Bobby Valentine to Speak Sept. 9 at Westport Rotary Lunch

A news release from the Westport Rotary Club:

Sports legend Bobby Valentine will offer his “Reflections on a Lifetime in Baseball” as the very special luncheon guest speaker of the Westport Rotary Club at 12 noon on September 9, 2014. The Club is excited to welcome the public to attend this luncheon meeting which takes place at Branson Hall of Christ & Holy Trinity Church in Westport.

The public is invited to attend this event, space permitting, at a luncheon cost of $20. Due to the expected popularity of this event, reservations are required by contacting Rotary Program Chair Julia Broder at jlbroder@optonline.net or (203) 226-8300.

Stamford native Bobby Valentine is a sports legend with strong ties to Fairfield County (he is currently the athletic director at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield). In addition to his baseball achievements at Stamford’s Rippowam High School, Valentine was the only three-time all-state football player in Connecticut history. He was widely recruited out of high school and attended college at the University of Southern California. He was voted by Sports Illustrated as one of the best athletes of the 20th century from Connecticut. After his selection in the first round by the L.A. Dodgers, his 10 years as an MLB player included successful stints with the Dodgers, Angels, Padres, Mets and Mariners.

After retiring from baseball as a player, Valentine opened the first of seven restaurants while working in television for ESPN and NBC. He later coached in the minor leagues with the San Diego Padres and the New York Mets before becoming third-base coach for the Mets in 1982. In 1985, he was named manager of the Texas Rangers. As the Rangers’ manager, he was named UPI American League Manager of the Year in 1986 and went on to become the winningest manager in Rangers history. In 1994, he became the first American to accept a management position in the Pacific League of Japan for the Chiba Lotte Marines, and in1995, he took on the role of manager of the Mets AAA club in Norfolk, VA. In1996, he was hired as the manager of the New York Mets, where he led the team to the post season in consecutive years for the first time in team history and to the World Series in 2000.

Over the years, Valentine has received numerous awards both for his athletic successes and philanthropy.

The public is always welcome to attend Rotary Club luncheon meetings which take place on Tuesdays from 12 to 1:30 pm. Luncheon cost is $20. The Club welcomes membership inquiries. Please contact Westport Rotary Club President Steven Lewine at (203) 221-6035 or Membership Chair Dave Matlow at (203) 203-227-3090.

Representing a cross-section of local business and professional leaders, the Westport Rotary Club is an organization of men and women united in service to their community, vocation and the world. One of 33,000 Rotary clubs worldwide, the Westport Rotary Club is known for philanthropy and for providing hands-on project leadership both locally and internationally. More information is available atwww.westportrotary.org.