Remembering Mets History (1996) Mets Fire Manager Dallas Green & Hire Bobby Valentine as a New Winning Era Begins
Quotes: Joe McIlvane: ''We haven't done as well as we anticipated. Progress has been slower than expected. Our hope with this change is the younger players will begin to blossom some more, to come up to that major league level, to begin to make more significant contributions."
In May 1993, the 62-year-old Green had taken over as manager of the Mets replacing Jeff Torborg who had taken the club to a 13-25 record up to that point of the season. When Green took over the Mets went 46-78 the rest of the way finishing in last place.
In the strike shortened 1994 season, the Mets finished third (55-58) in the newly aligned National League which now included a Central Division.
Quotes- Dallas Green: ''We got rid of all the bad stuff & truthfully that's what I've been. I've been the damage-control guy. I go in their and clean up the bad stuff and then I get fired. That's just where I am in baseball and I understand that. That's the way the game is. I'm proud to have helped the Mets through some troubled times and get them on what I think is the right track.''
He served as the clubs GM after that & then did one year as manager of the A.L. New York club.
Valentine had been with the Mets as a utility player in the late 1970's (1977-1978). In 1982 he Became a Mets third base coach & remained there for three seasons.
He was already a popular figure in New York & would have one of the most successful & colorful
Mets manager careers.
In the strike shortened 1994 season, the Mets finished third (55-58) in the newly aligned National League which now included a Central Division. In 1995 New York finished below .500 once again (69-75) but did end up in second place to the Atlanta Braves.
Now five months into the 1996 season, the club was in fourth place (59-72) having lost 16 of thier last 23 games getting swept by the Dodgers at the time of Dallas Green's firing.
Green at 62 years of age, was the oldest manager in the NL at the time. Dallas was a harsh old school type of manager who was known to not as having much patience for young players.
Green at 62 years of age, was the oldest manager in the NL at the time. Dallas was a harsh old school type of manager who was known to not as having much patience for young players.Dallas Green criticized young Mets "Generation K" pitchers Jason Isringhausen & Paul Wilson publicly saying he didn't feel they even belonged in the major leagues.
This was looked at by organization & the players as a betrayal to his team.
Quotes- Dallas Green: ''We got rid of all the bad stuff & truthfully that's what I've been. I've been the damage-control guy. I go in their and clean up the bad stuff and then I get fired. That's just where I am in baseball and I understand that. That's the way the game is. I'm proud to have helped the Mets through some troubled times and get them on what I think is the right track.''
Dallas Green Trivia: Green had been in baseball for over forty years, starting out with the Philadelphia Phillies as a pitcher. He would manage the Phils (1979-1981) taking them to their first World Series title in 1980.
Enter the Bobby Valentine Era: The Mets named 46 year old Bobby Valentine as the team's new manager ushering in the "Bobby V" Era. Valentine was teams fifth manager in the past seven seasons.
Quotes- Bobby Valentine: "I have very mixed emotions, as you might imagine. I have a great deal of elation but I know the emptiness".
Valentine had been with the Mets as a utility player in the late 1970's (1977-1978). In 1982 he Became a Mets third base coach & remained there for three seasons. He went on to manage the Texas Rangers from 1986-1991 becoming the winningest manager in the teams history. He won a Manager of the Year Award & took them to a second-place finish as well as two third place finished in an era with no wild card.
After his Texas years, Valentine managed the 1994 AAA Norfolk Tides then became the first American to manage in the Japan Nippon Pro League. Valentine soon became a legendary rock-star like figure in Japan.
After his Texas years, Valentine managed the 1994 AAA Norfolk Tides then became the first American to manage in the Japan Nippon Pro League. Valentine soon became a legendary rock-star like figure in Japan.
Mets manager careers.
On this date the Mets also promoted Bob Apodaca to be Valentines pitching coach. Apodaca had
pitched for the Mets in the 1970's but had a bright career ruined by arm troubles. Apodaca had been pitching coach at AAA Norfolk under Manager Bobby Valentine.
pitched for the Mets in the 1970's but had a bright career ruined by arm troubles. Apodaca had been pitching coach at AAA Norfolk under Manager Bobby Valentine.
The Valentine era would certainly be a successful, as the club went to two straight post seasons for the first & only time in team history in 1999 & 2000.
Valentine led the team during Mike Piazza's Hall of Fame years & highlights as a Mets player.
In 2001 after the 911 attacks, Valentine led the teams' efforts volunteering in New York's first responders & emergency workers recovery activities with a supply set up staged at the Shea Stadium parking lot.