You may have never heard of Bobby Valentine, but the Japanese have...
Valentine was a star athlete from Connecticut who started in the major leagues at 19 years old in 1969 with the Dodgers. But his skill as a player isn't what has made him famous, it is his ability to manage baseball teams. From 1986 to 1992 Bobby managed the Texas Rangers and from 1996 to 2002 he managed the New York Mets, taking them to the World Series in 2000. Many fans remember when he was ejected from a game in 1999, only to disguise himself with a fake mustache, sneak back into the dugout, and finish the game.
Bobby’s managing prowess extends beyond the MLB to the NPB (Nippon Professional Baseball). In 2004, Bobby began managing the Chiba Lotte Marines in Chiba, Japan (having done a one-year deal previously in 1995). He quickly gained fame from his openness to fans and for taking the Marines to their first Japan Series win in 31 years. He is the only manager to take teams to the National Title games in both the U.S. and Japan (though he lost with the Mets in 2000).
One of the most interesting things about Bobby is how much Japanese fans adore him. Bobby Valentine is so loved in Japan that there is a street, a hamburger, and a beer named after him! For his efforts in Japan, he was awarded the coveted Matsutaro Shoriki Award, an annual award given to the player or manager that has contributed most to Japanese baseball. Bobby is the only non-Japanese to have ever won the award since it’s inception in 1977.