Remembering The Horrible Injury That Ruined Bobby Valentines Playing Career (1973)
In 1968 Bobby Valentine had been drafted as a first-round pick of the Los Angeles Dodgers out of Stamford high school in his hometown of Stamford, Connecticut.At the age of 18, Valentine was named the MVP of the Pioneer League. There he played under manager Tommy Lasorda, who would become a mentor & lifelong friend to the young Valentine.
In 1969 Valentine was briefly brought up to the big-league Dodger club for five games. Over the next two seasons he continued to develop at the minor league levels.
At the age 20 he was playing with the Dodgers AAA Spokane club where he hit .340 with 14 HRs 39 doubles 16 triples & 29 stolen bases.
In 1971, the hot hitting young player was rushed up to the big-league club, where he batted .249 with in 101 games for the second-place team that finished just one game behind the Giants. The next year, although he raised his average to .274, Bobby still didn't regain the power & speed he had in the minors.
That winter the Dodgers & the cross-town AL team, the California Angels, made a blockbuster trade. Bobby Valentine was part of the deal that sent him, Frank Robinson, Bill Singer & Billy Grabarkewitz to the Angels in exchange for Andy Messersmith, & Ken McMullen.
Within two years Andy Messersmith became one of the NL's top pitchers, helping to lead the Dodger staff to the pennant & 1974 World Series.Valentine was a versatile fielder, playing at second base, short stop & in the outfield. The change of leagues did him well, as he was batting well over .300 & his future looked bright once again.
May 17th, 1973, On Thursday night the Angels hosted the World Champion Oakland A's in front of 11,481 fans at Anaheim Stadium. The Angels pitcher Rudy May went up against the A's All Star, Catfish Hunter. Catfish would shut out the Angels 4-0 on a five hitter.
In the top of the 2nd, the A's Reggie Jackson tripled for & Ray Fosse soon walked putting two on. Second baseman Dick Green then came to bat & blasted a shot to deep center field.
But for Valentine it was much worse, his leg got caught up between two posts in the fence and tangled as he fell down to the ground.
Bobby remained on the ground in intense pain. His teammates & the trainer came to his aide, but he had to be carried off the field. He would suffer from multiple leg fractures. It was one of the worst baseball injuries of the year & a memorable one that shortened his career.
Valentine spent the rest of the year in two different leg casts. But the bones in his ankle still did not heal right.
Valentine spent the rest of the year in two different leg casts. But the bones in his ankle still did not heal right.
In 1974, instead of another surgery Bobby decided to play baseball. Although he did play in 117 games, he batted .261 & was never the same player again.
His once potential All Star career combined of speed & power at the plate, as well as being versatile able to play infield & outfield positions on the field were over. He became a backup utility player, playing for five teams in his ten-year career, the Los Angeles Dodgers (1969 - 1972) California Angels (1973-1975) San Diego Padres (1975-1977) New York Mets (1977-1978) & Seattle Mariners (1979).
In 639 games he batted .260 with 12 HRs 59 doubles 9 triples 157 RBIs 176 runs scored & a .315 on base %. Bobby played 161 games at short, 128 games in the outfield, 106 games at third, 23 at first & 19 as a DH.
His greatest successes came after his playing career. Valentine would coach with the New York Mets in the 1980's then get the job as Texas Rangers manager (1985-1992) where he became the team's winningest manager.
Bobby also managed the Boston Red Sox (2002) & had a successful managing career in Japan. He went into broadcasting as well as author to baseball books. Bobby Valentine is also a successful restauranter, at one time operating seven Bobby V's with its flagship in Stamford Conn.