Robert John Valentine (born May 13, 1950 in Stamford, Connecticut) is a former player and manager in Major League Baseball. He is currently the manager of the Chiba Lotte Marines of Japan's Pacific League. is the 133rd day of the year (134th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1950 (MCML) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Nickname: Location in Connecticut Coordinates: , NECTA Bridgeport-Stamford Region South Western Region Settled 1641 Incorporated (city) 1893 Consolidated 1949 Government  - Type Mayor-Board of representatives  - Mayor Dannel Malloy (Dem) Area  - City 134. ... Official language(s) English Capital Hartford Largest city Bridgeport Largest metro area Hartford Area  Ranked 48th  - Total 5,543[2] sq mi (14,356 km²)  - Width 70 miles (113 km)  - Length 110 miles (177 km)  - % water 12. ... New York Yankees manager Joe Torre returning to the dugout (September 2005). ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... The Chiba Lotte Marines ) are a professional baseball team in Japans Pacific League. ... The Pacific League (パシフィック・リーグ Pashifikku Riigu) is one of Japans two major professional baseball leagues (the other is the Central League). ...

Early years

Valentine was widely recruited out of Rippowam High School in Stamford, CT as a star in football, and baseball. He was recruited by the likes of University of Nebraska, Duke University, University of Notre Dame, University of Southern California, but he wound up being drafted and signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1969. He is considered to be among the best high school athletes in Connecticut history. Look up Football in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Seal of the University of Nebraska The University of Nebraska is one of two public university systems in the state of Nebraska, USA. The system has four universities and a technical college: University of Nebraska-Lincoln University of Nebraska at Omaha University of Nebraska at Kearney University of Nebraska Medical... Duke University is a private coeducational research university located in Durham, North Carolina, USA. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present-day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. ... The University of Notre Dame IPA: is a Roman Catholic institution located in Notre Dame, Indiana, immediately northeast of South Bend, Indiana, United States. ... The Trojan Shrine, better known as Tommy Trojan located in the center of University of Southern California campus. ...

Playing career

Valentine played from 1969 to 1979 with the Los Angeles Dodgers, California Angels, San Diego Padres, New York Mets, and Seattle Mariners. The following are the baseball events of the year 1969 throughout the world. ... The following are the baseball events of the year 1979 throughout the world. ... Major league affiliations National League (1890–present) West Division (1969–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 1, 2, 4, 19, 20, 24, 32, 39, 42, 53 Name Los Angeles Dodgers (1958–present) Brooklyn Dodgers (1932-1957) Brooklyn Robins (1914-1931) Brooklyn Dodgers (1911-1912) Brooklyn Superbas (1899-1910), (1913) Brooklyn Grooms... Major league affiliations American League (1961–present) West Division (1969–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 11, 26, 29, 30, 42, 50 Name Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (2005–present) Anaheim Angels (1997-2004) California Angels (1965-1996) Los Angeles Angels (1961-1965) Other nicknames The Halos, Angelitos (Spanish), Serafines (Spanish... Major league affiliations National League (1969–present) West Division (1969–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 6, 19, 31, 35, 42 Name San Diego Padres (1969–present) Other nicknames Pads, Friars Ballpark PETCO Park (2004–present) Qualcomm Stadium (1969-2003) a. ... Major league affiliations National League (1962–present) East Division (1969–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 14, 37, 41, 42 Name New York Mets (1962–present) Other nicknames The Amazin Mets, The Amazins, The Metropolitans Ballpark Shea Stadium (1964–present) Polo Grounds (1962–1963) Major league titles World Series titles... Major league affiliations American League (1977–present) West Division (1977–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 42 Name Seattle Mariners (1977–present) Other nicknames The Ms Ballpark Safeco Field (1999–present) King County Domed Stadium (Kingdome) (1977-1999) Major league titles World Series titles (0) none AL Pennants (0) None...

Valentine was the Pacific Coast League MVP in 1970, a team managed by future Dodger mentor great Tommy Lasorda, and helped the Spokane Indians to the league championship over a legendary Hawaii Islander powerhouse.

As a player, he was never a home run hitter (he only hit 12 home runs in his career), but he had 107 hits as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1972. Eventually traded to the crosstown Angels , Valentine was a victim of one of the most notable injuries during that era when he broke his leg at Anaheim Stadium in 1974 while crashing into the wall chasing a home run, and was never the same calibre player hence. The following are the events of the year 1972 that happened world-wide throughout the sport of baseball. ...

Career as a Manager

He has managed the Texas Rangers (1985–1992) and the New York Mets (1996–2002). Valentine's managing led to the late 1990s early 2000s resurgence of the Mets which culminated in 1999 with a wild card berth and a loss to the Atlanta Braves in the National League Championship Series, and a National League Pennant in 2000. The Mets would lose the 2000 World Series to the cross town rival New York Yankees four games to one. Valentine is also infamous for a dubious incident during a 1999 game where he was discovered to have snuck back into the team dugout after being ejected by wearing a disguise consisting of a change of clothes, sunglasses, and a "moustache" painted on with eye black. In early 2000, Valentine was at the center of what would be called "Whartongate", in which he allegedly mentioned to students at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business somewhat cynical, insider comments regarding a handful of Mets players and the organization as a whole.^{[citation needed]} Major league affiliations American League (1961–present) West Division (1972–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 26, 34, 42 Name Texas Rangers (1972–present) Washington Senators (1961-1971) Other nicknames None in common use Ballpark Rangers Ballpark in Arlington (1994–present) a. ... This article is currently under construction // This year in baseball Events January 7 - Outfielder Lou Brock and knuckleballer Hoyt Wilhelm are elected to the Hall of Fame by the Baseball Writers Association of America. ... The following are the baseball events of the year 1992 throughout the world. ... Major league affiliations National League (1962–present) East Division (1969–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 14, 37, 41, 42 Name New York Mets (1962–present) Other nicknames The Amazin Mets, The Amazins, The Metropolitans Ballpark Shea Stadium (1964–present) Polo Grounds (1962–1963) Major league titles World Series titles... The following are the baseball events of the year 1996 throughout the world. ... This year in baseball: 1999 - 2000 - 2001 - 2002 - 2003 - 2004 - 2005 Events January-March January 8 - Ozzie Smith is elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. ... For the band, see 1990s (band). ... The 2000s are the current decade, spanning from 2000 to 2009. ... The following are the baseball events of the year 1999 throughout the world. ... Major league affiliations National League (1876–present) East Division (1994–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 3, 21, 35, 41, 42, 44 Name Atlanta Braves (1966–present) Milwaukee Braves (1953-1965) Boston Braves (1941-1952) Boston Bees (1936-1940) Boston Braves (1912-1935) Boston Rustlers (1911) Boston Doves (1907-1910) Boston... The 1999 National League Championship Series, to determine the champion of Major League Baseballs National League, was played between the East Division Champion Atlanta Braves and the Wild Card New York Mets. ... The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the National League, is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada and the worlds oldest extant professional team sports league. ... The following are the baseball events of the year 2000 throughout the world. ... Dates October 21, 2000–October 26, 2000 MVP Derek Jeter (New York Yankees) Television network FOX Announcers Joe Buck, Tim McCarver, and Bob Brenly Umpires Ed Montague, Jerry Crawford, Tim McClelland, Tim Welke, Charlie Reliford, Jeff Kellogg MTA logo for the 2000 Subway Series. ... Major league affiliations American League (1901–present) East Division (1969–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 23, 32, 37, 44, 49 Name New York Yankees (1913–present) New York Highlanders (1903-1912) Baltimore Orioles (1901-1902) (Also referred to as... The following are the baseball events of the year 1999 throughout the world. ...

Valentine is currently in his second stint as manager of the Japanese Pacific League Chiba Lotte Marines (2003—) for a 3 year $4,500,000 (US) contract. On October 17, 2005, he led the Marines to win the Pacific League pennant after thirty-one years in a close playoff with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks. On October 26, 2005, the team became Japan Series champions with a victory over the Hanshin Tigers. He served as manager for the same team in 1995, when the team surprised most Japanese baseball fans by finishing in second place (69-58-3), a remarkable feat for the Marines which had not won the Japanese Pacific league pennants since 1974. However, he was fired abruptly due to the personal conflict with general manager Tatsuro Hirooka, despite having a two year contract. The Pacific League (パシフィック・リーグ Pashifikku Riigu) is one of Japans two major professional baseball leagues (the other is the Central League). ... The Chiba Lotte Marines ) are a professional baseball team in Japans Pacific League. ... The following are the events of the year 2003 that happened world-wide throughout the sport of baseball. ... ISO 4217 Code USD User(s) the United States, the British Indian Ocean Territory,[1] the British Virgin Islands, East Timor, Ecuador, El Salvador, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Palau, Panama, Caicos Islands, and the insular areas of the United States Inflation 2. ... is the 290th day of the year (291st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The following are the baseball events of the year 2005 throughout the world. ... The Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks ) is a Japanese baseball team based in Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture. ... is the 299th day of the year (300th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Yomiuri Giants have won twenty Japan Series, more than any other team. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The following are the baseball events of the year 1995 throughout the world. ... This article is currently under construction // This year in baseball Events January 16 - The Baseball Writers Association of America elects former New York Yankees teammates Mickey Mantle and Whitey Ford to the Hall of Fame. ...

On October 27, 2005, Valentine issued a challenge to the World Series champions, prior to the completion of the tournament, on behalf of the Chiba Lotte Marines. Valentine called for a seven-game World Series to be played between the American and Japanese championship teams. Unlike the World Baseball Classic, a competition featuring sixteen national all-star teams, a World Series-styled tournament between the winners of both the American and Japanese championships has never been played. is the 300th day of the year (301st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Chiba Lotte Marines ) are a professional baseball team in Japans Pacific League. ... The World Baseball Classic, sometimes abbreviated WBC, is an international baseball tournament, first held in March 2006. ...

Trivia

Bobby also owns Bobby V's, a sports bar with locations in Stamford where he still keeps his residence in the U.S. when not managing in Japan, and in Arlington, Texas. Tourists sit outside a bar in Chiang Mai, Thailand A bar is an establishment where alcoholic beverages are sold to be drunk on premises. ... Nickname: Location in Connecticut Coordinates: , NECTA Bridgeport-Stamford Region South Western Region Settled 1641 Incorporated (city) 1893 Consolidated 1949 Government  - Type Mayor-Board of representatives  - Mayor Dannel Malloy (Dem) Area  - City 134. ... Arlington is a city in Tarrant County, Texas (USA) within the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metropolitan area. ...

Bobby's father-in-law is former Brooklyn Dodgers pitcher Ralph Branca, who gave up the famous pennant-winning home run to Bobby Thomson in 1951.^{[citation needed]} The Brooklyn Dodgers were a Major League Baseball team that played from 1890-1957. ... Ralph Branca at age 78. ... The Shot Heard Round the World In baseball, the Shot Heard Round the World is the term given to the walk-off home run hit by New York Giants outfielder Bobby Thomson off Brooklyn Dodgers pitcher Ralph Branca at the Polo Grounds to win the National League pennant at 3... Robert Brown Bobby Thomson (born October 25, 1923 in Glasgow, Scotland), nicknamed The Staten Island Scot, is a Scottish-American former Major League Baseball outfielder and right-handed batter who played for the New York Giants (1946-53, 1957), Milwaukee Braves (1954-57), Chicago Cubs (1958-59), Boston Red Sox... The following are the baseball events of the year 1951 throughout the world. ...

Valentine claims to have invented the wrap sandwich. He claims that his restaurant was the first anywhere to serve a sandwich in a tortilla wrap. Valentine made this claim while his restaurant was showcased on Food Network.^{[citation needed]} A Wrap is a food product consisting of meat, lettuce or other traditional sandwich fillings wrapped in a pita or tortilla shell. ... Food Network is an American cable network that airs many specials and recurring (episodic) shows about food. ...

Bobby is a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity. Sigma Chi (ΣΧ) is one of the largest and oldest all-male, college, Greek-letter social fraternities. ...

External links

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference (as player)
• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference (as manager)
• Bobby Valentine's official blog: http://www.bobbysway.jp