for Rusch". The New York Times.
- ^ Singer, Tom (November 14, 2002). "Valentine recipient of Rickey Award". MLB.com. Mlb.mlb.com. Retrieved August 13, 2012.
- ^ "Authors". weei.com.
- ^ "Klapisch: Wilpon fired the wrong man". ESPN. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
- ^ Klapisch, Bob (October 27, 2005). "Klapisch: A World of sense". ESPN.com. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
- ^ "Japan Times Article". Search.japantimes.co.jp. January 17, 2010. Retrieved December 5, 2011.
- ^ "Valentine to start with LCS, World Series". September 29, 2009. Retrieved September 29, 2009.
- ^ Castrovince, Anthony. Tribe tabs Acta to be new manager[permanent dead link]. MLB.com. Retrieved August 21, 2012.
- ^ Reynolds, Tim (June 30, 2010). "Marlins: Rodriguez will remain manager all season". Associated Press. Archived from the original on July 3, 2010. Retrieved June 30, 2010.
- ^ "Bobby Valentine the "front runner" for the Brewers' job | HardballTalk". Hardballtalk.nbcsports.com. October 31, 2010. Retrieved December 5, 2011.
- ^ "Ozzie, Bobby V atop Marlins' wish list – MLB – Baseball – Rumors". FanNation. Retrieved December 5, 2011.
- ^ Edes, Gordon (November 30, 2011). "Source: Valentine gets Red Sox job". ESPN.com. Retrieved November 30, 2011.
- ^ Flannery, Paul. "Full Count » Mike Lowell: 'Everybody is borrowing Tony Conigliaro's number anyway'". Fullcount.weei.com. Retrieved December 5, 2011.
- ^ "Bobby Valentine fired as Red Sox manager". CNN. October 4, 2012.
- ^ "Bobby Valentine will be fired by Red Sox, report says". sportingnews.com. October 3, 2012.
- ^ Abraham, Peter (October 4, 2012). "Bobby Valentine fired by Red Sox". Boston.com. Archived from the original on October 6, 2012. Retrieved May 7, 2021.
- ^ "April: Sacred Heart Builds State-of-the-Art Recreation Center | Sacred Heart University Connecticut". Sacredheart.edu. April 13, 2018. Retrieved September 21, 2019.
- ^ Sacred Heart Athletics
- ^ Fenster, Jordan (September 22, 2016). "SHU AD Valentine named ECAC D1 administrator of year – Connecticut Post". Connecticut Post. Ctpost.com. Retrieved September 21, 2019.
- ^ "Bobby V's Restaurant & Sports Bar – Stamford & Windsor Locks, CT". Bobby V's Restaurant & Sports Bar – Stamford & Windsor Locks, CT. Retrieved April 5, 2019.
- ^ "Bobby Valentine exec producer of 'Pelotero' documentary". USA Today. May 1, 2012.
- ^ King, Kate (January 14, 2011). "Pavia names Bobby Valentine Stamford's public safety director". Stamford Advocate.
- ^ Petchesky, Barry (September 11, 2013). "Bobby Valentine Says The Yankees Didn't Help Out After 9/11. Really?". Deadspin. Retrieved September 26, 2013.
- ^ Ley, Tom (September 26, 2013). "Report: Bobby Valentine Loses TBS Gig Over Dumb 9/11 Comments". Deadspin. Retrieved September 26, 2013.
- ^ Bradford, Rob (December 9, 2016). "Sources: Former Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine being considered for United States Ambassador to Japan". Full Count. WEEI. Retrieved December 10, 2016.
- Yahoo Sports. Yahoo Sports. Retrieved May 7, 2021.
- ^ "State. Rep. Caroline Simmons to challenge incumbent David Martin in Stamford mayoral race". News 12 – The Bronx.
- ^ Laguarda, Ignacio (February 14, 2021). "'I truly love it': Martin seeks reelection as Simmons challenges him for Stamford mayor". CT Insider.
- ^ Gurciullo, Brianna (November 3, 2021). "A 1,500 vote difference put Caroline Simmons over Bobby Valentine to become Stamford's next mayor". Stamford Advocate. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
- ^ Gurciullo, By Brianna (November 6, 2021). "After Valentine alleges 'problems' on election night, registrars say system prevents double voting". Stamford Advocate.
- ^ Dixon, Ken (October 29, 2021). "What's next for Bobby Valentine? After Stamford mayoral defeat, divorce records offer glimpse into financials". Stamford Advocate. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet
- Bobby Valentine managerial career statistics at Baseball-Reference.com
- Baseball Gauge
- Venezuelan Professional Baseball League
- Bobby Valentine's Sports Academy
- Official website
Sporting positions | ||
---|---|---|
Preceded by | New York Mets First Base Coach 1983 |
Succeeded by |
Preceded by | New York Mets Third Base Coach 1983–1985 |
Succeeded by |
Preceded by | Norfolk Tides Manager 1993 |
Succeeded by |
Preceded by | Norfolk Tides Manager 1996 |
Succeeded by |