Valentine Named Man Of The Year By State Street Debating Society

Information from State Street Debating Society

STAMFORD, CT — Bobby Valentine, a Stamford native, has been selected as the State Street Debating Society's 74th Man of the Year.

The SSDS was founded in 1947 and hosts regular discussions with community leaders, in addition to providing scholarships to area high school students. Last year, the organization awarded $70,000 to seven young women from Stamford.

The Man of the Year "embodies great moral character, leadership and commitment to Stamford, CT," the SSDS said in a news release. The SSDS will hold its annual dinner on Tuesday, March 22 at The Waters Edge at Giovanni's in Darien.

"I have admired the work of State Street for years and am humbled by this award," Valentine said in a statement to Patch. "I know past members Mickey Lione, Herb Kohn and others are smiling wisely from up above."

Valentine was born and raised in Stamford, and attended Stamford Public Schools.

As a student at the former Rippowam High School, he excelled in athletics, was elected student body president and earned a scholarship to the University of Southern California.

Valentine played Major League Baseball for 10 years before becoming a coach and then manager, eventually leading the New York Mets to a World Series in 2000.

Following his tenure with the Mets, Valentine managed a professional baseball team in Japan where learned to speak fluent Japanese and won a national championship. He was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun from the Emperor for his humanitarian efforts.

Valentine has been a small business owner in Stamford for over four decades. He opened Bobby Valentine's Sports Cafe in 1980.

In 2011, Valentine became the Director of Public Health and Safety for Stamford, and donated his salary to the Boys & Girls Club.

In 2013, Valentine served as the Executive Director of Athletics at Sacred Heat University, where he managed a diverse program of more than 1,000 student athletes and 100 coaches and administrators. He also launched the Valentine Sports Academy in Springdale.

Most recently, he ran for Mayor of Stamford in 2021 as an unaffiliated candidate, and lost in a closely contested race that featured record turnout to Caroline Simmons.

In January, he partnered with Rush Street Interactive to bring next generation sports gaming to Connecticut.

Valentine also established the Mickey Lione Jr. Fund, which so far has awarded $1.2 million in scholarships to Stamford high school students.