Though the majority will say Joe Torre was a better player, the fact that he managed the New York Yankees to 4 World Series titles and 6 AL Pennants cannot be denied. Its safe to say he enjoyed success both as a player and as a manager.
He finished his career with over 2300 hits and 1000 RBI and won the NL MVP in 1971 with the St Louis Cardinals. He played nine years for the Milwaukee/ Atlanta Braves where he had 1087 hits, 142 HR and 552 RBI, while hitting .294. He moved on to St Louis, where he spent his best 6 years, hitting .308 with 1062 hits, 98 HR and 558 RBI. Of course, his playing career finished with his three seasons with the New York Mets, where he was a role player. He had just 193 hits, 12 HR and 75 RBI, hitting .267. He took over the Mets in 1977 as player manager, finishing the final 117 games of the season. Despite not being the player he was prior to joining the Mets, it was the team that allowed him to work out some kinks as a big league manager. His playing career falls short of Hall of Fame standards.
He managed the Mets for the next five years, compiling a 286-420 record. He took over the Atlanta Braves in 1982 and had some success, winning a division title in 1982. He finished with a 257-229 record before being let go after the 1984 season. He returned to manage the Cardinals in 1990. He stuck around there for six seasons, going 351-354 before being replaced by Tony LaRussa after 1995. Of course, he was named manager of the New York Yankees and managed to win his four World Series titles and 6 AL Pennants. He inherited a team that was ready to win, but deserves credit for harnassing the talent. If you put other managers in that same spot, many would not have had the same success as Torre did.
Torre was a feared hitter, but a better manager based on numbers. He won over 2000 games (more than half during his tenure with the Yankees). In addition to the 9 AL East titles he won as a manager with the Yankees, he won 1 with the Braves in 1982 and two with the Dodgers. He was also the manager of the Braves when they were in that serious AL West race with the San Diego Padres. He struggled as both a manager and player with the Mets. But, outside of the tough time he had in St Louis, he was a winning manager everywhere else. (Atlanta, Yankees and Dodgers). Some can say he was a better player, but his managerial numbers do not lie. As good as his playing career was, he was, without a doubt, a more successful MLB manager. Is he a HOF? He has a better chance of going in as a manager than as a player.
He finished his career with over 2300 hits and 1000 RBI and won the NL MVP in 1971 with the St Louis Cardinals. He played nine years for the Milwaukee/ Atlanta Braves where he had 1087 hits, 142 HR and 552 RBI, while hitting .294. He moved on to St Louis, where he spent his best 6 years, hitting .308 with 1062 hits, 98 HR and 558 RBI. Of course, his playing career finished with his three seasons with the New York Mets, where he was a role player. He had just 193 hits, 12 HR and 75 RBI, hitting .267. He took over the Mets in 1977 as player manager, finishing the final 117 games of the season. Despite not being the player he was prior to joining the Mets, it was the team that allowed him to work out some kinks as a big league manager. His playing career falls short of Hall of Fame standards.
He managed the Mets for the next five years, compiling a 286-420 record. He took over the Atlanta Braves in 1982 and had some success, winning a division title in 1982. He finished with a 257-229 record before being let go after the 1984 season. He returned to manage the Cardinals in 1990. He stuck around there for six seasons, going 351-354 before being replaced by Tony LaRussa after 1995. Of course, he was named manager of the New York Yankees and managed to win his four World Series titles and 6 AL Pennants. He inherited a team that was ready to win, but deserves credit for harnassing the talent. If you put other managers in that same spot, many would not have had the same success as Torre did.
Torre was a feared hitter, but a better manager based on numbers. He won over 2000 games (more than half during his tenure with the Yankees). In addition to the 9 AL East titles he won as a manager with the Yankees, he won 1 with the Braves in 1982 and two with the Dodgers. He was also the manager of the Braves when they were in that serious AL West race with the San Diego Padres. He struggled as both a manager and player with the Mets. But, outside of the tough time he had in St Louis, he was a winning manager everywhere else. (Atlanta, Yankees and Dodgers). Some can say he was a better player, but his managerial numbers do not lie. As good as his playing career was, he was, without a doubt, a more successful MLB manager. Is he a HOF? He has a better chance of going in as a manager than as a player.
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