Joe Torre

Joe Torre was named the manager of the New York Yankees on November 2,1995. In becoming the 31st manager in Yankees history, he joins Casey Stengal, Yogi Berra, and Dallas Green as the fourth manager to wear both Yankees and Mets uniforms.

Torre led the 1996 Yankees to their first World Series Championship since 1978. He was named Man of the Year by The Sporting News and Co-Manager of the Year by the Baseball Writers Association.

In his seventeen year playing career, Torre compiled a career .297 batting average, 2,342 hits, 252 homeruns and 1,185 RBIs. Torre hit over .300 five times in his career, and was a nine time All-Star. He played for Milwaukee, Atlanta, St. Louis, and the Mets.

In 1971, he was the National League MVP as a member of the Cardinals. In leading the league with a .363 batting average, 230 hits, 137 RBIs and 352 total bases, Torre became the first player to lead the National League in four offensive categories since Stan Musial captured eight categories in 1948.

Torre was named the catcher on the Sporting News All-Star team from 1964-66. He received the Gold Glove award in 1965. He hit the first regular season home run in Atlanta's Fulton County Stadium and he holds the record for most homeruns (36) in a single season (1966) by a Braves catcher.

Torre made his managerial debut on May 3, 1977 when he became the first player-manager in the Major Leagues since 1959. He became the Mets full-time skipper eighteen days later. In 1982, Torre was named AP Manager of the Year in leading the Atlanta Braves to the division title. He is the only person ever to be named both the MVP and Manager of the Year.

Before returning to manage the St. Louis Cardinals from 1990-1995, Torre spent most of six seasons as a television broadcaster for the California Angels.