Dodgers name Joe Torre as manager
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Nov 01, 2007 
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The Dodgers have finally admitted what was true two days ago: Joe Torre is their next manager.
Here is the press release they sent out:
DODGERS NAME JOE TORRE 26th MANAGER IN FRANCHISE HISTORY
Future Hall of Famer hired to pilot Los Angeles in 2008
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers announced today that Joe Torre has been named the club’s field manager through the 2010 season. Torre becomes the 26th manager in franchise history.
“Joe Torre is one of the most respected men in the game of baseball,†said Dodger Owner and Chairman Frank McCourt. “As a player, a broadcaster, a manager and in his life off the field, Joe is a winner through and through. As we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Dodgers moving to Los Angeles, we will again have a Hall of Fame caliber manager at the helm. Joe’s dedication, desire and ability will help lead the Dodgers to our ultimate goal – a World Championship.â€
Torre becomes just the eighth manager in Los Angeles Dodger history, following Hall of Famers Walter Alston (1954-76) and Tommy Lasorda (1977-96), Bill Russell (1996-98), Glenn Hoffman (1998), Davey Johnson (1999-2000), Jim Tracy (2001-05) and Grady Little (2006-07).
“Few managers in the history of the game have accomplished what Joe has delivered,†said General Manager Ned Colletti. “Throughout his career he has demonstrated the ability to turn a vision for success into results on the field and we welcome his passion and leadership. We have tremendous fans and they deserve no less.â€
Torre, 67, has a 26-year Major League managerial record of 2,067-1,770 (.539) and ranks eighth all-time in victories among Major League managers, having passed former Dodgers Leo Durocher (2,009) and Alston (2,040) last season. Torre has more postseason victories (76) than any manager in Major League history.
“Having grown up in Brooklyn, I have a great understanding of the history of the Dodger organization and I am committed to bringing a World Championship back to Los Angeles,†said Torre. “I consider it an honor to be a part of this organization, which is one of the most storied franchises in all of sports.â€
Over the past 12 years, Torre posted a .605 winning percentage (1,173-767) and guided the Yankees to 12 consecutive postseason appearances, 10 American League Eastern Division titles, six American League pennants and four World Championships, including three consecutive titles from 1998-2000. He was named the AL’s Manager of the Year in 1996 and again in 1998 when the team won 114 games.
Prior to managing the Yankees, Torre piloted the Mets (1977-81), Braves (1982-84) and Cardinals (1990-95) and was named the Associated Press Manager of the Year in 1982 when he guided Atlanta to the National League Western Division title. Torre served as a broadcaster for the California Angels from 1985-90.
As a player, Torre was a nine-time All-Star, former Rawlings Gold Glove Award winner (1965) and National League Most Valuable Player (1971). He hit .297 with 252 career home runs and 1,185 RBI in 2,209 games as a catcher, third baseman and first baseman for the Braves, Cardinals and Mets. His 1971 MVP campaign included a career-high .363 batting average, 230 hits, 137 RBI and 352 total bases.
The Brooklyn native has been a dedicated member of each community in which he has played or managed and has been honored for his work in that regard. He and his wife, Ali, inaugurated the Joe Torre “Safe at Home†Foundation in 2002 to aid in the prevention and awareness of domestic violence.
A press conference will be held Monday, November 5 at 10 a.m. (PST) at Dodger Stadium.
Best of luck Joe!!!
Good luck. Glad to see Joe “land on his feet” so to speak.
Now we can all go and think Yankees =D
Wow…Joe stonewalled the M&MD boys and then, two hours later, BAM! The news hits.
Best of luck, Mr. Torre! (Go easy on Scott Proctor.)
Good luck to Torre. I wonder if he knows that the Dodgers don’t play in Brooklyn anymore?
Best of luck Mr. Torre – just remember that heartbeat from your NY fans that you always spoke about.
Hey Peter, any chance you can pass these wishes on to Torre?
heh. Todd Jones declared for Free Agency…not a fun time to be in Detroit!
Good luck to him.
I do not understand how he can turn down $5mm per year, then sign for less with the Dodgers. He must have been tired of the pressure.
**Insert Scott Proctor joke here**
All the best Mr.T
Scott Proctor is already warming up. Dodgers/Sox WS. Be there!
Scott Proctor’s arm is wailing.
Best of luck Joe.
Yankees Dodgers world series next year (with Yankees winning of course)
Good job Peter on being the first to uncover this story.
Selfishly, I would rather he didn’t go someplace else right away, until I got used to the idea of him not being a Yankee… Seems like a good fit though – and if the Dodgers just MAKE the playoffs, he’ll be a hero. For that, I am pleased for him. Anyone else predicting a Yankees – Dodgers WS? This would not surprise me, despite everything.
yeah jim kaats comments on yes are fabulous…
he is a smart man…….
He’s taking Donnie Baseball and Bowa. Tells you what kind of guy Torre is with loyalty like that.
Good luck to all 3.
congrats joe, best of luck and scott proctor too.
All the best to you, Joe Torre. Thanks for all you’ve accomplished here. Now you’re closer to your home in Maui! Have a great season and see ya’ in the WS!
Prediction: Dodgers finish below .500 in 2008.
Tough division and Joe didn’t do well managing in the NL before the Yankees. Starting with mediocre talent and I don’t know if there is enough talent out there for him even if they go heavy into the free agent market.
Torre is going to be on a budget in LA, something he never had to deal with in NY. Every hole he perceives on the Dodgers will not be plugged at all costs with the best available option. Frank McCourt, owner of the Dodgers can be a little miserly at times.
Global Warming -
Torre is being loyal to Mattingly and Bowa, but was he loyal to Stottlemyre, Chambliss, Zimmer, Mazilli, or any of the other Yankees coaches who were fired under his watch?
Where was the loyalty to them?
Joe Torre definitely brings the high profile name that the Dodgers like. Just think, the Dodgers haven’t won a playoff series since winning the 1988 World Series. Yours truly was just four years old at the time!
Good luck Joe. Enjoy the extra golf time in October.
The Proctor jokes are not only tired but ill-informed. If he was looking for a rest he’d be thrilled to see Torre — Little actually used him more than Torre did. Check it out.
Best of luck to Torre, Mattingly and Bowa.
Congratulations to you, Pete, for breaking the story!
“DODGERS NAME JOE TORRE 26th MANAGER IN FRANCHISE HISTORY
Torre becomes just the eighth manager in Los Angeles Dodger history”
Wow, talk about a poorly written press release.
Well, at least Torre, Girardi, & Mattingly are all employed now. I see Bowa will be coming on too out in L.A. I wonder if Donnie didn’t coach if Zim’s phone would have been ringing down in Tampa Bay? And maybe Mel’s in the Pacific Northwest? Joe, Good luck in all you do and thanks for your years in the Bronx. How ironic is it that a Brooklyn native like Torre signs on just as the Dodgers are celebrating 50 years since they moved to L.A.? That in itself is pretty damn cool!
Mr. Faded Glory: He is the 26th Manager in Dodger History (Brooklyn and Los Angeles together) but only the 8th in LA Dodger history.
Congratulations to Joe Torre. It’s pretty sick when you read all of his accomplishments and realize he wasn’t (apparently) really wanted by the Yankees anymore.
The really hard part will be seeing Don Mattingly in a Dodger cap if the reports are true. Some people should just be in one(NY) uniform only and forever. But best to you too Donnie, if that comes to pass.
In other breaking news the entire Dodgers bullpen asked to be traded today…
Good Luck Joe! You were great in the Bronx and I expect you to be great in L.A.. till we play you.
Torre will be fired within a year and a half.
Fired in a year and a half isn’t the point…more monies for the Torre 401k is!!! LOL
After dealing with the New York press, (the best there is btw), this left-coast press will be a cake-walk for Joe. He isn’t expected to come in and get the Dodgers in the World-Series this year. Just making the playoffs would be more than enough for Dodger fan…and perhaps win a game or two in said playoffs. By the time his 3-year tenure is over he’ll prolly retire anyway. The way I see all this…no pressure on Joe at all…and Kenny, get ready, Mattingly’s son is in the Dodger organization…he’ll be right there beside Joe as his bench coach…and a future manager for the Yankees if the Girardi experiment doesn’t pan out.
Good for Joe. Our loss is the Dodgers gain. I just may have to get the MLB package next year.
Does anyone doubt the Dodgers will be in the playoffs.
Thanks for the 12 years of class and winning, Joe.
Best of luck to Joe, Bowa, and Mattingly!
and Diane, I agree 100%. The proctor jokes are *very* tired…
(Testing)
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*hmmm testing*