Joe Girardi has accomplished a lot in the two decades since he left Northwestern.
After graduating from NU with a degree in industrial engineering, Girardi spent 15 years as a catcher in the major leagues, winning three World Series and being named to the National League All-Star team in 2000.
In 2006, he got his first managerial job, taking over a Florida Marlins team with a miniscule payroll and keeping them in playoff contention until late August. For his efforts, he was named National League Manager of the Year.
Now, he’s the manager of the New York Yankees, arguably the most high-profile job in the sports world.
Girardi agreed to a three-year deal with the Yankees on Tuesday, taking over for Joe Torre, who managed Girardi when he played for the Yankees from 1996 to 1999.
“I can’t be Joe Torre because I’m made up different,” Girardi said in a news conference. “You know, I’m a different character, so I don’t really necessarily worry about replacing someone or how I’m going to replace someone. I’m more worried about just being myself and getting the most out of the guys.”
NU baseball coach Paul Stevens, who was an assistant coach when Girardi came through the system from 1983 to 1986, said he could see the managerial qualities in Girardi as a college player.
“He was a really good student of the game,” Stevens said. “He was someone who could analyze any situation to benefit him. He’s one person where analysis doesn’t cause paralysis.”
Stevens said he called Girardi on Monday to congratulate him when the Yankees offered him the job.
He was also there to talk when the Marlins fired him after the 2006 season, reportedly for clashing with Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria.
“I offered him a job here,” Stevens said. “I told him the salary was not going to be the same. But in this profession, you’re basically hired to be fired at some point. So we joked about that.”
Girardi has kept close ties with the team over the years, and Stevens said he is always willing to help when the Wildcats need it.
When the Cats were in Bradenton, Fla., for a series of games last March, Girardi visited the team.
He spoke with the players for about 15 minutes before the start of the game, telling them to focus on the little things to get the most out of their abilities on the diamond.
“It was really inspirational and we learned a lot from him,” senior outfielder Max Mann said. “He was a presence.”
Senior infielder Jake Owens got some one-on-one time with Girardi.
Owens said Girardi pulled him aside and talked to him about making the adjustment from second base to third base, a transition Owens was making in the early part of last season.
“He told me, ‘You’ve got to let the game come to you,'” Owens said. ‘”The guys who are successful don’t press.'”
Owens said it was exciting seeing an NU alumnus take the reins for one of the most storied franchises in sports.
“The fact that they trust a guy who started in a low position and worked for everything he got, it’s a big vote of confidence for guys at Northwestern,” he said.
Girardi takes over a team in turmoil.
Torre refused the offer of a new contract from the Yankees because he felt it was an “insult.” Bench coach Don Mattingly, who had been a lifer in the Yankees organization, left the team because he was passed over for the managerial job in favor of Girardi, who served as a Yankees broadcaster this season. Alex Rodriguez, who drove in 156 runs last year, declined to pick up the option on his contract, making his future with the Yankees uncertain.
Stevens said he expects Girardi to take the same mindset into his new job that he displayed as a collegiate catcher for the Cats: one of hard work and perseverance.
“I don’t think this is going to change Joe one single bit,” Stevens said. “I have never seen anything change Joe Girardi.”
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
Reach David Morrison at [email protected].
