Joe Torre facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Joe Torre
Torre in 2015
Catcher / First baseman / Third baseman / Manager
Born: (1940-07-18) July 18, 1940 (age 85) Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S.
Batted: Right Threw: Right
debut
September 25, 1960, for the Milwaukee Braves
Last 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
Teams
As player Milwaukee / Atlanta Braves (1960–1968) St. Louis Cardinals (1969–1974) New York Mets (1975–1977) As manager New York Mets (1977–1981) Atlanta Braves (1982–1984) St. Louis Cardinals (1990–1995) New York Yankees (1996–2007) Los Angeles Dodgers (2008–2010)
Career highlights and awards
9× All-Star (1963–1967, 1970–1973) 4× World Series champion (1996, 1998–2000) NL MVP (1971) Gold Glove Award (1965) NL batting champion (1971) NL RBI leader (1971) 2× AL Manager of the Year (1996, 1998) New York Yankees No. 6 retired Braves Hall of Fame St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame Monument Park honoree
Baseball Hall of Fame
Induction	2014
Vote	100%
Election Method	Expansion Era Committee

Joseph Paul Torre Jr. (born July 18, 1940) is an American baseball expert and former player, manager, and TV commentator. He has worked as a special assistant to the Commissioner of Major League Baseball since 2020. Before that, he was MLB's chief baseball officer from 2011 to 2020.

Torre is fifth all-time in MLB history with 2,326 wins as a manager. He is the only person in Major League Baseball to have both 2,000 hits as a player and 2,000 wins as a manager. From 1996 to 2007, he managed the New York Yankees. He led them to six American League (AL) championships and four World Series titles.

Torre started his baseball career as a player in 1960 with the Milwaukee Braves. He played as a catcher and first baseman. He also played for the St. Louis Cardinals and the New York Mets. In 1977, he became a manager. He briefly served as a player-manager for the Mets before he stopped playing. His managing career lasted 29 seasons. He managed the same three teams he played for, plus the Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers. From 1984 to 1989, he was a TV commentator for the California Angels and NBC. After he stopped managing, he helped the Commissioner as an executive.

Torre was a nine-time All-Star. He won the 1971 National League (NL) Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award. He led the major leagues in batting average, hits, and runs batted in that year. Torre's biggest success came as manager of the Yankees. His Yankee teams won 60.5% of their regular-season games. They made the playoffs every year. They won four World Series titles, six AL championships, and ten AL East division titles. He was the AL Manager of the Year in 1996 and 1998. He also won two NL West division titles with the Dodgers. In total, he won 13 division titles. In 2014, Torre was chosen for the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Early Life and Baseball Start

Growing Up in Brooklyn

Joseph Paul Torre Jr. was born on July 18, 1940, in Brooklyn, New York City. His parents were Italian immigrants. He was the youngest of five children. His brother, Frank Torre, also played in the Major Leagues. Joe grew up in the Marine Park area of Brooklyn.

Becoming a Catcher

Torre played baseball at St. Francis Preparatory School. He was a bit heavy as a teenager. He wasn't seen as a future professional player until his brother Frank suggested he become a catcher. After high school, Torre worked briefly at the American Stock Exchange.

Playing Baseball Professionally

Starting in the Minor Leagues

Torre followed his brother Frank into baseball. The Milwaukee Braves signed him in 1959. In his first minor league season with the Class C Eau Claire Braves, he won the 1960 Northern League batting championship. He had a .344 batting average.

Milwaukee and Atlanta Braves (1960–1968)

Torre played his first major league game on September 25, 1960. For the 1961 season, he was sent to the Triple A Louisville Colonels. The Braves wanted him to take over from their All-Star catcher, Del Crandall. But Crandall hurt his arm in May 1961. This made the Braves bring Torre to the major leagues sooner than planned. Torre did well, hitting .278 with 21 doubles and 10 home runs. He finished second in the 1961 National League Rookie of the Year voting.

By 1963, Torre became the main catcher for the Braves. He hit .293 with 14 home runs and 71 runs batted in. He was chosen as a reserve for the 1963 All-Star Game. In 1964, Torre had a great year. He batted .321, which was fourth best in the National League. He also hit 20 home runs and had 109 runs batted in. He led NL catchers with a .995 fielding percentage. He was the starting catcher for the National League in the 1964 All-Star Game.

In 1965, Torre had a career-high 27 home runs and 80 runs batted in. He won his only Gold Glove Award that year. He was the starting catcher for the National League in the 1965 All-Star Game again. He hit a two-run home run to help the National League win.

In 1966, the Braves moved to Atlanta. Their new stadium was good for home run hitters. Torre hit the first major league home run in the Atlanta stadium on April 12, 1966. He hit a career-high 36 home runs and had 101 runs batted in. He also had a .315 batting average. He was the starting catcher for the National League All-Star team for the third year in a row.

St. Louis Cardinals (1969–1974)

Before the 1969 season, the Braves traded Torre to the St. Louis Cardinals. He replaced Orlando Cepeda at first base. His hitting improved, and he finished the season with a .289 batting average, 18 home runs, and 101 runs batted in. In 1970, Torre split his time between third base and catching. He hit 21 home runs and had 100 runs batted in. He finished second in the National League batting race with a .325 average.

In 1971, Torre played mostly third base. He had his best hitting season ever. He won the National League batting championship with a .363 average. He also had career highs in hits (230) and led the NL with 137 RBIs. He hit 24 home runs. He won the 1971 National League Most Valuable Player award. He was also the starting third baseman for the National League in the 1971 All-Star Game.

New York Mets (1975–1977)

In 1975, Torre joined the New York Mets. In May 1977, the Mets fired their manager and named Torre as their player-manager. This meant he was both a player and a manager. Torre felt he couldn't do both jobs well, so he decided to stop playing at age 37. His last game as a player was on June 17, 1977.

Managing Baseball Teams

New York Mets (1977–1981)

Torre managed the Mets from 1977 to 1981. The team did not have a winning record during his time there. After five years without a winning season, Torre was let go at the end of the 1981 season.

Atlanta Braves (1982–1984)

Torre in 1982

In 1982, Torre became the manager of the Atlanta Braves. He led the team to a Major League record of 13 straight wins to start the season. This record was later tied by other teams. Atlanta finished 89–73 and won the National League West division title. This was their first playoff appearance since 1969. The Braves lost in the playoffs that year. Torre was named the Associated Press (AP) Manager of the Year. He was the first person to win both that award and an MVP award.

The Braves finished second in 1983 and 1984. Torre was fired after the 1984 season.

St. Louis Cardinals (1990–1995)

Torre in 1995.

In 1990, Torre became the Cardinals manager. The Cardinals did not reach the playoffs while he was there. However, they had winning records in three of his four full seasons. His best record was 87–75 in 1993. Torre was fired in June 1995.

New York Yankees (1996–2007)

Torre became the manager of the New York Yankees on November 2, 1995. He managed for twelve full seasons, leading the team to 1,173 wins and 767 losses. He took the team to the playoffs in all twelve seasons. They won six American League championships and four World Series titles. Torre was the Yankees manager for a very long time, tied for the second-longest in the team's history. He is the only Yankees manager born in New York City.

Winning the World Series

Joe Torre (left) with George W. Bush and Diamondbacks manager Bob Brenly on the field at Yankee Stadium before Game 3 of the 2001 World Series.

When Torre first joined the Yankees, many people thought it was a bad idea. He had never won a playoff game in 14 seasons as a manager. But with the Yankees, he had his greatest success. In 1996, he was named Manager of the Year. He led the Yankees to their first World Series since 1981. The Yankees defeated the Atlanta Braves. After this win, the team owner gave Torre a new, better contract.

On April 30, 1997, Torre won his 1,000th game as a manager. The Yankees made the playoffs again but lost in the first round. After that, the team won three straight World Series titles from 1998 to 2000. They also won American League championships in 2001 and 2003.

The 1998 season was Torre's most successful. The Yankees set an American League record with 114 regular-season wins. This included David Wells's perfect game. In the 1998 playoffs, the Yankees easily won. They swept the San Diego Padres in the World Series. His team set a major-league record of 125 total wins in a season, including the regular season and playoffs. Torre won Manager of the Year honors again. The 1998 team is seen as one of the best teams ever.

Torre also managed a second perfect game in 1999, thrown by David Cone. This happened on Torre's 59th birthday. The Yankees also won their second straight World Series that year.

In 2004, the Yankees had a big setback. They had a 3–0 lead in the ALCS against the Boston Red Sox. But they lost the next four games and the series. This was the first time a team had come back from being down three games to none in a series. The Red Sox went on to win the World Series.

Torre after visiting the mound during a 2005 game

In 2007, Torre became the first person to win 2,000 games as a Major League manager and also get 2,000 hits as a player. He led the Yankees to their 13th straight playoff appearance.

Torre with Don Mattingly in 2007

After the 2007 season, the Yankees offered Torre a new contract. It included bonuses for winning playoff series. Torre turned it down, ending his time with the Yankees. On October 19, 2007, he explained his decision. He thanked the team owner but said the contract terms were difficult for him.

Los Angeles Dodgers (2008–2010)

On November 1, 2007, the Los Angeles Dodgers announced that Torre would be their manager. This brought Torre back to the National League. He brought some of his Yankees coaches with him, including Don Mattingly.

On March 31, 2008, Joe Torre made his managing debut with the Dodgers. On September 25, 2008, the Dodgers won the National League West title. This gave Torre his 13th straight playoff appearance. The Dodgers won their first playoff series since 1988. However, Torre's Dodgers lost in the NLCS.

In 2009, the Dodgers had the best record in the National League. They swept the St. Louis Cardinals in the first round of the playoffs. But they lost in the NLCS again.

On September 17, 2010, Torre announced he would step down as Dodgers manager after the 2010 season. Mattingly became his replacement. On October 3, 2010, the Dodgers won Torre's 2,326th and final career game as a manager.

Working for Major League Baseball

After his managing career, Torre wanted to stay involved in baseball. On February 26, 2011, he became the Executive Vice President for Baseball Operations for Major League Baseball. His job included working with general managers and field managers of all 30 Major League clubs. He also oversaw operations, discipline, and umpiring. In December 2014, his title changed to Chief Baseball Officer, but his duties stayed the same.

In February 2020, Torre's role changed. He became a special assistant to the Commissioner. He no longer decided fines and suspensions for on-field incidents.

Achievements and Honors

Torre at Dodger Stadium, May 2010

Torre was part of the Major League Baseball All-Star Game 15 times as a player or manager. As a player, he was on the National League team 9 times. As a manager, he led the American League team 6 times.

In 2011, Torre first appeared at the New York Yankees' Old Timers' Day. He also attended in 2012, 2014, and 2015.

The Yankees retired Torre's uniform number 6 on "Joe Torre Day," August 23, 2014. They also honored him with a plaque in Monument Park at Yankee Stadium.

On August 27, 2016, the Cardinals added Torre to their Hall of Fame. On July 30, 2022, the Atlanta Braves added Torre to their Hall of Fame. On August 27, 2022, Torre managed one of the teams at the Mets' Old-Timers' Day.

Legacy in Baseball

In his 18-year playing career, Torre played in 2,209 games. He had 2,342 hits, 252 home runs, and 1,185 runs batted in. His career batting average was .297. He batted over .300 five times and had over 100 RBIs five times. He hit 20 or more home runs six times. He was a nine-time All-Star. He won an MVP Award, a batting title, and an RBI title. He also won a Rawlings Gold Glove Award as a catcher. Baseball expert Bill James ranked Torre 11th all-time among major league catchers.

As a manager, Torre led his teams to 14 straight World Series wins from 1996 to 2000. He was the second manager to lead his team to 12 straight playoff appearances.

Managerial Record

Awards and Honors

Awards

• 2× Associated Press Manager of the Year (1982, 1998)
• 2× BBWAA American League Manager of the Year (1996, 1998)
• Chuck Tanner Major League Baseball Manager of the Year (2007)
• Hutch Award (1971)
• 15× Major League Baseball All-Star
  • 9× as a player (1963–67, 1970–73)
  • 6× as a manager (1997, 1999–2002, 2004)
• National League Most Valuable Player Award (1971)
• 2× National League Player of the Month Award (May 1965, August 1971)
• Rawlings Gold Glove Award at catcher (1965)
• Sporting News American League Manager of the Year Award (1998)
• Sporting News Major League Baseball Manager of the Decade (2000–09)
• Sporting News Major League Baseball Player of the Year Award (1971)
• 4× Sporting News National League All-Star team (1964–66, 1971)
• Sports Illustrated Major League Baseball All-Decade Team manager (2000–09)
• Sports Illustrated No. 3 of the Top 10 Coaches/Managers of the Decade in U.S. professional and college sports (2000–09)
• Willie, Mickey and the Duke Award (2002, 2011)
• Doctor of Letters from Skidmore College, 2019.

Accomplishments

• 5th all-time in MLB history in managerial wins
• Only major leaguer with 2,000 hits as a player and 2,000 wins as a manager

Film and TV Appearances

Torre appeared as himself in the 1990 film Taking Care of Business. He was also in a 1996 episode of Cosby.

In the 1997 TV movie Joe Torre: Curveballs Along the Way, he was played by Paul Sorvino.

Torre was the "Voice of the Yankees' Manager" in the 2006 animated movie Everyone's Hero. He also appeared in commercials for Subway and State Farm Insurance.

He was a guest on The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien in 2009. He also appeared on Sesame Street, Castle, and Gary Unmarried. Torre was in the 2002 comedy Analyze That.

Torre appeared in the 2022 sports documentary The Captain, which was about Derek Jeter.

Horse Racing Enthusiast

Joe Torre loves thoroughbred horse racing. He has been a part-owner of several horses. These include Game On Dude and Sis City, who won the 2005 Ashland Stakes. He was also a partner in Wild Desert, who won the 2005 Queen's Plate.

Joe Torre Safe at Home Foundation

In 2002, Joe Torre and his wife Ali started the Joe Torre Safe at Home Foundation. The Foundation helps educate people and prevent family violence. One of its main programs is called Margaret's Place. It is named after Torre's mother.

Margaret's Place provides a safe room in schools where students can talk with a professional counselor. These counselors help students understand how family challenges can affect them. The program also works to teach about anti-violence and trains teachers and counselors. It has grown to eleven locations.

Torre also supports other programs that work to prevent family violence.

Personal Life

Joe Torre has a son, Michael, from his first marriage. He has two daughters, Lauren and Cristina, from his second marriage. Both of these marriages ended. On August 23, 1987, he married Alice (Ali) Wolterman. They have a daughter named Andrea.

His older brother Frank Torre was also a Major League Baseball player. Frank passed away in 2014. His eldest brother Rocco was a police officer who passed away in 1996. His older sister Marguerite was a Roman Catholic nun and teacher. She was a school principal until her passing on May 29, 2022. His other sister Rae passed away in 2015.

Torre was treated for prostate cancer in 1999.

On December 14, 2005, Torre carried the Olympic Flame in Florence, Italy. This was part of the torch relay for the 2006 Winter Olympics.

As of April 2020, Torre and his wife live in Harrison, New York.

See also

In Spanish: Joe Torre para niños

• List of Major League Baseball All-Star Game managers
• List of Major League Baseball career hits leaders
• List of Major League Baseball career home run leaders
• List of Major League Baseball career runs batted in leaders
• List of Major League Baseball managerial wins and winning percentage leaders
• List of Major League Baseball player-managers
• New York Yankees award winners and league leaders
• St. Louis Cardinals award winners and league leaders