Photogenic....Another talented product of the Dodger star making factory....put together a historic PCL season in 1970 where he led the league in all batting numbers save home run and RBIs....But only translated to fair rookie season....Improved slightly in 1972 but MLB numbers did not match MiBL….a significant new opportunity change that came with a trade to crosstown Angels…..With the Halos in 1973 was hitting .302 and generating buzz early on when he crashed into an outfield wall, breaking his leg…..Devastating injury, out for the season and never really the same….His 1974 comeback while admirable was unexciting….fortunes regressed further in 1975….majority time spent with two minor league team and with a short split between So Cal and San Diego…..much of same for 1976 although a strong AAA season and hitting .367 in his Padre September call up improved his stock and trade….Split time between Padres and Mets in 1977…..Finished off playing career with sporadic servitude as a Mariner in 1979......While since ending his playing day, Valentine has run successful restaurant business but eventually returned to the game as a manager from 1985 to 2012….Stops as dugout chief included Texas, Mets, Norfolk (AAA) and Boston….also sandwiched between he in a unconventional move managed the Chiba Marines on two separate stints being the first foreign skipper to do so….second go round led Marines to a Japanese League Championship in 2004, also another first.....Last try as a dugout helmsman was derailed by an underperforming Red Sox squad…..Still in the hunt and mentioned for further managerial opportunities…..this may not be the end of Bobby Valentine.
As I recall, Valentine's outfield leg injury was not so much the impact with the fence, but that his leg pierced the vinyl sheeting that served as the outfield wall, and then his leg got twisted as his weight caused him to hang by his mangled leg.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds similar to what might happen if a basketball player got his ring finger caught in the net.
Ironically I believe Cecil Upshaw's 1970 injury was from having a ring finger caught while playing basketball. Now baseball contracts have riders to discourage such action. I remember seeing Valentine's injury at the time but can't find footage on youtube.
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