Happy birthday, Bobby Valentine

by Adam J. Morris on May 13, 2009 2:30 PM CDT Comment 48 comments

Happy birthday to Bobby Valentine, who turns 59 today.

Most of you know Bobby V. managed the Rangers for quite some time in the late-80s and early-90s, when Tom Grieve was the g.m., but you may not know that he was also a stud prospect back in the day, the #5 pick overall in the draft whose career was short-circuited when, as a 23 year old Angels outfielder, he got his spikes caught in a chain in the outfield and suffered a compound fracture of his leg.

He also finished up his career with the Mariners, making him yet another former Ranger with Seattle ties.

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Bobby V

possible future manager of the Rangers? He is buds with Nolan. He wants to come back to the States, supposedly. Makes sense to me.

"We live, we die, and the wheels on the bus go round and round." - Tony Romo

by kentbenfer on May 13, 2009 2:34 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

No mention of the restaurant chain?

I think the one off of Bowen is still open, isn’t it?

Grieve: The Yanks have struggled so far. - Lewin: Yeah, cry me a bag of money.
Dykstra has all the money!
ElectricOkra.com

by WhipSmart on May 13, 2009 2:37 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

It is still open but...

…I have it on good authority that he sold his interest in the Arlington location.

I have no objection to man walking on the moon.

by Chad Crudup on May 13, 2009 2:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

yep

new owners

"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan

by Dirk Diggler on May 13, 2009 5:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

mmmmmm DiMaggio Sticks......

I'm Ron Burgundy?

by Ryin A on May 13, 2009 2:52 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah those were awesome...

…maybe the best fried cheese I’ve ever had. I used to love going there.

The past couple of years… not so much.

I have no objection to man walking on the moon.

by Chad Crudup on May 13, 2009 2:54 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I used to go to the N Arlington one every coupla weeks or so.

I saw plenty of players, but never bothered them too much. Chatted with Inky once, and Nolan another time.

Oddest time was me and an old gf were partying pretty hardy, and Bobby was taking orders and running all over the joint. One time I went back for another drink, and Bobby was behind the bar, so he served me. Later on he asked us to try some new menu item out, and we told him it was very good.

Several hours later we went to leave, and the cashier said we didn’t have a bill…wtf? I looked around and Bobby was walking by and I asked him about it…“Thanks for stopping by, have a great night with your lady”…he totally comped a 75-100 bill. Wow.

"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
Yes we can! November 04, 2008

by Rodney on May 13, 2009 5:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Cool deal.

That’s how we paisans roll, Rodney. There’s at least one thing more important than money. :)

"I saw your act, just didn't make it for me. Just a lot of fluff."

by scoop16 on May 13, 2009 5:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

heh

You should have gotten a few more drinks.

By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw

by Gdawg on May 13, 2009 5:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

god bless him

Omar Vizquel: your starting shortstop for the 2009 AL all-star team.

by gossamer on May 13, 2009 2:52 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

He is also the son-in-law of...

…Ralph Branca (gave up the “Shot Heard ’Round the World”). I was fortunate enough to be introduced to Mr. Branca by Bob in the restaurant one night. A great guy who really enjoyed talking baseball and put up for the better part of an hour with a spare like me asking him question after question.

I have no objection to man walking on the moon.

by Chad Crudup on May 13, 2009 2:52 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I loved that place.

I spared Charlie Hough and Ruben Sierra on separate occasions there. I’ve since grown up, can’t believe Bobby started managing the team at the same age I am now. Time flies.

"I saw your act, just didn't make it for me. Just a lot of fluff."

by scoop16 on May 13, 2009 2:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I liked Bobby V's place as well.

I remember going there in late ’86 and Inky was coming back from the bar double-fisted with a couple of Coors Lights.

Bobby V was a pretty important person in Ranger baseball even though the team wasn’t very successful. Most of the early 80’s were godawful and he did a good job of selling the game to DFW when interest was starting to lag.

"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."

by Josey Wales on May 13, 2009 3:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yep. His importance can't be underestimated.

He was a great ambassador for the game in this area after some lean years. Kinda reminded me of Billy Martin in the early 80’s with Oakland. Played a lot of kids, and passionate.

"I saw your act, just didn't make it for me. Just a lot of fluff."

by scoop16 on May 13, 2009 3:54 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wash vs. Bobby V

Believe it or not, Wash is now #4 on the all-time WIN list for Rangers managers. That seemed pretty shocking to me.

by 3Bagger on May 13, 2009 3:05 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

lol

that’s pretty sad that a manager of a few .500ish teams could be number 4/

By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw

by Gdawg on May 13, 2009 4:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wash

Washington’s record going into 2009 was 154-170. Wash passed Doug Rader and Pat Corrales this season.

The top 3 are: Bobby V, Johnny Oates and Showalter.

by 3Bagger on May 13, 2009 4:50 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Equally sad...

that a manager of a few (more) .500ish teams could be number 3.

by bhudson on May 13, 2009 5:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

and 2

by bhudson on May 13, 2009 5:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

and 1

by bhudson on May 13, 2009 5:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

although Oates

had some better highs to go with the lows.

by bhudson on May 13, 2009 5:52 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I happened to go to the Rangers game the day he was fired

Heard the news on the radio on the way to the game. Some guys in the outfield bleachers had a sign that said, “Hey, Bobby! Winn-Dixie’s hiring!”

by Inkara1 on May 13, 2009 3:14 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I was at that game...

as well. I was in terrifying Arlington Stadium trough bathrooms when it was announced over loud speaker.

I hope you love to laugh
because that's what you'll be doing.

by ghostofErikThompson on May 13, 2009 3:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

It was only the second Rangers game I'd ever been to in my life.

the first was one in 1991 (I’m pretty sure it was this game) and the second was the day Valentine got fired (this game). My grandparents lived in Richardson at the time and I’d visit from California.

by Inkara1 on May 13, 2009 5:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Aye...

Jeff Frye’s first game, too.

I hope you love to laugh
because that's what you'll be doing.

by ghostofErikThompson on May 13, 2009 7:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I worked at the one on Bowen

I got hired a couple of weeks after Bobby got fired. He had just fired the dishwasher and he was actually in there washing dishes. He could be kind of an a$$, but any time he was in the restaurant, he was working… and he usually left a pretty good tip if you waited on him.

by JShoe on May 13, 2009 3:28 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

interesting

i did not know that…

"if my kid said 'uhh' that much, i would say, Hey! ... stop saying 'uhh' that much..." - dennis miller

by Longhorn on May 13, 2009 3:35 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Indeed:

http://weblogs.amny.com/news/sports/gameface/blog/vstache.jpg

"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"

by Walter Sobchak on May 13, 2009 3:54 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

The question that always comes to mind

When I see this image is: who the eff has a fake moustache in the clubhouse?? And WHY??

"...like some Russian priest fresh off a bottle of potato vodka and a box of cigars." -t ball

by rangerdanger on May 13, 2009 6:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Why not?

613photo

by Black Francis on May 13, 2009 6:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Chains in the Outfield?

It must have been back in those days of yore when the players left their gloves — as well as 2×4s, box springs, and rusty engine blocks — lying out there. Or maybe the Angels were playing Ricky Vaughn and the ringers from the California Penal league that day.

by TSRThomas on May 13, 2009 3:57 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I don't think it was a chain his leg got caught up in.

He was trying to climb the fence with his cleats and the old Big A used to have either a baggy or some kind of coating on the fences to make them softer. It was an ugly injury.

He was really hyped when he came up (he was with Garvey, Buckner, Cey, Paciorek, Russell, Lopes, Hough et al) but wasn’t that good of a player in The Show. Not sure if it was because he was beaned a couple of times in the minors or really wasn’t that good to begin with plus he supposedly pissed off Walter Alston.

"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."

by Josey Wales on May 13, 2009 4:18 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Come, now, Josey...

it takes a pretty special player to be a good player in The Show at 23.

"I know you're a bit dense but no, it doesn't. Obviously lying isn't a problem for me."

by benmor78 on May 13, 2009 5:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Valentine was fair to spare as a major leaguer

when he was 23 years old.

"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."

by Josey Wales on May 13, 2009 5:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I bet...

Kevin Mench would respect him.

"I know you're a bit dense but no, it doesn't. Obviously lying isn't a problem for me."

by benmor78 on May 13, 2009 5:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Bobby V

was he still the manager the day he was booted from the game and a couple of innings came back into the dugout wearing a fake mustache? That was a funny bit IMO.

I soloed in the Mile High Club!

by horsedooty on May 13, 2009 4:13 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

x

just saw Walter’s link never mind.

I soloed in the Mile High Club!

by horsedooty on May 13, 2009 4:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

OT: Best sports night of 2009

Red hot Rangers
Mavs playoffs
Pens v. Caps Game 7

"I saw your act, just didn't make it for me. Just a lot of fluff."

by scoop16 on May 13, 2009 5:00 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Looks like Zimmerman gets 1 last chance to keep streak going.

0-2 BB, IBB

by awillis111 on May 13, 2009 5:06 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Today is my BDay too!!!!

by Coolbean04 on May 13, 2009 5:15 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Uh...

Cool beans…

"...like some Russian priest fresh off a bottle of potato vodka and a box of cigars." -t ball

by rangerdanger on May 13, 2009 6:18 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Stevie Wonder too.

"I saw your act, just didn't make it for me. Just a lot of fluff."

by scoop16 on May 13, 2009 6:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Valentine

It was the 1991 Rangers who made me a fan. Prior to that I didn’t give a damn about them. I liked the A’s. Dave Stewart was king. But Gonzalez, Sierra, and the rest of the bunch sold me. Gonzalez played center field a lot of days back then if I remember right, and I think it’s also the same year Pudge broke in. Dean Palmer, too? And while he wasn’t a rookie who could forget the fearsome Jeff Huson? In my mind, though, I think of this period as the “Reimer Era”.

Anyway, I didn’t follow the Rangers prior to that so maybe it started earlier, but I remember fans turning on Valentine after that team’s 14-game winning streak was followed by an awful stretch. They fired Valentine the next year even though I seem to remember the team was doing fairly well.

And then there was Kevin Kennedy. Remember when Bob Tewksbury and Charlie Liebrandt?

Ah, the early nineties. Those were more interesting losing teams that what they’ve fielded for most of this decade, that’s for sure.

613photo

by Black Francis on May 13, 2009 5:16 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs