BRIDGEWATER The Somerset Patriots honored Major League Baseball’s Joe Torre at the final home game of the season at TD Bank Ballpark on Sept. 15.
Torre, who is executive vice president of baseball operations, received the Somerset Patriots’ Outstanding Community Service Award for his work in the fight against domestic abuse.
After receiving the award and a team-signed Patriots jersey, Torre addressed the crowd.
”I was here when the ballpark was still being constructed, and I knew then that this was going to be a truly special place that brought families and the entire community together,” said Torre.
Torre spoke for about five minutes to Patriots marketing partners and dignitaries on the field and the crowd.
”I know this has been a trying season on the field, but with a track record of five championship seasons and nine playoff trips in the first 14 seasons, I’m sure 2012 will be a bounce-back year for this great organization,” Torre said.
Torre was a nine-time All-Star as a catcher, first baseman, and third baseman for the Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves, New York Mets and St. Louis Cardinals.
Torre found iconic success as a manager with the New York Yankees, where he brought the team to the post-season in each of his seasons from 1996-2007, winning the World Series four times. He also led the team to 10 American League East Division titles and six American League pennants during that time.
Torre managed the Los Angeles Dodgers from 2008-10 and brought them to the playoffs in his first two seasons to make the playoffs in 14 straight years. He is fifth all-time in major league managerial wins with 2,326.
As a child of domestic abuse, Torre and his wife Ali created the Joe Torre Safe at Home Foundation in 2002 with the mission of educating to end the cycle of domestic abuse and save lives. The foundation operates about a dozen domestic violence resource centers called Margaret’s Place, named after Torre’s mother, in New York City and Westchester County.
