Joe Torre

By Witt Hullander

Baseball is in full swing! Current managers, such as Joe Maddon, Don Mattingly, and Terry Francona, are seeking to lead their players to the playoffs and the World Series. Although not currently coaching, Joe Torre is one of the most well known managers in baseball. He managed the New York Yankees for twelve seasons and was highly successful, winning four World Series. He led these teams with his will to win and his resilience to overcome defeat.

While he is known for his success as the Yankees manager, Joe Torre endured many valleys in his career. Often the best player on a bad team, Torre had all the talent in the world but never had the privilege of being on a winning team. He was a nine-time All-Star and the National League MVP in 1971 but never made it to the postseason as a player. Even as a manager, he didn’t have success right away. He managed the Braves for three seasons and was fired in 1984. He managed the Cardinals for five seasons and was fired in 1995. A competitor and a fighter, Torre displayed resilience and never gave up. The Yankees hired him, and he managed the Yankees for twelve full seasons – taking them to the playoffs in every single one, and winning four World Series.

Torre compares baseball to the game of life in many aspects. Baseball, with 162 games in a major league season, is an everyday game like life. There will be highs and lows no matter what. To teach consistency in such a day in and day out sport, Torre often told his players to eliminate the highs and lows to operate at a consistent rate. This consistency provides a level head to operate with true reliability.

As leaders, we need to take Torre’s message to heart. We must exercise the will to win every single day. Winning in your business could be as simple as a sale, a great review from a customer, or a positive day. In order to win, we cannot give up in the midst of a valley. We must pursue the win and give it our all every single day.