Joe Girardi’s father dies at 81 – MLB New York Yankees News
New York Yankees’ Manager Joe Girardi’s phones rang when the Yankees’ team bus was on the Henry Hudson Parkway. His father had died in Illinois after fighting from Alzheimer’s disease for the last 20-years.
The skipper did not disclose his fathers’ death to his players, thinking that it will distract the players from the task at hand. The 81-year-old Jerry Girardi will be buried on Monday in Tampico, Ill.
Yankees lost to the Baltimore Orioles 1-2 in another thrilling encounter at Yankee Stadium on Thursday evening that forced the series into the decider. Despite taking the loss, New York still has one more chance to advance to the American League Championship
Series.
''I had tears in my eyes on the bus, so I put some sunglasses on,'' the manager said Thursday, ''and (did) probably what a lot of men do when they go through difficult and sad times, we try to stay busy. That's what we do. And I tried to focus.''
''I was going to tell them, you know, God willing we get into the next round, that I was going to the funeral on Monday and I wouldn't be at the workout,'' he added. ''That's when I was going to tell them.''
Girardi has led his side out of trouble on numerous occasions since the start of this season. He has the ability to get the best out of his player even in pressure situations. It seems he is a man on a mission. In fact, this is what he has been taught by
his father Gerry and mom Angela, who passed away 28-years-ago.
Managing his team in a better way is what he strives for every day and night. He wiped his tears from his eyes while standing alone in front of the dugout. Girardi then waved to someone in the stands.
Then a man who is known for his calmness and composure got emotional and choked up, showing the strong relationship he had with his father. However, regardless of his personal loss, Girardi will be looking to lead the Yankees to another World Series title.
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