Bobby Valentine Enjoys First Trip To Rocket City 

In a professional baseball career that has spanned more than 50 years, Bobby Valentine had seen and done nearly everything there is to do in the game. Even now in 2023, over a decade after his last stint in the dugout, he’s still adding to his baseball checklist.

A short list of his achievements includes making his MLB debut as a 19-year-old for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1969. Then at age 35, became the youngest manager in the big leagues at the time when he took over the Texas Rangers during the 1985 season. In 2000, he led the New York Mets to a National League pennant for just the third time in their history. Five years later, he became the first American manager to win the Japan Series for the Chiba Lotte Marines.

Valentine has worn many uniforms throughout his career, with his most recent managerial stint came in 2012 when he was at the helm for the Boston Red Sox. Recently, Valentine has been working on Bally Sports West as an analyst for Los Angeles Angels games, covering the team for which he played with from 1973-74.

Just a few weeks ago, Valentine was back in uniform, this time in North Alabama. In early June, the baseball legend joined the Rocket City Trash Pandas in the dugout for three games, providing advice and guidance while taking in the atmosphere at Toyota Field.

While here, we caught up with Valentine to get his thoughts on the Trash Pandas organization, the Minor League Baseball experience, and so much more.

Q: What was your reaction when you heard the Angels’ affiliate was going to be named the Rocket City Trash Pandas?
A: It didn’t compute for me. Rocket City seemed like it was this futuristic thing and Trash Pandas seemed like something making noise in my backyard. I couldn’t figure it out. But other than driving through this is my first time in Alabama. I’ve been hoping that I could experience it.

Q: What brings you here to the home of the Trash Pandas and what message are you trying to bring to this team?
A: (Angels General Manager) Perry Minasian and (Director of Player Development) Joey Prebynski thought it would be good for me as one of the older guys to come to town. I’m like the continental breakfast when you check into a hotel. It’s there if anyone wants it but nobody has to eat it. I’m getting a lot of this experience and I think the coaches and players are too. If they have any questions that I can answer or any message I can give to someone to help their life and their career, then why not use me as a resource? And that’s what they’re doing.

Q: What was it like to put on a Rocket City Trash Pandas uniform and spend a few games in the dugout?

A: It’s been a while since I put on a uniform. Putting on a uniform is a great feeling. To walk out here on such a beautifully manicured field and see all the growth that’s happening here has been kind of an educational revisitation for me. I’m learning, I’m remembering the past, and I’m trying to figure out the future.

Q: In your role with Bally Sports, you have talked about the Trash Pandas often. How has the expectation met the reality of being here for a few days?
A: Being inside the clubhouse with (Trash Pandas Manager) Andy Schatzley and his staff, it’s been inspiring to see how the information is being used. It’s different than how information used to be presented. Some of it is even new information. It’s a great learning experience and to be around the young players who seem to be like sponges and absorbing everything that they’re being presented with. And then they have to go out and perform, it’s been cool to watch.

Q: What is your first impression of Schatzley and the job he and the coaching staff have done with the Trash Pandas?
A: Andy is much more advanced and smarter than I was at his age. He’s really organized and very caring. I think that I had that similar caring quality where he tries not to miss the things that you can’t see. The feelings, the emotion, the elation, and the disappointment that players experience every day. He tries to be with all of them during that process. It’s really tough to do what he’s doing and I think he’s doing a hell of a job. It takes knowledge, it takes commitment, and it takes a caring feeling. Regardless of where you’re coaching, the players don’t care what you know until they know that you care, and Andy lets them know that he cares.

Q: How is the Minor League experience now different than when you were playing and coaching?
A: I think a lot more is done now before the players come on the field. When I managed at Triple-A in the 1990s, most everything was done on the field. Now a lot of it is done in the clubhouse, the training room, the weight room, and the video room with the analytics. It seems that it used to be a little more individual than it is today. It’s more of a group teach and a group thing where it used to be a little more individual.

Q: How important is winning at the Minor League level to developing winning player at the Major League level?

A: You have to understand what it takes to win. That’s the ultimate goal of the organization is to win at the highest levels. To say that you have to win in order to develop is a misnomer. But you must create the environment that rewards the winning attitude so that it continues to be a part of the organization.

Q: After being here for a few days, what stood out about the game atmosphere at Toyota Field?
A: I like the fact that the game is organized to work for the fans. The entertainment is continuous. There’s always something going on. That’s the way it’s supposed to be. It’s a few hours of entertainment and it seems like the fans are entertained. It’s the only way to grow the game. The only thing the organization wants is for the fans to be proud of their product and they’re doing a great job of that here with the Trash Pandas.

Q: Are there any particular between-inning promotions that you’ve enjoyed the most?
A: The astronaut race. I’ve been really impressed by the strides of those astronauts. Those are real athletes in that race.