Bobby Valentine: Champion Dancer, Controversial Manager

The New York Mets just put Bobby Valentine and Lee Mazzilli into the Mets Hall of Fame, and most fans still know Bobby for one thing: the fake mustache. Peter Lemieux of Rounding Third tells the rest of the story, the parts most people have no idea about. Yes, we cover the famous Mustache Game from June 9, 1999, when Valentine was ejected against the Blue Jays at Shea Stadium and snuck back into the dugout wearing eye black and fake glasses. But that is where most people stop, and that is where the real story begins. Long before the majors, Bobby Valentine was an all state high school star in football, baseball, and track at Rippowam in Stamford, Connecticut, setting state records that still stand. He was also a champion ballroom dancer who performed at the opening of the 1964 World's Fair. He went on to USC, signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers, won minor league MVP honors two seasons running, and built a lifelong friendship with manager Tommy Lasorda. His playing days were those of a respected journeyman, but his time as a manager was anything but quiet. From the Texas Rangers to the New York Mets, to a championship in Japan with the Chiba Lotte Marines, to a turbulent season with the Boston Red Sox, his drive to win followed him everywhere. He later became athletic director at Sacred Heart University, where a 57,000 square foot recreation center now carries his name, and in 2021 he ran for mayor of Stamford and came up just short. Bobby Valentine is a lot more than the mustache guy. This is the fuller story, and a tip of the hat to an extraordinary athlete and human being. CHAPTERS 0:00 Why tell the Bobby Valentine story now 0:36 The Mustache Game, June 9, 1999 1:54 The side of Bobby most people never knew 2:06 All state star at Rippowam High School 3:09 Champion ballroom dancer 3:43 USC and signing with the Dodgers 4:01 A respected journeyman in the majors 4:24 Minor league MVP and Tommy Lasorda 5:18 Injuries 5:31 Managing: Rangers, Japan, and the Mets 6:00 Controversy with the Mets and Red Sox 7:23 Sacred Heart and the Bobby Valentine Center 8:55 Running for mayor of Stamford 9:31 More than the Mustache Man If you love baseball stories like this one, hit like and subscribe to Rounding Third for more. Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@RoundingThirdPodcast Listen to the podcast: [paste your Apple Podcasts / Spotify / website links here] #BobbyValentine #Mets #BaseballHistory