That was the first and last time Joe Torre was ever really criticized as manager of the Yankees. Now in 2013, Torre along with fellow managers Tony LaRussa and Bobby Cox will set foot in Cooperstown this summer in what could be the most prestigious Hall of Fame ballot in years.
The three managers were easily the best of the best during the past two decades in baseball, each winning more than 2,000 games, and combining for a total of eight World Series titles.
Torre's managerial career started off as a bumpy one, starting off as a player/manager with the Mets and later moving onto the Braves and Cardinals with little success. However, once the Yankees entrusted him with the keys in 1996, Torre's managerial career took off.
He won 1,173 games, four World Series title, and six American League pennants with the Yankees. His landmark years coming in 1996 and 1998. In '96 he led the Yankees to their first World Series appearance in 17 years, beating Cox's Braves in six games to capture the title.
In 1998, he managed a Yankees team that won 114 regular season games en route to a World Series sweep of the San Diego Padres that same fall.
Under Torre, the likes of Derek Jeter, Mariano, Rivera, Andy Pettitte, Jorge Posada, and Bernie Williams became household names. He even found a way to control and live with wacky personalities like David Wells, the infamous Roger Clemens, and of course temperamental owner, George Steinbrenner.
Torre finished his career with the Dodgers, retiring in 2010 with 2,326 victories.
Always humble, and always competitive, Torre gets the honor he so much deserves. His impact on the game and the New York City area is indelible. Now he's officially one of the greats.
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