Bobby Valentine is one of our own, having grown up in Stamford, Conn.  Since being drafted as the fifth pick in the first round of the 1968 amateur draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers, Bobby has personified New Yorkers’ intelligence and brashness on baseball diamonds around the world.  From Chavez Ravine to Flushing, from the Lone Star State to the Land of the Rising Sun, Bobby has been making the metropolitan area proud, both on and off the field.

Bobby played ten injury-plagued seasons in the majors for five teams, including the Mets, before turning his attention to coaching.  He was serving as third base coach for the Mets when he was tapped by the Texas Rangers to take over managing duties during the 1985 season.  Having managed the Rangers for all or parts of eight seasons, Bobby holds the team records for both most games managed (1186 games) and most games won (581).

However, in this area, Bobby is best known for managing the Mets from 1996 to 2002, highlighted by post-season appearances in 1999 and 2000, including the World Series vs. the Yankees in 2000.    But perhaps his biggest influence was away from the game.  In the aftermath of 9/11, Shea Stadium’s parking lot became a staging area to get supplies to the World Trade Center disaster area.  Bobby was a constant fixture, day and night, yards from his managerial office inside the stadium.  His tireless work on behalf of those working at the World Trade Center site was an inspiration to his players, Major League Baseball, and the entire nation.

No Met fan will ever forget the night of September 21, 2001, the first home game since the tragedy.  Bobby and his players donated their salaries (more than $450,000) to the rescue effort and wore NYPD and FDNY caps as they led 41,000 fans, including Mayor Giuliani and Diana Ross in a moving pre-game ceremony.  That night, Mike Piazza hit a stirring eighth-inning home run to lead the Mets past their arch-rivals, the Atlanta Braves, 3-2.

Bobby’s legacy extends to the Far East.  In two separate stints, first in 1995 and then from 2004 through 2009, Bobby managed the Chiba Lotte Marines of the Japan Pacific League, leading them to their first Japan Series title in 2005.  He is the only man to manage teams in both the World Series and the Japan Series.

For the past two seasons, Bobby has been a baseball analyst for ESPN, appearing regularly on its signature “Baseball Tonight” program as well as MLB game broadcasts.

Since 1980, Valentine has owned and operated Bobby Valentine's Sports Gallery Cafe, a sports bar/restaurant in Stamford. Since 2003, he has held an annual "Bobby Valentine Celebrity Wine & Food Experience", a fundraising event benefiting the Mickey Lione Jr. Fund, which provides scholarships to young people who reflect Lione’s values of striving for personal excellence in everything and using their strengths to make a positive impact on their peers, community, and world around them. Bobby is also involved in the All American Athletic Foundation, Bobby Valentine Sports Academy, as well as many other causes which help youth and teens in sports.

Bobby is married to Mary Branca, daughter of former Brooklyn Dodgers great Ralph Branca, and vice chairman of Sports Angels.