Former Major League Baseball Manager; Candidate for Mayor of Stamford, Connecticut; Inventor of the Wrap
Bobby Valentine was born and raised in Stamford, the son of Joseph and Grace. Bobby attended Ryle Elementary, Cloonan Middle School, and Rippowam High School, where he was elected student body president and became the only three-time All-State football player in Connecticut history.
Bobby received a scholarship to the University of Southern California and was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1968.
After 10 seasons as a professional baseball player, Bobby made his major league managerial debut in 1985 with the Texas Rangers. He was the American League Manager of the Year in 1986 and went onto become the winningest manager in Rangers history. Bobby began managing the New York Mets in 1996 and led the team to back-to-back postseasons, including a 2000 World Series appearance. He also won the 2005 Japan Series Championship while managing the Chiba Lotte Marines.
In 1980, he opened his first business, Bobby Valentine's Sports Cafe in Stamford. The highly successful restaurant ignited a multi-decade transformation of the downtown business district. Bobby Valentine's Sports Academy continues to thrive in Stamford, serving thousands of area athletes.
In 2013, Bobby become the Executive Director of Athletics at Sacred Heart University. His leadership of a program with almost 1000 student athletes and 90 coaches has significantly improved the school's standing.
Bobby has always been a passionate advocate for Stamford and the other communities where he has served the public interest. In 2001, he worked tirelessly to lead an emergency staging area at Shea Stadium for families impacted by the events of 9/11. He was awarded the 2002 Branch Rickey Award for his extraordinary contributions to the relief effort.