Joe Torre To Step Down At End Of Season
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Joe Torre will step down at the end of the season and will be replaced by hitting coach Don Mattingly, according to an online report.
The Dodgers had no immediate response to the report on the Los Angeles Times website. The paper, citing a pair of unnamed sources, reported that the team planned to make an official announcement before tonight’s game against the Colorado Rockies.
Torre has been manager of the Dodgers for three seasons, amassing a record of 251-220, as of today. A source told The Times that Torre could remain with the Dodgers in another capacity.
Torre’s managerial career began in 1977 when he went from being the New York Mets’ third baseman to being their manager. After finishing no higher than fifth in the six-team National League East Division in his three full seasons as manager — the Mets were fifth and fourth in the 1981 split season — Torre was fired at the end of the 1981 season.
He then joined the Atlanta Braves, managing them to the National League West Division championship in 1982. The team fell to second in 1983 and third in 1984, again costing him his job.
Torre then became a broadcaster, but returned to the dugout midway through the 1990 season, managing the St. Louis Cardinals, who never reached the playoffs when he managed them, through the 1995 season, when he was again fired.
In a move drawing criticism and questions from columnists, talk show hosts and fans, Torre was hired by the New York Yankees to mange the team in 1996, despite an 894-1,003 career record at the time, and one playoff berth in 14 seasons.
Torre quickly won the critics over, guiding the Yankees to a World Series championship in his first season, the team’s first since 1978. The Yankees won three consecutive World Series championships from 1998-2000.
The Yankees lost the World Series in 2001 and 2003, squandered a three games to none lead against their hated rivals, the Boston Red Sox, in the 2004 American League Championship Series, and lost in the American League Division Series each year from 2005-2007.
Torre played in the majors from 1960-77, was a nine-time all-star and the National League’s Most Valuable Player in 1971.
Torre and his wife Ali created the Joe Torre Safe at Home Foundation in 2002 to increase the awareness and prevention of domestic violence.
