The Yankees Hire Joe Torre

On November 2, 1995, the New York Yankees named Joe Torre their 31st manager, replacing Buck Showalter. The New York Daily News ran a one-word back page headline the next morning that captured the city's reaction. "Clueless."

Torre's resume did not inspire confidence. He had managed the Mets, Braves, and Cardinals over 14 seasons without reaching a World Series. His combined record sat below .500. He was 55 years old and unemployed, working as an analyst for the California Angels' television broadcasts when George Steinbrenner called.

The skepticism was everywhere. Torre had never won a pennant. Showalter, his predecessor, had guided the Yankees to the postseason in 1995 for the first time since 1981. But Showalter and the front office could not agree on terms, and Steinbrenner moved on.

What followed was the most successful managerial tenure in modern Yankees history. Torre won the World Series in his first year, 1996, beating the Braves in six games after falling behind two games to none. He won again in 1998, 1999, and 2000, building a dynasty that defined the late-1990s game. His 1998 squad went 114-48 in the regular season, one of the best records ever.

Torre managed the Yankees for 12 seasons. He reached the postseason in every one of them. His calm presence in the dugout became the counterweight to Steinbrenner's volatility, and players credited that steadiness as a reason they performed under pressure.

He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2014. The "Clueless" headline aged poorly.