Torre hired to manage Dodgers

  • Associated Press
  • Thursday, November 1, 2007 4:48pm
  • Sports

LOS ANGELES — Joe Torre grew up in Brooklyn rooting against the Dodgers. Now, a half-century after they moved west, he’s their manager.

Torre was hired by Los Angeles to succeed Grady Little on Thursday, taking the job two weeks after walking away from the New York Yankees.

The winningest manager in postseason history, Torre moved from one storied franchise to another, agreeing to a three-year, $13 million contract. He becomes the Dodgers’ eighth manager since they left his hometown, where he rooted for the rival New York Giants.

“As a kid growing up, you didn’t like them,” Torre said on WFAN radio in New York less than an hour before the hiring was announced. “As a player, to me the Dodgers were the Yankees of the National League because … you either loved them or you hated them.”

The 67-year-old Torre will be introduced at a news conference Monday at Dodger Stadium. Little resigned Tuesday after completing two seasons of a three-year deal.

Torre joins the Dodgers for their 50th anniversary season in Los Angeles, hoping to spur October success.

Favored to win the NL West this year, the Dodgers finished fourth. They have only one playoff victory since winning the 1988 World Series under Tom Lasorda.

“I’m so happy for him. I think his record speaks for itself,” said Lasorda, a special adviser to Dodgers owner Frank McCourt. “I think what he accomplished with the Yankees, he should have been able to control his destiny.

“We’re happy that he’s here — very happy.”

Torre guided the Yankees to four World Series championships from 1996-2000, and they made the playoffs in all 12 years he managed them. New York lost to Cleveland last month, eliminated in the first round for the third straight year.

Following that defeat, the Yankees offered Torre a one-year contract with a pay cut. He earned $7.5 million last season — more than any other big-league manager by far.

Calling the performance incentives in the proposal “an insult,” Torre turned it down. He was hired by the Dodgers on the same day the Yankees introduced Joe Girardi as their manager.

The Dodgers had the NL’s best record in mid-July. During their late-season slide, problems surfaced between older and younger players on the team, prompting criticism of Little.

“I think he’s going to do a good job in the clubhouse because he’s got great leadership abilities,” Lasorda said of Torre. “He knows how to handle a ballclub.”

Since Lasorda left during the 1996 season after suffering a heart attack, the Dodgers are 1-9 in three playoff appearances. One of those was in 2006 — Little’s first year as manager — when the Dodgers won the NL wild-card with an 88-74 record but were swept by the New York Mets in the first round of the playoffs.

Torre ranks eighth on baseball’s career list with 2,067 victories. He also managed the New York Mets, St. Louis and Atlanta but won only one division title in the NL, in 1982 with the Braves.

He passed former Dodgers managers Leo Durocher (2,009) and Walter Alston (2,040) last season on the career wins list. His teams have won 76 postseason games.

“Few managers in the history of the game have accomplished what Joe has delivered,” Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti said. “Throughout his career he has demonstrated the ability to turn a vision for success into results on the field and we welcome his passion and leadership. We have tremendous fans and they deserve no less.”

Teams are generally directed to interview at least one minority candidate for open managerial jobs. The Dodgers were granted an exemption by commissioner Bud Selig, however, because of a strong track record on minority hirings.

Earlier this week, the Dodgers acknowledged they talked to Girardi about potentially replacing Little. Colletti said he did so because he was aware Little was leaning toward stepping down.

Don Mattingly, Torre’s bench coach this year, is set to join his mentor in Los Angeles as hitting coach. Mattingly lost out to Girardi for the Yankees’ managerial job.

Mattingly’s son, Preston, is a minor leaguer in the Dodgers’ organization.

Torre completed a $19.2 million, three-year contract with the Yankees this season. He made $7.5 million this year — the highest salary among major league managers — and the Yankees offered $5 million for next year with an additional $3 million in performance bonuses.

“Joe Torre is one of the most respected men in the game of baseball,” McCourt said. “As a player, a broadcaster, a manager and in his life off the field, Joe is a winner through and through.”

McCourt said on the season’s last day that Little would return as manager next season. In resigning Tuesday, Little insisted it had nothing to do with reports that the Dodgers were talking to Torre.

With his track record, Torre seems destined to follow Alston and Lasorda into the Hall of Fame.

“There’s definitely a locker waiting for him in Cooperstown, that’s for sure,” Lasorda said. “I’ve known him for close to 30 years and we’ve been good friends.”

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

Coach Derek Lopez (far right) and the Lake Stevens boys' wrestling team celebrates with their championship trophy at the WIAA 4A District 1 Tournament at Jackson High School on Feb. 8, 2025.
Lake Stevens boys capture district wrestling title

The Vikings had 17 state-qualifiers; second-place Arlington led with five weight class winners

Lake Stevens’ Kamryn Mason attempts to flip Glacier Peak’s Kyla Brown onto her back during 110-pound match at the 4A girls wrestling district tournament on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025 in Mill Creek, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Vikings girls wrestling conquers 4A District 1 Tournament

Lake Stevens dominated with champions in six weight classes and 18 total state-qualifiers

Kamiak’s Kai Burgess has her arm raised in the air after beating Arlington’s Jaymari O’Neal in the 125-pound match at the 4A girls wrestling district tournament on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025 in Mill Creek, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Rebuilding Kamiak girls wrestling steps forward at District Tournament

Ki Burgess and Eden Cole each won their weight class in Friday’s WIAA District 1 Girls’ 4A Tournament

Meadowdale’s Kyairra Roussin takes the ball to the hoop during the game against Archbishop Murphy on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep girls basketball roundup for Friday, Feb. 7

Kyairra Roussin’s deep buzzer-beater lifts Meadowdale over Stanwood.

Prep boys basketball roundup for Friday, Feb. 7

Lake Stevens passes Mariner in league standings to take final district slot.

Seattle head coach Mike Holmgren watches his team against Washington Sunday, November 9, 2003. (George Bridges / KRT / Tribune News Services)
No Holmgren in Hall is a travesty

The Former Seahawks coach carries a resume superior to many already in the HOF.

A Snohomish School District truck clears the parking lot at Glacier Peak High School on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. (Aaron Coe / The Herald)
Inclement weather cancellations strain high school sports calendar

With state tournaments on the horizon, ADs from Wesco, Northwest and Kingco must be flexible

Gonzaga overcomes stagnant start to beat LMU

Bulldogs get ‘best of best’ play down the stretch in 73-53 win.

Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) celebrates during a stop of the Arizona Cardinals at Lumen Field on Nov. 24, 2024 (Photo courtesy of Rod Mar / Seattle Seahawks)
Leonard Williams restructures Seahawks deal

More moves may be coming as Seattle deals with salary cap.

Former Archbishop Murphy High School stars, Bears cornerback Kyler Gordon (6) and Seahawks right tackle Abraham Lucas (72), prepare for play at Soldier Field in Chicago on Dec. 26, 2024. Though Lucas is likely to return as a starter, Seattle's interior line needs offseason upgrades. (Photo courtesy of Edwin Hooper / Seattle Seahawks)
The Seahawks offensive line needs work

A mix free agency and draft could lead to upgraded interior.

UW men stumble in second half, fall to Nebraska

The three-pointers that fell so frequently — and from a… Continue reading

Edmonds-Woodway’s William Alseth dribbles the ball down the court during the game against Shorewood on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025 in Shoreline, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Edmonds-Woodway boys basketball enters playoffs on high note

The Warriors never let up in 63-43 win vs. Shorewood on Tuesday to secure Wesco South 3A/2A title

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.