| Joe Torre | |
|---|---|
 Torre in 2015 | |
| Catcher /First baseman /Third baseman /Manager | |
| Born: (1940-07-18)July 18, 1940 (age 85) Brooklyn, New York, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 25, 1960, for the Milwaukee Braves | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| June 17, 1977, for the New York Mets | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .297 |
| Hits | 2,342 |
| Home runs | 252 |
| Runs batted in | 1,185 |
| Managerial record | 2,326–1,997 |
| Winning % | .538 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Managerial record at Baseball Reference | |
| Teams | |
| As player As manager | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
| Member of the National | |
 Baseball Hall of Fame | |
| Induction | 2014 |
| Vote | 100% |
| Election method | Expansion Era Committee |
Joseph Paul Torre Jr. (/ˈtɒri/; born July 18, 1940) is an American professionalbaseballexecutive and former player,manager, and televisioncolor commentator. He has served as a special assistant to thecommissioner of Major League Baseball since 2020.[1] He previously served in the capacity ofMajor League Baseball's (MLB) chief baseball officer from 2011 to 2020. Torre ranks fifth all-time in MLB history with 2,326wins as a manager. With 2,342hits during his playing career, Torre is the only major leaguer to achieve both 2,000 hits as a player and 2,000 wins as a manager. From 1996 to 2007, he was the manager of theNew York Yankees, and guided the team to sixAmerican League (AL)pennants and fourWorld Serieschampionships.
Torre's professional baseball career began as a player in 1960 with theMilwaukee Braves, as acatcher andfirst baseman. He also played for theSt. Louis Cardinals (for whom he played primarilythird base) and theNew York Mets, until becoming a manager in 1977, when he briefly served as the Mets'player-manager before retiring as a player. His managerial career covered 29 seasons, including tenures with the same three clubs for which he had played, and also stints with the Yankees and theLos Angeles Dodgers, until 2010. From 1984 to 1989, he served as a televisioncolor commentator for theCalifornia Angels and forNBC. After retiring as a manager, he accepted a role assisting the Commissioner as the executive vice president of baseball operations.
A nine-timeAll-Star, Torre won the 1971National League (NL)Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award afterleading the major leagues in batting average, hits, andruns batted in.[2] After qualifying for theplayoffs just once while managing the Mets, Braves, and Cardinals (leading the Braves to the 1982NL West title, before losing in theNLCS), Torre's greatest success came as manager of the Yankees. His Yankee clubs compiled a .605 regular-season winning percentage and made the playoffs every year, winning four World Series titles, six AL pennants, and tenAL East division titles. In 1996 and 1998, he was the ALManager of the Year. He also won two NL West division titles with the Dodgers, for a total of 13 division titles. In2014, Torre was elected to theNational Baseball Hall of Fame.
Joseph Paul Torre Jr. was born July 18, 1940, inBrooklyn,New York City,New York, to Italian immigrants Margaret and Joseph Sr., aplainclothes officer in theNew York City Police Department.[3][4] He was the youngest of five children, with two brothers,Frank (who also went on to play in the Major Leagues) and Rocco, and two sisters, Rae and Marguerite.[5] Torre was raised in theMarine Park neighborhood of Brooklyn.[6] Torre's father Joseph abused Margaret until Torre was 13 years old, when Torre's brother Frank convinced their father to move out.[7] The couple would later divorce.[8]
Torre played baseball atSaint Francis Prep[7] and in the All-American Amateur Baseball Association for the Brooklyn Cadets. Heavyset as a teenager, Torre was not considered a viable professional prospect until he converted to catcher on the advice of his brother Frank.[9] Torre worked briefly at theAmerican Stock Exchange after high school.[8]
Torre followed in his brotherFrank's footsteps when he was signed by the Milwaukee Braves as an amateurfree agent in1959.[4] In his first season in theminor leagues with the Class CEau Claire Braves, he won the1960Northern League batting championship with a .344batting average.[10][11]
Torre made his major league debut late in the season on September 25, 1960.[2] For the1961 season he was assigned to the Triple ALouisville Colonels, where the Braves planned to groom him as the eventual successor to theirAll-Star catcher,Del Crandall.[12] However, those plans were changed when Crandall injured his throwing arm in May1961, forcing the Braves to promote Torre to the major leagues with just over a year of minor league experience.[12] Torre rose to the occasion, hitting for a .278 batting average with 21doubles and 10home runs.[2] He finished the season ranked second toBilly Williams in the1961National LeagueRookie of the Year voting.[13]
Crandall resumed his role as the starting catcher in1962 while Torre stayed on as the back-up catcher.[14] By the1963 season, the Braves had begun to play Crandall at first base as Torre had taken over the starting catcher's role.[15][16] 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 the1963 All-Star Game.[2][17] In December1963, the Braves traded Crandall to the San Francisco Giants, leaving Torre as the undisputed number one catcher.[18]
Torre had a breakout year in1964 when he batted .321 (fourth highest in the National League) with 20 home runs and 109runs batted in, and he led National League catchers with a .995fielding percentage.[2][19][20] He was selected as the starting catcher for the National League in the1964 All-Star Game.[21][22] Despite the fact that the Braves finished the season in fifth place, Torre ranked fifth in voting for the1964 National LeagueMost Valuable Player Award.[23]
In1965, Torre won his first of twoNL Player of the Month awards when he took the honor for May, batting .382, with 10 HR and 24 RBIs. Torre was once again the starting catcher for the National League in the1965 All-Star Game, and he hit a two-run home run againstMilt Pappas to help the National League to a 6–5 victory.[24] He ended the season with a career-high 27 home runs and 80 runs batted in, though his batting average dipped to .291.[2] Torre won his first and onlyGold Glove Award in 1965; however, baseball historianBill James later said the decision was influenced by his offensive statistics and that eitherJohn Roseboro orTom Haller were more deserving of the award.[25][26] In an article for theSt. Petersburg Independent that year,Beat Generation authorJack Kerouac called Torre "the best catcher sinceRoy Campanella."[27]
For the1966 season the Braves moved toAtlanta and the newAtlanta–Fulton County Stadium. The stadium's elevation in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains made it favorable to home run hitters, which led to the stadium's nickname, "The Launching Pad".[28] On April 12, 1966, Torre hit the stadium's first major league home run.[29] Torre produced a career-high 36 home runs with 101 runs batted in, a .315 batting average, a .382on-base percentage, and led National League catchers with a 48.6%caught stealing percentage.[2] He started behind the plate for the National LeagueAll-Star team for the third successive year.[30] His offensive production tapered off in1967, during which he compiled a .277 batting average with 68 runs batted in, though he still hit 20 home runs and won his fourth consecutive start in the1967 All-Star Game.[2][31] He posted another sub-par season in1968 with a .271 batting average, 10 home runs, and 55 runs batted in; yet he led National League catchers with a .996 fielding percentage.[2][32]
Before the 1969 season, Torre feuded with BravesGeneral ManagerPaul Richards over his salary.[33] Eventually, the Braves traded Torre to the St. Louis Cardinals forOrlando Cepeda, winner of the1967 Most Valuable Player award.[34]
The Cardinals hadTim McCarver as their starting catcher, so Torre replaced the departed Cepeda at first base for the1969 season.[35] His offensive statistics rebounded, and he ended the season with a .289 batting average, alongside 18 home runs and 101 runs batted in.[2] In1970, the Cardinals traded McCarver to thePhiladelphia Phillies along withCurt Flood,Byron Browne, andJoe Hoerner, in return forDick Allen,Jerry Johnson, andCookie Rojas.[36] Allen took over as the Cardinals' first baseman while Torre split his playing time between playing third base and sharing catching duties with young prospectTed Simmons.[37] His offensive statistics continued to improve, as he hit 21 home runs with 100 runs batted in and finished second toRico Carty for the National League batting title with a .325 batting average.[2][38]
The Cardinals made Simmons their full-time catcher in1971, leaving Torre to concentrate on playing third base. Freed from the mentally challenging, strength-sapping job of catching, Torre had a career-season offensively.[39][40] Torre won the National Leaguebatting championship, hitting career highs in batting average, .363, hits, 230, and an NL leading 137RBIs along with 24 home runs, en route to winning the1971 National LeagueMost Valuable Player award.[41][42] He also was voted to be the starting third baseman for the National League in the1971 All-Star Game.[43] He was named NL Player of the Month for the second and final time in August (.373, 5 HR, 27 RBI). Adapting to a new defensive position proved to be a challenge, as Torre led the league's third basemen with 21errors.[44] In December, he was awarded the 1971Hutch Award, given annually to the player who best exemplifies the fighting spirit and competitive desire ofFred Hutchinson.[45]
In1972, Torre won his second consecutive starting role as third baseman for the National League in theAll-Star Game. However, his offensive numbers for the season dipped to a .289 batting average with 11 home runs and 81 runs batted in.[2] After two more sub-par seasons, the Cardinals traded the 34-year-old Torre to the New York Mets forRay Sadecki andTommy Moore on October 13, 1974.[46]
With the Mets in1975, Torre became the third player in Major League history, and first in the National League, to hit into fourdouble plays in one game.[47]Felix Millán singled in all four of his at-bats hitting ahead of Torre, and at a post-game press conference, Torre joked about his own performance by saying "I'd like to thank Felix Millán for making this possible." When Torre's batting average fell to .247 in1975, it appeared that his best years might be behind him. However, his average rebounded 59 points in1976, and he finished the year with a .306 batting average.[48] In May1977, the Mets fired managerJoe Frazier and named Torre as theirplayer–manager.[49] Torre was the second of three player-managers in the 1970s, the other two beingFrank Robinson in1975 and1976 with theCleveland Indians, andDon Kessinger in1979 with theChicago White Sox.[50] Because Torre believed he could not do the job of manager properly while still playing, he decided to retire at age 37. He served 18 days as a player-manager, having two at-bats. His final at-bat came on June 17, 1977, atShea Stadium against theHouston Astros, when he put himself in as a pinch hitter. He flied out to right field, thereby ending his playing career.
Torre managed the Mets from1977 to1981 season, but failed to improve the team's record. He went 49–68 in his first season with the Mets, while the team finished 64–98 overall and in last place in the NL East. The next three seasons were similar, as the Mets went 66–96, 63–99, and 67–95, though avoiding last place in 1980. The strike-shortened season of 1981 was Torre's last with the team, and he went 17–34 in the first half of the season and 24–28 in the second half, finishing fifth and fourth, respectively. After five years without a winning season, Torre was fired at the end of the strike-shortened1981 season.[51]
In1982, Torre replacedBobby Cox as the manager of the Atlanta Braves, and immediately guided the team to a Major League record 13 straight wins to open the season, a mark that was later tied by the1987 Milwaukee Brewers and the2023 Tampa Bay Rays. Atlanta subsequently went on to finish 89–73 and capture theNational League West division title, its first playoff appearance since the1969 National League Championship Series (NLCS). In Game 1 of the1982 NLCS against theSt. Louis Cardinals, the Braves jumped out to a 1–0 lead before the game was delayed by rain after four innings. The rain persisted, and the game was wiped out just three outs short of an official game. St. Louis won the restaged Game 1, and went on to sweep the series. Torre was named theAssociated Press (AP) Manager of the Year, becoming the first person to win both that and an MVP award.[52]
The Braves slipped to second place in1983, with an 88–74 record that was just one game off of the division-winning record of the previous season. This marked the first consecutive winning seasons for the team since moving fromMilwaukee in 1966. In1984, Atlanta slipped to 80–82, but again finished second in the division (tied withHouston Astros). Torre was fired after the 1984 season.
In1990, Torre replaced the popularWhitey 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 three of the four seasons he spent with the club. Despite a last-place prediction from many commentators, the Cardinals finished in second place and won 84 games in1991, Torre's first full season at the helm. His best record was 87–75 in1993. Torre was fired in June1995 for his poor record that year, and also as part of a rebuilding project whileAnheuser-Busch prepared to sell the team.
After being hired on November 2, 1995, Torre served as the Yankees'manager underownerGeorge Steinbrenner. Torre lasted twelve full seasons, managing 1,942 regular-season games, with a won-loss record of 1,173–767.[53] He took the team to the postseason in every one of his twelve seasons with the club, winning six American Leaguepennants and fourWorld Series. Torre had by far the longest tenure for a Yankees manager in the Steinbrenner era, and his time as manager is tied for the second-longest in club history with those ofMiller Huggins andCasey Stengel, behind the sixteen-season run ofJoe McCarthy.[54] Torre is the only Yankees manager who was born in New York City.
Before his first game with the Yankees, Torre got off to a rough start. The New York City press (and fans) thought his hiring was a colossal mistake and greeted him withtabloid headlines such as "Clueless Joe."[55] Including his three previous jobs, he had been a combined 109 games below .500,[52] and had never won a playoff game in 14 seasons.[56] He had appeared in 2,209 games as a player and 1,901 as a manager for a total of 4,110 games without reaching a World Series, let alone winning it.
However, it was with the Yankees that he enjoyed the greatest success of his managerial career, leading the team to the playoffs in each of his twelve seasons (1996–2007) there. In1996, he was namedManager of the Year. Torre, building on the Yankees'Wild Card berth in1995, made his first-ever trip to theWorld Series, leading the Yankees to their first Series since1981. After the Yankees defeated theAtlanta Braves, Steinbrenner tore up Torre's contract and gave him a new, more lucrative, and longer contract as a reward.
On April 30,1997, Torre won his 1,000th game as manager, with a 2–1 victory over theSeattle Mariners.[57] The Yankees went into the postseason for the third straight year, albeit as a Wild Card. They lost to theCleveland Indians in theDivision Series. After that, the team would win three straight World Series titles from1998 to2000, and additional American League pennants in2001 and2003.
The1998 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, includingDavid Wells'sperfect game against theMinnesota Twins on May 17.[58] It was in an August 11 victory over the Twins that Torre evened his career record win–loss record, making it 1168–1168. One other manager in Yankees' history, Stengel, had joined the team with a career record further below .500 than Torre, at 166 games; Stengel, too, reached .500 for his career during his time as Yankees manager.[52]
During the1998 playoffs, the Yankees easily bested theTexas Rangers, fought off theCleveland Indians for theAL pennant, and swept theSan Diego Padres in theWorld Series. His club set a major-league record of 125 total wins a season, including the regular season and the postseason, breaking the1906 Chicago Cubs' record of 118.[52] Torre wonManager of the Year honors, and the1998 team is now widely regarded as one of the best teams of all time,[59] along with the Yankee teams of1927,1939 and1961, the1972–1974 Oakland Athletics, and the 1975–1976Cincinnati Reds. WhenESPN launched itsWho's#1? series on June 15,2004, the 1998 Yankees topped the network's list of best teams over the years 1979 to 2003.
Torre presided over a second perfect game in1999, this time behind starterDavid Cone, who defeated theMontreal Expos 6–0.[60] This occurred on July 18, Torre's 59th birthday. He thus became the first to manage his teams to twoperfect game wins, while becoming just the fourth in MLB history to manage his club in two perfect games, joining Stengel (1–1),Walter Alston (1–1), andTommy Lasorda (0–2).[52] The Yankees also won their second consecutiveWorld Series.
With a win overMinnesota on May 12,2002, Torre became the 17th manager in Major League history to reach the milestone of 1,500 victories.[52]
In2004, Torre suffered his greatest setback, marking the end of the Yankees' dominance. After building a 3–0 lead in theALCS against theBoston Red Sox, his team would go on to lose the next four games and the ALCS. This Red Sox victory was the first time that any team had come back from being down three games to none in a series, and such a comeback has not happened again since. The Red Sox would go on to win the2004 World Series, their first title since1918, thereby ending the "Curse of the Bambino", which had supposedly been inflicted on the team whenBabe Ruth was sold to theYankees in early1920.[61]
After getting off to an 8−11 start in2005, the Yankees played their last five months at 84−48. They won 14 of their last 18 on their way to employing a franchise record 51 players to overtake Boston and capture their eighth consecutive AL East title. Their season ended in a five-gameALDS loss to theLos Angeles Angels of Anaheim.[62]
Despite pitching issues and injuries, the Yankees won another AL East title in2006, but would go on to lose theALDS to theDetroit Tigers in four games.
In2007, Torre became the first man to win 2,000 games as a Major League manager and also collect 2,000 hits as a Major League player. He later notched his 2,010th managerial win, overtakingLeo Durocher for ninth place on the MLB all-time managerial wins list. Next, he passed Stengel on the Yankees' all-time managerial wins list in 2007 with his 1,150th victory with the team. Torre led the Yankees to their 13th consecutive postseason appearance.
After two Yankees losses to theCleveland Indians in theDivision Series, 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.[63] Following the Yankees' elimination the following night, earning them another first-round exit, Torre's fate remained uncertain.[64] That night, as he went out to make what would be his last pitching change with the team, the fans in Yankee Stadium chanted his name.[65]
After the season, the Yankees met with Torre and offered him a one-year contract with a $5 million base pay and $1 million bonuses, to be paid for each of three benchmarks the team would reach: winning theAmerican League Division Series; winning theAmerican League Championship Series; and winning theWorld Series. Further, had the Yankees reached the World Series, that would have automatically triggered an option for a new contract the following year. In spite of a pay cut from an average of $6.4 million over the previous three seasons, the new terms would have kept him as the highest-paid manager in the game.[66]
Yankee Global Enterprises chairmanHal Steinbrenner "explained the rationale behind the offer, which was nonnegotiable." Yankees presidentRandy Levine commented, "We thought we needed to go with aperformance-based model. It's important to motivate people based on performance." George Steinbrenner, on account of his advancing age and his deteriorating health, had noticeably less influence in the day-to-day operation of the club. Of the ultimatum he issued during the playoffs, his son Hal denied that his comments influenced the terms of the contract they presented to Torre.[66]
The New York media portrayed the offer as an insult. Torre turned it down, ending his era with the Yankees.[67] On October 19, 2007, he held a news conference to explain his decision. After first thanking George Steinbrenner, he remarked, "I just felt the contract offer and the terms of the contract were probably the thing I had the toughest time with."
Of the aftermath, Wallace Matthews ofNewsday commented, "They are very slick, these thugs running the Yankees. ... They have been trying to figure out a way to whack Torre while making it appear as if Torre whacked himself. What they came up with was brilliant in its innovation and chilling in its cynicism, but ultimately transparent."[68] OpinedMike Lupica, "It was just the most famous disagreement we are ever likely to see in baseball, the most famous manager telling the people who run the most famous team to take their job and shove it. A manager finally fired the Yankees."[69] AddedJoel Sherman, "Torre erred in turning down the Yankees' proposal to stay in the position that has made him rich and famous beyond what he could have dreamed a dozen years ago." He also walks "away from that juice as much as the ownership."[66]
On February 3, 2009, Torre released a book about his experiences with the Yankees, calledThe Yankee Years, co-authored byTom 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 inMonument Park.
On November 1, 2007, the Los Angeles Dodgers announced that Torre would be theirmanager beginning with the2008 season, succeedingGrady Little, who had resigned the 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, Torre's contract was valued at $13 million over three years.[70]Torre brought two members of his 2007 Yankees coaching staff with him.Don Mattingly, who had served as Torre'sbench coach, was tabbed as thehitting coach; andthird base coachLarry 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 byMike Easler.[71]
In addition, Torre brought inBob Schaefer to be bench coach, and retained first base coachMariano Duncan (whom he had managed with the Yankees) andpitching coachRick Honeycutt from Little's staff.Ken Howell was promoted fromTriple-A pitching coach tobullpen coach, completing Torre's staff.[72] Torre had grown up inBrooklyn when the Dodgers played there, but he admitted to having been aNew York Giants fan then, adding another twist to the longstandingrivalry between the two clubs.[73]
On March 31,2008, Joe Torre made his managerial debut with the Dodgers in a 5–0 victory, managing several former members of the 2003 Red Sox, such asManny Ramirez,Derek Lowe, andNomar Garciaparra. On September 25, 2008, the Dodgers clinched theNational League West title, giving Torre his 13th consecutive postseason appearance. October 4, 2008, saw Torre managing the Dodgers to a 3–0 victory over theChicago Cubs in theNational League Division Series, earning the Dodgers their first post-season series victory since theirchampionship season of1988.[74] Torre's Dodgers were beaten in theNLCS four games to one by the eventualWorld Series-winningPhillies.
In2009, Torre served as a coach on managerCharlie Manuel's staff in theAll-Star Game.[52] TheDodgers achieved the National League's best record (95–67), clinching the top seed. They faced theSt. Louis Cardinals, in theNational League Division Series, sweeping them in three games. However, they went on to lose to thePhiladelphia Phillies in theNLCS in five games, ending their second consecutive season with a loss to the Phillies, who would go on to lose to theYankees in theWorld Series.
During the2010 season, the Dodgers played against both theYankees and theRed Sox. The Dodgers managed to only go 1–5 against the two teams. It was the first time Torre had faced either the Yankees or the Red Sox since leaving the Yankees.[75]
On September 17, 2010, Torre announced he would step down as Dodgers manager after the 2010 season, with Mattingly being Torre's replacement for2011 campaign.[76]
On October 3, 2010, the Dodgers defeated theArizona Diamondbacks 3–1 at Dodger Stadium for Torre's 2,326th and final career win. Torre stepped down as manager at the conclusion of the game.[77]
From1985 to1990, Torre worked as a televisioncolor commentator for theCalifornia Angels.[78] Torre also worked as a color commentator forNBC'sGame of the Week[79] telecasts alongsideJay Randolph. While working as a guest analyst forESPN during the1989 World Series, Torre was on hand for theLoma Prieta earthquake (October 17,1989).
With a desire to stay active after his managing career, and in spite of his advancing age,[80] Torre accepted a position assisting Major League BaseballCommissionerBud Selig as the new Executive Vice President for Baseball Operations on February 26, 2011.[81] His stated duties according to theMLB.com biography include serving as the primary liaison for all baseball and on-field activities between the office of the commissioner and thegeneral managers and field managers of all 30 Major League clubs. Other duties include overseeing areas of major league operations, on-field operations, discipline, andumpiring.[82] In December 2014, as part of an executive reorganization, MLB announced Torre's title was modified to Chief Baseball Officer, though his duties remained unchanged.[83]
Torre drew criticism when, during the 10th anniversary of theSeptember 11, 2001 attacks, MLB denied theNew York Mets the right to wear tribute caps tofirst responders, as they had done in the month following the attacks.[84][85]
Torre briefly resigned from his position with Major League Baseball in January 2012 amid speculation that he was interested in joining one of the groups seeking to buy theLos Angeles Dodgers.[86] The following March, he returned to his position with MLB after his group failed to buy the Dodgers.[87]
Torre was the manager of theUSA team in the2013 World Baseball Classic.[88] On September 22,2013, he attended a Yankees pregame tribute toMariano Rivera at Yankee Stadium.[89]
In August 2015, Torre opened dialogue amid concerns about umpiring, the strike zone, and instant replay, by meeting with players and staff of all 30 Major League teams, after Red SoxmanagerJohn Farrell had noted an increasing trend of pitches below the strike zone being called strikes.[90] Commented Cardinals managerMike Matheny, "It's good leadership that he's willing to initiate conversation, ... giving guys a chance [to express any issues they might have], it's impressive. He wasn't ... making excuses for anybody. He said, 'Help me understand how we can help improve.'"[91]
In December 2015, Torre led an expedition toCuba of MLB officials and players. It was the first of its kind since 1999, and it was intended as a step to help normalizerelations with the United States that had begun to ease earlier in the year.[92][93]
In February 2020, Torre was replaced as head of on-field operations by former pitcherChris Young and was reassigned as special assistant to the Commissioner.[94][1] Despite retaining a post in the commissioners result, Torre no longer determined fines and suspensions for on-field incidents.[95]
Torre appeared in theMajor League Baseball All-Star Game 15 total times as a player or as a manager, with his teams going 13–1–1. During his playing career, he was always on the National League squad, going 8–1. Each time he was manager, it was for the American League, with those teams going 5–0–1.[52]
In2011, Torre made his first appearance at the New York Yankees'Old Timers' Day.[96] He also appeared in 2012, 2014, and 2015.
The Yankees retired Torre'suniform number 6 on "Joe Torre Day", August 23, 2014, and honored him with a plaque inMonument Park atYankee Stadium.[97]
On August 27,2016, the Cardinals inducted Torre into the franchiseHall of Fame.[98]
On July 30, 2022, the Atlanta Braves inducted Torre into the franchiseHall of Fame.[99]
On August 27, 2022, Torre participated in the Mets' Old-Timers' Day (the team's first since 1994) by managing one of the squads.[100]
In an 18-year major league career, Torre played in 2,209games, accumulating 2,342hits in 7,874at bats for a .297 career batting average along with 252 home runs, 1,185 runs batted in, and anon-base percentage of .365.[2] 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.[2]
During his individual seasons, Torre batted over .300 five times, drove in more than 100 runs five times, and hit 20 or more home runs six times. A nine-timeAll-Star, he won aMost Valuable Player Award abatting title, and anRBI crown. He finished in the National League's top ten four times each in batting average, on-base percentage, on-base plus slugging percentage, adjusted OPS+, hits, total bases, RBIs, and slugging percentage. Also aRawlings Gold Glove Award winner atcatcher, Torre led National League catchers twice infielding percentage, and was in the top five incaught stealing percentage. In ten different seasons combined at catcher, first base, and third base, he finished in the top five in fielding percentage.[2]Baseball historianBill James ranked Torre 11th all-time among major league catchers.[25]
Torre established a Major League record by guiding his clubs to 14 consecutive World Series wins from Game Three of the 1996 World Series through Game Two of the 2000 championship. He became the second manager to guide his club to 12 consecutive postseason appearances,[52] with Bobby Cox having led the Braves to 14 straight postseason appearances from 1991 through 2005. (There was no postseason in1994.)
| Team | Year | Regular season | Postseason | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Games | Won | Lost | Win % | Finish | Won | Lost | Win % | Result | ||
| NYM | 1977 | 117 | 49 | 68 | .419 | 6th in NL East | – | – | – | |
| NYM | 1978 | 162 | 66 | 96 | .407 | 6th in NL East | – | – | – | |
| NYM | 1979 | 162 | 63 | 99 | .389 | 6th in NL East | – | – | – | |
| NYM | 1980 | 162 | 67 | 95 | .414 | 5th in NL East | – | – | – | |
| NYM | 1981 | 51 | 17 | 34 | .333 | 5th in NL East | – | – | – | |
| 52 | 24 | 28 | .462 | 4th in NL East | ||||||
| NYM total | 706 | 286 | 420 | .405 | – | – | – | |||
| ATL | 1982 | 162 | 89 | 73 | .549 | 1st in NL West | 0 | 3 | .000 | LostNLCS (STL) |
| ATL | 1983 | 162 | 88 | 74 | .543 | 2nd in NL West | – | – | – | |
| ATL | 1984 | 162 | 80 | 82 | .494 | 3rd in NL West | – | – | – | |
| ATL total | 486 | 257 | 229 | .529 | 0 | 3 | .000 | |||
| STL | 1990 | 58 | 24 | 34 | .414 | 6th in NL East | – | – | – | |
| STL | 1991 | 162 | 84 | 78 | .519 | 2nd in NL East | – | – | – | |
| STL | 1992 | 162 | 83 | 79 | .512 | 3rd in NL East | – | – | – | |
| STL | 1993 | 162 | 87 | 75 | .537 | 3rd in NL East | – | – | – | |
| STL | 1994 | 114 | 53 | 61 | .465 | 4th in NL Central | – | – | – | |
| STL | 1995 | 47 | 20 | 27 | .426 | Fired | – | – | – | |
| STL total | 705 | 351 | 354 | .498 | – | – | – | |||
| NYY | 1996 | 162 | 92 | 70 | .568 | 1st in AL East | 11 | 4 | .733 | WonWorld Series (ATL) |
| NYY | 1997 | 162 | 96 | 66 | .593 | 2nd in AL East | 2 | 3 | .400 | LostALDS (CLE) |
| NYY | 1998 | 162 | 114 | 48 | .704 | 1st in AL East | 11 | 2 | .846 | WonWorld Series (SD) |
| NYY | 1999 | 162 | 98 | 64 | .605 | 1st in AL East | 11 | 1 | .917 | WonWorld Series (ATL) |
| NYY | 2000 | 161 | 87 | 74 | .540 | 1st in AL East | 11 | 5 | .688 | WonWorld Series (NYM) |
| NYY | 2001 | 160 | 95 | 65 | .594 | 1st in AL East | 10 | 7 | .588 | LostWorld Series (ARI) |
| NYY | 2002 | 161 | 103 | 58 | .640 | 1st in AL East | 1 | 3 | .250 | LostALDS (ANA) |
| NYY | 2003 | 162 | 101 | 61 | .623 | 1st in AL East | 9 | 8 | .529 | LostWorld Series (FLA) |
| NYY | 2004 | 162 | 101 | 61 | .623 | 1st in AL East | 6 | 5 | .545 | LostALCS (BOS) |
| NYY | 2005 | 162 | 95 | 67 | .586 | 1st in AL East | 2 | 3 | .400 | LostALDS (LAA) |
| NYY | 2006 | 162 | 97 | 65 | .599 | 1st in AL East | 1 | 3 | .250 | LostALDS (DET) |
| NYY | 2007 | 162 | 94 | 68 | .580 | 2nd in AL East | 1 | 3 | .250 | LostALDS (CLE) |
| NYY total | 1940 | 1173 | 767 | .605 | 76 | 47 | .618 | |||
| LAD | 2008 | 162 | 84 | 78 | .519 | 1st in NL West | 4 | 4 | .500 | LostNLCS (PHI) |
| LAD | 2009 | 162 | 95 | 67 | .586 | 1st in NL West | 4 | 4 | .500 | LostNLCS (PHI) |
| LAD | 2010 | 162 | 80 | 82 | .494 | 4th in NL West | – | – | – | |
| LAD total | 486 | 259 | 227 | .533 | 8 | 8 | .500 | |||
| Total[53] | 4323 | 2326 | 1997 | .538 | 84 | 58 | .592 | |||
General reference:[101]
| Title | Times | Dates | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|
| American League champion | 6 | 1996,1998–2001,2003 | [102][103][104] |
| MLB division champion | 13 | 1982,1996,1998–2006,2008,2009 | [105] |
| National League batting champion | 1 | 1971 | |
| World Series champion | 4 | 1996,1998–2000 |
| Act of honor bestowed | Date | Ref |
|---|---|---|
| National Baseball Hall of Fame inductee | 2014 | [106] |
| New York Yankees #6 retired | August 23,2014 | [107] |
| St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame inductee | August 27,2016 | [98] |
Torre appeared as himself in the broadcast booth in the1990 filmTaking Care of Business, which showed a fictional World Series between the Angels and theChicago Cubs. He appeared as himself in a 1996 episode ofCosby.
In the 1997 TV movieJoe Torre: Curveballs Along the Way, Torre was played byPaul Sorvino.
Torre also was featured as the "Voice of the Yankees' Manager" in the2006 animated featureEveryone's Hero.[117] Torre's character manages a team that includes a fictionalBabe Ruth.
Torre appeared withWillie Randolph in a set ofSubway commercials, highlighting the pun of Subway and theSubway Series which Torre, then as Yankees manager, took part with Randolph, then as Mets manager.
During the 2008 season, Torre appeared in TV ads forState Farm Insurance, poking fun at both himself and at Hollywood stereotypes.[118][119]
On June 15, 2009, Torre was a guest onThe Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien[120] He has made appearances onSesame Street,Castle,[121] andGary Unmarried. Torre also appeared as himself in the 2002 Mafia comedyAnalyze That starringRobert De Niro andBilly Crystal.[122]
Torre appeared in the 2022 sports documentaryThe Captain, coveringDerek Jeter's life and career.[123]
Athoroughbred horse racing enthusiast, Torre is a part owner of several horses.[124]Game On Dude is a retiredthoroughbred who is one of the top older handicap horses in the United States.[125] He also was a part-owner of Sis City, winner of the 2005Ashland Stakes atKeeneland Race Course. Sis City was the dominant three-year-oldfilly that year until finishing fourth in the May 6Kentucky Oaks. However, a few weeks later on June 26,Wild Desert, in which Torre is also a partner, won the $1.0 millionQueen's Plate, the first leg of theCanadian Triple Crown. Wild Desert is also partially owned byKeith Jones, anNHL player. A horse named Torre and Zim, was named after Torre and his former bench coach Don Zimmer, as both love horse racing.[126]Homeboykris, who had upset the field by a half-length and won the opening card of thePreakness Stakes on May 21, 2016, collapsed and died on his way back to thestall immediately after the race.[127]
In 1997, Torre's autobiography,Chasing the Dream, was released. Later, he authored an advice book, entitledJoe Torre's Ground Rules for Winners.[128] His third book,The Yankee Years, was released in February 2009. The book, co-authored bySports Illustrated writerTom Verducci, details Torre's tenure as manager of the New York Yankees.[129]
In 2002, Torre and his wife Ali established the Joe Torre Safe at Home Foundation. In October 2007 the Foundation partnered with theUnion City, New Jersey Board of Education and theNorth Hudson Community Action Corporation (NHCAC) to establish the Foundation's Margaret Place initiative atUnion City, New Jersey's José Martí Middle School, with a $325,000 donation fromVerizon. It continues to receive yearly funding from that company of up to $65,000. The Foundation's mission is to educate about and to prevent domestic violence. Margaret's Place is named after Torre's mother, who was a victim of verbal and physical abuse at the hands of Torre's New York City Police officer father when Torre was a child. Torre describes his father as a "bully", and, while Torre himself was not a target of his father's violence, he has stated that he never felt safe at home, and that he grew up in fear for his mother, saying, "I always felt responsible for it. I never thought I belonged anywhere. I never felt safe except on the ball field." Margaret's Place is a comprehensive program that provides students with a safe room in school where they can meet with a professional counselor trained in domestic violence intervention and prevention in order to address their home situation and to educate them to understand the impact of domestic violence on the community. The children are also given the opportunity to read, play games, or talk about their experience with others. The program, which is administered by health care professionals from North Hudson Community Action Corp., also includes an anti-violence campaign within the school, and training for teachers and counselors. It has grown to eleven sites in the region, though Union City's is the only such program in New Jersey.[5][130][131]
Torre is also a supporter of other anti-domestic violence programs. In September 2008, he recorded a public service announcement[132] and personal voice message in support of the RESPECT! Campaign against domestic violence.
He has one son, Michael, by his first wife, Jackie, whom he married in 1963. He has two daughters, Lauren and Cristina, by his second wife, Dani, whom he married in 1968. Both of these marriages ended in divorce. On August 23, 1987, he married Alice (Ali) Wolterman, his third wife. They have a daughter, Andrea.
His older brotherFrank was also a Major League Baseball player. Frank died in 2014. His eldest brother Rocco was aNew York Police Department officer who died in 1996. His older sister Marguerite was aRoman Catholicnun and teacher, and was the principal of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary School inOzone Park,Queens until her death on May 29, 2022. His other sister Rae died in 2015.[133]
Torre was treated forprostate cancer[134] in 1999.
On December 14, 2005, Torre carried theOlympic Flame inFlorence, Italy, as part of the torch relay of the2006 Winter Olympics inTurin, running it 405 meters, and ending up at thePonte Vecchio.
As of April 2020[update], Torre and his wife live inHarrison, New York. Until February 2020, they also had a house inMahopac.[135]
At the Rivers Club in downtown Pittsburgh last Saturday, the Yankees'Joe Torre was named as the recipient of the first "Chuck Tanner Major League Manager of the Year Award."
, orBaseball Almanac| Awards and achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Major League Player of the Month May 1965 August 1971 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Hitting for the cycle June 27, 1973 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
