Senate Resolution No. 1073

BY: Senator GOLDEN

HONORING Bobby Valentine upon the occasion of his
designation as recipient of the Joe DiMaggio Award
by Columbus Citizens Foundation and Futures in
Education

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those who
enhance the quality of life in their community and have shown a long and
sustained commitment to the maintenance of high standards in their
profession, certainly have earned the recognition and applause of all
the citizens of this great Empire State; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor
Bobby Valentine upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of the
Joe DiMaggio Award by Columbus Citizens Foundation and Futures in
Education, to be celebrated at its Award Dinner on Wednesday, April 5,
2017, at The Plaza, New York, New York; and

WHEREAS, The Joe DiMaggio Award was established in 1999, in memory
of baseball legend and Hall of Famer, the "Yankee Clipper", Joe
DiMaggio, in recognition of his support of the educational needs of
students with learning disabilities; and

WHEREAS, Stamford native Bobby Valentine is a sports legend with
strong ties to Fairfield County; in addition to his baseball
achievements at Rippowam High School, he was the only three-time
all-state football player in Connecticut history; and

WHEREAS, Widely recruited out of high school, Bobby Valentine
attended the University of Southern California; after his selection in
the first round of the Major League Baseball (MLB) draft by the Los
Angeles Dodgers, his 10 years as a MLB player included successful stints
with the Dodgers, Angels, Padres, Mets and Mariners; and

WHEREAS, Upon the completion of his illustrious baseball career,
Bobby Valentine opened the first of seven restaurants while working in
television for ESPN and NBC; he later coached in the minor leagues with
the San Diego Padres and the New York Mets before becoming third-base
coach for the Mets in 1982; and

WHEREAS, Three years later, Bobby Valentine was named manager of the
Texas Rangers, during which time he was named UPI American League
Manager of the Year in 1986, and went on to become the winningest
manager in Rangers history; and

WHEREAS, In 1994, Bobby Valentine became the first American to
accept a management position in the Pacific League of Japan for the
Chiba Lotte Marines, and in 1995, he took on the role of manager of the
Mets AAA club in Norfolk, Virginia; and

WHEREAS, Hired as the manager of the New York Mets in 1996, Bobby
Valentine led the team to the post season in consecutive years for the
first time in team history and to the World Series in 2000; and


WHEREAS, In 2004, Bobby Valentine returned to Japan and led the
Marines to its first Asian championship; he also became the first
foreign manager to win the prestigious Shoriki Award given to the person
who contributes the most to Japanese baseball; and

WHEREAS, This esteemed man was appointed Director of Public Health
and Safety in his hometown of Stamford in 2011, and donated his salary
back to the city; that same year, he took on an analyst role for ESPN's
"Sunday Night Baseball", and returned to the baseball diamond to skipper
the Boston Red Sox during the 2012 season; and

WHEREAS, Bobby Valentine currently serves as NBC's Senior Baseball
Analyst and is the longtime owner of Bobby Valentine's Sports Gallery
Cafe in Stamford; and

WHEREAS, With a steadfast and unwavering dedication to giving back
to the community, Bobby Valentine helped to found the Mickey Lione, Jr.
Scholarship Fund, which awards scholarships to Stamford sophomores who
excel off the field and exemplify the values that Lione instilled in his
athletes and students; and

WHEREAS, Bobby Valentine serves on the Board of Directors of Steel
Sports; he is also the founder and owner of Bobby Valentine Sports
Academy, as well as founder and producer of Makuhari Media LLC; and

WHEREAS, It has always been the objective of this Legislative Body
to honor and support those individuals who have displayed their
commitment to the betterment of their communities, and it is the intent
of this Legislative Body to inscribe upon its records, this tribute to
Bobby Valentine, that future generations may know and appreciate his
admirable character, his many benevolent deeds, and the respect and
esteem in which he is held by his peers; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Bobby Valentine upon the occasion of his designation as recipient
of the Joe DiMaggio Award by Columbus Citizens Foundation and Futures in
Education; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Bobby Valentine.