TAMPA, Fla. — Now 83 years and nine months old, Joe Torre looks like he’s several inches shorter than when he was managing the Yankees’ last dynasty a generation ago.
The man that Derek Jeter called Mr. T used to be 6-2. But now .…
Well, as the Yankees were taking batting practice before Saturday’s game, Torre spent time behind the cage looking up at a 6-0 franchise legend, Don Mattingly, currently the Blue Jays bench coach.
Still, if Torre has lost some height, he remains larger than life. In fact, the legendary No. 6 looks great for his age.
That Aaron Boone fungo Torre was leaning on wasn’t doubling as a cane. Not at all.
SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE YANKEES NEWSLETTER:
On Friday, Torre joined the Yankees to start a few light-work, fun days as spring training guest instructor. He schmoozed at the cage with old and current Yankees, dressed in pinstripe pants and a BP jersey.
While Giancarlo Stanton was hitting, Torre watched like a hitting instructor while the slugger went through a round of BP. At one point Torre lifted his bat and broke into his old right-handed stance. He then took a couple half swings while making a point to Boone.
Torre likes telling people how good of a manager Boone is. Those aren’t gratuitous compliments, even if Boone handed Torre his sixth and final pennant in 2003.
His home run in Game 7 of the American League Championship remains a seminal moment in Yankees’ history. Every fan remembers Boone breaking the Red Sox’ hearts. Not only did he send the Yankees to the World Series, it played a role in Torre’s eventual induction into the Cooperstown in 2014.
But Torre sees Boone in 2024 not as his former third baseman, but as a fellow manager who’ll deserve another contract after this season. Torre instead saved the nostalgia for his long-time center fielder Bernie Williams and third-base coach Willie Randolph, two other former great Yankees also serving as guests instructors in camp.
As for Stanton, Torre insisted there was no teaching going on, but Stanton nevertheless paid close attention. The slugger didn’t need to be reminded of Torre’s star power as a player himself: 1971 NL MVP, that year’s batting champion (.363) and nine-time All-Star.
What was the message?
“We were just chatting about baseball,” Torre said. “I wasn’t giving him any advice. We were just talking and I told him how good he looked.”
Torre commended Stanton for using the winter to get into the best shape he’s been in years. He’s still listed 6-6, 245, but is now probably closer to 225.
“Stanton’s always been muscle, but when you get a little older it doesn’t hurt to lose a little weight,’’ Torre said.
Torre surely passed along a few words of encouragement to Stanton, who turned 34 in November. Mr. T was low-key, but nevertheless a unique motivator leading the Yankees to 12 straight playoff appearances and four world championships.
In recent years, Torre still occasionally drops in at the Stadium, although not necessarily as an alumnus. He’d been MLB’s chief baseball officer for a decade before becoming commissioner Rob Manfred’s special assistant in 2020.
“He has spoken to our players many times in-season,” said general manager Brian Cashman. “He has a chance to get into our clubhouse and I think even one of the years we had a team meeting and he spoke. He’s someone that you can rely on.”
Cashman and Torre once were the best GM/manager tandem in the majors. Their chemistry was as dynamic as Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. As Joe DiMaggio and Phil Rizzuto. As Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra and Whitey Ford.
Torre’s relationship with George Steinbrenner was far more contentious, however, leading to Torre’s eventual ouster in 2007. It was the fourth straight year the Yankees had failed to make it to the World Series. The Boss decided Torre had lost his touch, and not even Cashman could save the manager’s job.
The two remain on good terms, however. Cashman is thrilled that Torre agreed to be a Yankee again for a few days.
“It’s always good to get our successful history to come back and have our players be able to pick their brain,” Cashman said. ”And not just for players … our manager, our coaching staff.
“There’s a lot of wisdom, whether it’s a Joe Torre or Bernie Williams or Willie Randolph. It’s a kernel of help that somebody can rely on something, hang their hat on that they learned with their interactions down here.
“We appreciate Joe taking the time to be with us and share.”
Torre shared this simple but powerful thought about Stanton.
“He’s still a good player. He’s a great player.”
Stanton wasn’t great last year when he batted .191. He wasn’t great early this spring, either, either going 1-for-13 in his first five games.
But Stanton is6-for-13 in his last four games, with two home runs in three of them, raising his spring average to .250.
In Saturday’s game, Stanton was 2-for-4 with his first homer in a 10-9 Yankees win over the Blue Jays. The display of power was signature Stanton: an all-arms swing that sent a 116-mph missile over the left-field wall. The ball disappeared in less than four seconds.
Torre had a great view of the homer sitting outside the first-base dugout next to Boone, who was one stool to the right.
After Stanton circled the bases, Torre stood up to give him a hand slap.
“It’s just a matter a staying healthy for Stanton, and you’ve got to have good luck to stay healthy,” Torre said.
Stanton’s already had a distinguished career. He had a 59-homer season and won an MVP with the Marlins. He’s 402 homers down and 98 to go to join the ultra rare 500 club. That could at least put Stanton in the conversation for Cooperstown.
Checking out Stanton’s new physique, watching him take BP and hitting a spring training homer, Torre likes the chances of a big rebound in 2024.
“I think so,” Torre said. “Sure.”
Torre probably doesn’t appreciate the impact of his words, even on today’s stars. He’s a legend, and a bridge to a more prosperous era in Yankees history.
That’s why Yankees players were gravitating to Torre while he stood behind the cage studying swings and stances. That’s like oxygen to this great baseball lifer.
But mostly, Torre is in camp for the fun, which he described to Suzyn Waldman during a pre-game interview on Yankees radio.
And for 10 minutes, Torre had a legend to legend chat with Mattingly, who is almost unrecognizable with his snow white, bushy beard and Blue Jays uniform.
“I’m just watching and viewing,” Torre said. “It’s nice to mingle with the new players and my former players and my former coaches. It’s cool stuff.”
Almost as cool as seeing Torre in pinstripes again. Some memories never get old.
Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting us with a subscription.
Randy Miller may be reached at rmiller@njadvancemedia.com
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.