Angel Broadcaster Torre Will Manage Cardinals

The fortune tucked inside the cookie on Joe Torre’s plate Tuesday brought a round of laughter from his lunch companions.

“You will soon be honored by someone you respect,” it read.

The cookie stuffer couldn’t have known, but Torre had already been honored by General Manager Dal Maxvill of the St. Louis Cardinals with the offer of the only job that could have lured Torre away from Newport Beach and the comfort of the Angels’ broadcast booth.

Torre will be named manager of the Cardinals today at a news conference in Philadelphia, where the Cardinals are playing the Phillies.

The 50-year-old native of Brooklyn, the National League’s most valuable player and batting champion in 1971 when he played for the Cardinals, has agreed to a managing contract believed to be for three years.

Torre will succeed Whitey Herzog, who resigned last month as manager of the last-place Cardinals in the National League East. Red Schoendienst has been the club’s interim manager.

Among Torre’s rivals for the job were Don Baylor, Milwaukee’s hitting instructor, and Hal Lanier, former manager of the Houston Astros. It is expected that Torre will take over as soon as possible and spend the rest of the season observing and evaluating the personnel.

Torre would not comment Tuesday when asked if he had been offered the job. However, he had acknowledged on Monday that he and Maxvill had conducted serious discussions and discussed the club’s personnel, including the possibility that the Cardinals could lose eight players to free agency after this season. That prospect apparently prompted Torre to ask for more than a two-year deal.

“If (eight) free agents are not going to be there, it’s a building situation and it has to affect your considerations,” Torre had said Monday.

Considering whether to continue his promising broadcasting career or return to managing after a six-year absence was difficult for Torre. He was also reluctant to abandon his commitments to SportsChannel and KTLA. It could not be immediately determined who would take Torre’s place on the telecasts. His next scheduled game is Thursday’s at Anaheim Stadium.

With his decision made, Torre may now be able to relax.

“I haven’t had a whole lot of sleep over the last week or so,” he said. “My heart and my head are in both places. I enjoy what I’m doing--that’s the head part--but my heart, well, once you get in uniform and get involved, you get into it. If it wasn’t the Cards I wouldn’t be this torn. . . .

“Broadcasting is a more secure thing for me. It’s gotten where I’m more nervous about managing than broadcasting, but I’m sure that would change if I got back into it.”

Torre compiled a 543-649 record with the New York Mets from 1977-81 and the Atlanta Braves from 1982-84. He led the Braves to the West Division title in 1982, a pinnacle they haven’t approached since. The Braves haven’t had a winning record since Torre managed the club to an 88-74 record in 1983.

Torre’s departure will be the second for an Angel broadcaster this season. Joe Garagiola, who did play-by-play for SportsChannel, left to become a semi-regular on NBC’s “Today” show.

MANAGERIAL RECORD OF JOE TORRE

Year Club Fin. W-L .Pct. 1977 Mets 6th 49-68 .419 1978 Mets 6th 66-96 .407 1979 Mets 6th 63-99 .389 1980 Mets 5th 67-95 .413 1981 Mets 5th 41-62 .398 1982 Braves 1st 89-73 .549 1983 Braves 2nd 88-74 .543 1984 Braves 2nd 80-82 .494 Total 8 Years 463-567 .450