Ex-Red Sox manager Bobby V is getting into politics originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
Bobby Valentine’s professional career is taking another interesting turn.
The former Boston Red Sox manager is running for mayor in his hometown of Stamford, Conn. Valentine announced his candidacy Friday on social media and via a three-minute YouTube video.
The 70-year-old Valentine is currently the athletic director at Sacred Heart University in nearby Fairfield., Conn. He grew up in Stamford and attended high school there before launching his baseball career.
Valentine will challenge incumbent David Martin, a Democrat, and Democratic State Representative Caroline Simmons and will run unaffiliated to any political party, according to News 8.
Tomase: Grading Chaim Bloom’s biggest trades with Red Sox
“I feel like it’s a great time for me to get to my hometown and do some more leadership work,” Valentine told News 8. “We are up against a big political machine with the democrats and a real strong base political machine with the republicans. It’s not going to be an easy situation that’s for sure.”
Valentine may have trouble garnering support from any Red Sox fans in Stamford: His lone season as Boston’s manager in 2012 was a disaster that included public feuds with respected veterans such as Dustin Pedroia. The Red Sox finished with a 69-93 record that year — their worst in nearly 50 years — and Valentine was fired the day after the regular season.
Valentine hasn’t managed since, turning to his role as athletic director in 2013 and now dipping his toes into politics in his hometown.
