My Take
Bobby Valentine is one of those rare guys who somehow became a bigger deal in a foreign country than he ever was back home, and I mean that as the highest compliment. Sure, he had a solid MLB career bouncing around teams like the Dodgers and the Mets in the 1970s, but his real legacy is what he built in Japan managing the Chiba Lotte Marines — twice — and turning a struggling franchise into genuine contenders. The man learned the culture, earned the respect of his players, and gave back so much to Japanese baseball that the Japanese government awarded him the Order of the Rising Sun, which is about as official as "you're one of us now" gets. A Connecticut kid who became a cultural bridge across the Pacific — that's a career worth celebrating.
Overview
Robert John Valentine (born May 13, 1950), nicknamed "Bobby V", is an American former professional baseball player and manager. He also served as the athletic director at Sacred Heart University. Valentine played for the Los Angeles Dodgers (1969, 1971–72), California Angels (1973–1975), San Diego Padres (1975-1977), New York Mets (1977–78), and Seattle Mariners (1979) in MLB.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Bobby Valentine
- Name (Japanese)
- ボビー・ヴァレンタイン
- Reading
- ぼびー・ゔぁれんたいん
- Born
- May 13, 1950 (age 76)
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Taurus / Tiger
- Origin
- Stamford, Connecticut, United States
- Blood type
- Private
- Height
- 178 cm
- Agency
- Private
- Occupation
- baseball player
2. Background
- Elementary school
- Private
- Junior high
- Private
- High school
- Rippowam High School
- University
- Arizona State University
Awards & achievements
- The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette
3. Relationships
- Spouse
- Private
- Children
- Private
- Parents
- Private
- Siblings
- Private
4. Personality
Motto
Private
6. Links
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-02
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public items are marked "Private / Unknown". English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.