Joe Torre

Guide Note:

Joe Torre is a former Major League catcher, first baseman, and third baseman and the current manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Fast Facts:

1. Manager of New York Yankees since 1996
2. 1971 National League Most Valuable Player
3. Manager of the Year in 1996, 1998
4. 2007: Named Manager of Los Angeles Dodgers

The Brooklyn-born Torre made his Major League debut in 1960 with the Milwaukee Braves, and stayed with the team until 1968. As a teammate of slugger Hank Aaron, Torre was one of the strongest hitters on the team. In 1961, he came in second in Rookie of the Year balloting, and was a five-time All-Star with the team. In 1969, Torre moved to the St. Louis Cardinals, and in his first three years, drove in over 100 RBIs each season, winning the National League Most Valuable Player Award in 1971.

In 1977, Torre played for the New York Mets, and after manager Joe Frazier was fired, Torre assumed the role, playing eighteen days as a player-manager before deciding he could only manage. Torre retired from playing, and between 1997 and 1995, managed three teams: the Mets, and two other teams he had played on, the Atlanta Braves, and the St. Louis Cardinals. In 1996, after the post-season firing of Yankees manager Buck Showalter, Torre was hired by George Steinbrenner as the new Yankees skipper. While his previous won-loss record had been lackluster (he lost more games than he won), Torre proved himself to be one of the best manager in baseball history with the Bombers. In his first year with the team, he led them to their first World Championship since 1978, and between 1998 and 2000, led them to three consecutive World Series wins. Torre brought the Yankees to the Series again in 2001 and 2003, but the team was defeated both times. In 2007, after a Division Series loss to the Cleveland Indians, Torre was offered a one-year deal with the team, but rejected the offer and became the manager of the Dodgers instead, bringing most of his coaching staff with him.