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2021 Sports Award Honoree: Bobby Valentine
SpOrtS award - 2021 hOnOree Bobby Valentine
Born in Stamford, Connecticut, Robert “Bobby” John Valentine gained prominence as a Major League Baseball (MLB) player and manager. A gifted athlete, Valentine was All-State in high school football, baseball, and track, and is one of the few football players in Connecticut history to be named All-State three times. He was also a champion ballroom dancer, winning a regional competition at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York and participating in the 1964 New York World’s Fair opening ceremonies.
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In 1968, Valentine was selected fifth overall in the Major League Baseball Draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers. He began his professional baseball career with the Ogden Dodgers, a minor league affiliate that was, at that time, managed by Tommy Lasorda. Valentine later played under Lasorda’s tutelage for the Triple-A Spokane Indians and the Dominican Republic’s Tigres del Licey. In 1969, Valentine made his major league debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers. His career spanned a decade in which he played for the Los Angeles Dodgers (1969, 1971-1972), California Angels (1973-1975), San Diego Padres (1975-1977), New York Mets (1977-1978), and Seattle Mariners (1979).
Following his playing career, Valentine began coaching as part of the New York Mets staff before being hired to manage the Texas Rangers in 1985. He spent seven years (1985-1992) with the Rangers and went on to manage the New York Mets (1996-2002)—leading them to the World Series in 2000—and the Boston Red Sox (2012). He also managed the Chiba Lotte Marines in the Japanese Pacific League on two separate stints (1995 and 2004-2009) and led them to victory in the 2005 Japan Series.
In 2002, Valentine won the Branch Rickey Award, given annually to an individual in Major League Baseball in recognition of exceptional community service. He received the award for his donations to and personal support of 9/11 survivors.
Valentine has also worked as an analyst for ESPN Sunday Night Baseball and served as Director of Public Safety & Health for Stamford, Connecticut, the city in which he was born. He is currently the athletic director at Sacred Heart University.
Valentine is married to Mary Branca, daughter of former Major League Baseball pitcher Ralph Branca. They have a son, Robert “Bobby” John Valentine, Jr.
