Joe Girardi facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Joe Girardi
Girardi in 2020
Catcher / Manager
Born: (1964-10-14) October 14, 1964 (age 60) Peoria, Illinois, U.S.
Batted: Right Threw: Right
debut
April 4, 1989, for the Chicago Cubs
Last appearance
September 28, 2003, for the St. Louis Cardinals
MLB statistics
Batting average	.267
Home runs	36
Runs batted in	422
Managerial record	1,120–935
Winning %	.545
Teams
As player Chicago Cubs (1989–1992) Colorado Rockies (1993–1995) New York Yankees (1996–1999) Chicago Cubs (2000–2002) St. Louis Cardinals (2003) As manager Florida Marlins (2006) New York Yankees (2008–2017) Philadelphia Phillies (2020–2022) As coach New York Yankees (2005)
Career highlights and awards
All-Star (2000) 4× World Series champion (1996, 1998, 1999, 2009) NL Manager of the Year (2006)

Joseph "Joe" Elliott Girardi (born October 14, 1964) is an American sports announcer and a former professional baseball player and manager. He played as a catcher in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1989 to 2003. Joe Girardi played for teams like the Chicago Cubs, Colorado Rockies, New York Yankees, and St. Louis Cardinals.

During his time with the Yankees in the 1990s, he helped them win three World Series championships. He was also the catcher for two very special games: Dwight Gooden's no-hitter and David Cone's perfect game. After playing, Girardi became a coach and then a manager. He managed the Florida Marlins in 2006 and was named the National League Manager of the Year. He then managed the Yankees from 2008 to 2017, winning the 2009 World Series. Later, he managed the Philadelphia Phillies from 2020 to 2022. Today, he works as a baseball analyst for TV networks.

Early Life and College

Joe Girardi was born in Peoria, Illinois, on October 14, 1964. He grew up in East Peoria, Illinois, and went to high school at the Spalding Institute.

After high school, Girardi went to Northwestern University from 1983 to 1986. He played for the Northwestern Wildcats baseball team. He was a great student-athlete, earning honors for both his sports and his studies. In 1986, he earned a degree in industrial engineering. He was also the first freshman to be elected president of a fraternity at Northwestern.

Playing Career

Starting in the Minor Leagues

The Chicago Cubs picked Joe Girardi in the fifth round of the 1986 MLB draft. He spent four seasons playing in the Cubs' minor league system. In 1986, he had a good batting average of .309 with the Peoria Chiefs.

Chicago Cubs (1989–1992)

Joe Girardi made his Major League debut for the Cubs on April 4, 1989. In his first year, he batted .248. Over his four seasons with the Cubs, he played in 59 to 133 games each year, showing his skills as a catcher.

Colorado Rockies (1993–1995)

In 1992, the Colorado Rockies chose Girardi in a special draft for new teams. He played for the Rockies for three seasons. In 1995, he played in 125 games and hit a career-high eight home runs.

New York Yankees (1996–1999)

Girardi bats for the Yankees, 1996

After the 1995 season, Joe Girardi joined the New York Yankees. He quickly became an important player. On May 14, 1996, he was the catcher when Dwight Gooden threw a no-hitter. That same year, Girardi helped the Yankees win the 1996 World Series by hitting a key triple in Game 6.

He also helped mentor a younger catcher, Jorge Posada. On July 18, 1999, Girardi caught David Cone's perfect game, which is a very rare achievement in baseball. The Yankees won the 1998 World Series and 1999 World Series with Girardi as their catcher, making him a three-time World Series champion as a player.

Return to the Chicago Cubs (2000–2002)

In 2000, Girardi went back to the Cubs. That year, he was chosen for the All-Star team. He played in 106 games and batted .278. In 2002, he spoke to the crowd after a game was canceled due to a sad event involving a player from the opposing team. He asked fans to be respectful and to pray.

St. Louis Cardinals (2003)

In 2003, Joe Girardi played his final season with the St. Louis Cardinals. He retired from playing baseball in 2004.

Broadcasting and Coaching

After retiring as a player, Joe Girardi became a commentator for the YES Network, which broadcasts Yankees games. He also hosted a kids' show called Yankees on Deck.

In 2005, he became the Yankees' bench coach. He also worked as a baseball analyst for Fox and later for MLB Network and Marquee Sports Network. In 2024, he returned to the YES Network as an analyst for Yankees games.

Managerial Career

Florida Marlins (2006)

In 2006, Joe Girardi became the manager of the Florida Marlins. Even though the team had a very low budget, he led them to a good record of 78 wins and 84 losses. This was a great achievement for a team with limited resources.

Because of his success, he was named the National League Manager of the Year. However, he was fired after just one season.

New York Yankees (2008–2017)

Yankees Manager Joe Girardi with General Ann E. Dunwoody before the N.Y. Mets vs. N.Y. Yankees game, June 14, 2009.

In 2008, Joe Girardi became the manager of the New York Yankees. He chose to wear number 27, hoping to lead the Yankees to their 27th World Series title. In his first year, the team finished with 89 wins.

In 2009, his second year, Girardi led the Yankees to a fantastic season. They won 103 games and then defeated the Philadelphia Phillies to win the 2009 World Series. This was his first World Series title as a manager and the Yankees' first since 2000.

Girardi as manager of the Yankees

The Yankees continued to be a strong team under Girardi. In 2011, despite many player injuries, he led them to win their division. In 2012, he won his 500th game as a manager. The Yankees made the playoffs several times during his tenure.

Girardi managing the Yankees in 2011

In 2015, the Yankees made it to the playoffs as a wild card team. In 2016, he managed his 1,500th game. In 2017, the Yankees had another strong season, making it to the playoffs and reaching the American League Championship Series. After the 2017 season, Girardi's contract ended, and he did not return as manager.

Joe Girardi presents President Barack Obama with a New York Yankees signed team jersey during the Yankees trip to the White House.

Philadelphia Phillies (2020–2022)

In October 2019, the Philadelphia Phillies hired Joe Girardi as their new manager. In his first two seasons, the Phillies narrowly missed the playoffs. In June 2022, the Phillies fired Girardi after the team had a 22-29 record. After his departure, the Phillies played very well and went on to win the National League pennant.

Managerial Record

Personal Life

Joe Girardi lives in Purchase, New York, with his wife, Kim Innocenzi-Girardi, and their three children. He is of Italian descent and is a devoted Christian.

In 2009, after winning the World Series, Girardi stopped to help a person involved in a car crash. He put himself at risk to help the driver. He later said that even with all the joy of winning, it's important to always be a good person and help others.

Joe Girardi's parents have passed away. He has four siblings: John, George, Maria, and Gerald.

See also

In Spanish: Joe Girardi para niños