OUR SKIPPER: JOE GIRARDI

We all know Joe Girardi as the former catcher and current manager of the New York Yankees. We know his stats, his managing style, and his career as a player and manager. As our skipper, he holds little back when it comes to commentary, and expresses emotion easily when it comes to winning- and sometimes losing important games. He’s been a comfortable, familiar face within the Yankees organization for over 15 years, having been a player, YES Broadcaster, and now, our manager.

Joseph Elliott Girardi was born October 14, 1964, in Peoria, Illinois into a devout Christian Italian-American family. While attending Academy of Our Lady/Spalding Institute, Joe played quarterback for the high school football team, and was catcher for the baseball team. Later on, at Northwestern University, Joe earned his bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, and was the first freshman in the school’s history to be elected the President of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternal organization.

Girardi became a major league prospect in 1989, when he played for the Venezuelan League, and later that year; he was drafted by the Chicago Cubs organization, where he stayed through 1992. He went to the Colorado Rockies in 1993 as a result of the expansion draft, where he caught for the new national league team until 1995, when he was then traded to the Yankees. Some of Girardi’s most memorable accomplishments as a New York Yankee were catching Doc Gooden’s no-hitter in 1996 and David Cone’s perfect game in 1999. Add to his resume three World Series rings, and you have an accomplished athlete with natural leadership abilities. When Jorge Posada was called up as his back-up, Girardi was a natural in his role of leader and mentor to the then-25-year-old Posada.
Joe left the Yankees in 2000 and went on to play with the Cubs, and later the Cardinals. He retired from Major League Baseball in 2004, and accepted a job with the YES network as the host of YES’ “Kids on Deck”, and later he became a commentator.

But baseball was still running through Joe’s veins, and in 2005, he became the bench coach for the Yankees. By 2006, he was the Florida Marlins’ manager, but was let go in 2007 because of differences within the organization. After many offers, Joe Girardi became the 32nd manager of the New York Yankees in October 2007, where he remains today.
Girardi led the Yankees to a World Series victory in 2009. We’ve all seen the footage, photos, and watched the glorious celebration after the Yankees won their 27th World Title, making them the most victorious team in major league baseball history. What many people don’t know, is the while driving home after those celebrations that night, Joe pulled over in order to help another driver who had just crashed into a wall. The other driver had no idea who the Good Samaritan was that put his life at risk to help her, until the state troopers told her. Joe makes no effort to hide the fact that he has a very human side, which has earned him the respect of his colleagues and of the players under his watch.

Joe Girardi lives in Purchase, New York, and is married to Kimberly Girardi. The couple has three children: Serena, Dante, and Lena, who are very supportive of their father’s work.




--Christy Lee, BYB Staff Writer



--Jeana Bellezza, BYB Associate Editor



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