Joe Girardi is an American former professional baseball player and manager. He is best known as the catcher who won three World Series titles with the New York Yankees and as the manager who led the same club to a championship in 2009.
Girardi was born on October 14, 1964 (62 years old) in Peoria, Illinois. He played fifteen seasons as a catcher before moving into the dugout as a manager.
He guided the Yankees to their 27th World Series title in 2009. He was also named the National League Manager of the Year in 2006 after a standout season with the Florida Marlins.
Today, he is a familiar voice in the broadcast booth, working as a game analyst for Yankees and Chicago Cubs telecasts.
Quick Facts of Joe Girardi
| Full Name | Joseph Elliott Girardi |
| Profession | Former baseball catcher, manager, broadcaster |
| Age | 62 years old |
| Date of Birth | October 14, 1964 |
| Nationality | American |
| Zodiac/Sun Sign | Libra |
| Birthplace | Peoria, Illinois, United States |
| Current Address | Purchase, New York, United States |
| Gender | Male |
Joe Girardi Early Life and Education
Joe Girardi was born in Peoria, Illinois, and grew up in nearby East Peoria. He was one of five children.
His childhood was spent at Chicago Cubs games, and he fed the batting machine every day. That early support helped shape his love for the game.
Education
Girardi attended Spalding Institute, a Catholic high school in Peoria, where he played quarterback in football and catcher in baseball.
He then went to Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, from 1983 through 1986. He played for the Northwestern Wildcats and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in industrial engineering.
He was a two-time All-Big Ten selection and a three-time Academic All-American, and he received the Big Ten Medal of Honor for combining athletic and academic excellence.
| School | Spalding Institute (Peoria, Illinois) |
| Alma Mater | Northwestern University |
| Highest Qualification | Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering |
Joe Girardi Personal Life
Joe Girardi has kept a steady and private family life throughout his time in baseball. He and his wife have been together for more than three decades.
Wife
Girardi is married to Kimberly Innocenzi, known to most as Kim. The two met as students at Northwestern University, where she earned her degree from the School of Education and Social Policy in 1987.
They crossed paths at the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity house, and Joe proposed a few years after graduation. The couple married in 1989 and have been together for more than three decades. Kim later worked as a teacher and has often been described by Joe as his biggest source of support.
Over the years, she has hosted several charity events tied to his career, and the family settled in Purchase, New York.
Children
Joe and Kim have three children: daughters Serena and Lena and a son named Dante. Much like his own father, Joe raised his kids around the game, taking them to the ballpark the way his dad once took him to Cubs games.
- Serena, the oldest, was born in 1999. She built her own business and works as a pediatric sleep consultant, something Joe has praised as proof that his lessons about hard work paid off.
- Dante, born in 2001, followed his father into baseball and played at Florida International University. He has also spoken about ambitions to launch his own fashion line.
- Lena, the youngest, was born in 2006 and is nicknamed Bean by the family. She grew up playing basketball, and secondary reports say she played her high school ball at Westminster Academy in Florida.
Parents
Girardi has often credited both of his parents for teaching him the value of hard work, education, and perseverance.
Father
His father, Jerry Girardi, passed away on October 6, 2012, at the age of 81, during the Yankees playoff series against the Baltimore Orioles. He had suffered from Alzheimer’s disease since the 1990s and passed away in Metamora, Illinois.
Mother
His mother, Angela Girardi, passed away in 1984 while Joe was a student-athlete at Northwestern University.
Siblings
Joe Girardi was the fourth of five children, raised in a hard-working household in East Peoria. His parents had four sons and one daughter.
His siblings are named John, George, Maria, and Jerry. Growing up, his father worked several jobs, and the children pitched in with tasks such as paper routes and laying brick on the weekends.
| Relationship Status | Married |
| Wife | Kimberly Innocenzi |
| Children | Daughters: Serena, Lena Son: Dante |
| Parents | Father: Jerry Girardi Mother: Angela Girardi |
| Siblings | Brothers: John, George, Gerald Sister: Maria |
Joe Girardi Career
Joe Girardi built a long career in baseball, first as a respected catcher, then as a championship manager, and later as a television analyst.
1986 to 1989: Minor leagues and pro beginnings
He was selected in the fifth round of the 1986 MLB draft out of Northwestern and spent four seasons in the Cubs minor league system. He also played one winter season in Venezuela with the Águilas del Zulia before reaching the majors.
1989 to 1992: Chicago Cubs (first stint)
Girardi made his Major League debut on April 4, 1989. Early on, he shared catching duties with Damon Berryhill before taking on a larger role.
He spent four seasons in Chicago, establishing himself as a steady defensive catcher.
1993 to 1995: Colorado Rockies
The Rockies selected Girardi in the 1992 MLB expansion draft, and he became one of the young team’s main catchers.
In 1995, he set career highs with 8 home runs and 55 runs batted in. One of his Rockies teammates was slugger Dante Bichette, whose name later inspired the name of Joe’s son.
1996 to 1999: New York Yankees (playing years)
The Yankees acquired Girardi before the 1996 season in a trade for pitcher Mike DeJean, and he took over from catcher Mike Stanley. He quickly became part of a winning core.
In 1996, he caught Dwight Gooden’s no-hitter, and in Game 6 of the World Series he hit a key run-scoring triple against Greg Maddux to help beat the Atlanta Braves. He later mentored young catcher Jorge Posada.
In 1999, he caught David Cone’s perfect game and won three World Series titles with the Yankees in 1996, 1998, and 1999.
2000 to 2002: Chicago Cubs (second stint)
Girardi returned to the Cubs in 2000 and was named to the National League All-Star team that year as an injury replacement for Mike Piazza.
In June 2002, he took the field microphone to tell fans that a game was cancelled after the death of Cardinals pitcher Darryl Kile. His calm and emotional handling of the moment earned wide respect.
2003 to 2004: St. Louis Cardinals and retirement
Girardi signed with the St. Louis Cardinals for the 2003 season and appeared in only sixteen games and retired as a player after a spring training stint with the Yankees in 2004.
2004 to 2005: Broadcasting and coaching
After retiring, Girardi joined the YES Network and hosted a youth-focused Yankees program. In 2005, he served as the Yankees bench coach under manager Joe Torre.
He also called part of the 2006 World Series for Fox, working with studio host Jeanne Zelasko and analyst Kevin Kennedy. He later returned to YES to co-host a show called Behind the Plate with former Yankees catcher John Flaherty, and he worked as a color commentator on Fox alongside play-by-play voice Thom Brennaman.
2006: Florida Marlins manager
Girardi became manager of the Florida Marlins in October 2005, replacing Jack McKeon, who resigned. He guided a very young and low-payroll roster to a 78–84 record and stayed in playoff contention for much of the season.
He was fired after one season following a dispute with owner Jeffrey Loria, and he was replaced by Fredi González.
2008 to 2017: New York Yankees manager
Girardi returned to the Yankees as manager in 2008. He chose number 27 to symbolize the club’s chase for a 27th championship, then switched to 28.
In 2009, he led the Yankees to the World Series title over the Philadelphia Phillies, the franchise’s first since 2000. Over ten seasons, he reached the postseason six times before the team parted ways with him after 2017, replacing him with Aaron Boone.
2020 to 2022: Philadelphia Phillies manager
The Phillies hired Girardi in October 2019, and he managed the team from 2020 through 2022, replacing Gabe Kapler. He was let go in June 2022 with the team at 22–29, and Rob Thomson took over as interim manager.
2018 to present: Return to broadcasting
Girardi joined MLB Network as an analyst in 2018 and later worked Cubs telecasts on Marquee Sports Network. In 2024, he returned to the YES Network to call Yankees games.
Joe Girardi Awards and Achievements
Joe Girardi earned major honours both as a player and as a manager, along with recognition for his academic and athletic balance in college.
Key Wins
- Four-time World Series champion, in 1996, 1998, and 1999 as a player, and in 2009 as manager of the Yankees.
- National League All-Star selection in 2000.
- National League Manager of the Year in 2006 with the Florida Marlins.
- Sporting News National League Manager of the Year in 2006.
- Big Ten Medal of Honor in 1986 at Northwestern University.
- Three-time Academic All-American and later inducted into the CoSIDA Academic All-America Hall of Fame in 2007.
Joe Girardi Net Worth
Joe Girardi has an estimated net worth of about $15 million, with an annual salary of $2.5 million.
| Net Worth (Approx.) | $15 million |
| Salary (Approx.) | $2.5 million |
Joe Girardi Height, Weight and Physical Stats
Below are the physical stats of Joe Girardi:
| Height | In centimetres: 180 cm In meters: 1.80 m In feet and inches: 5 feet 11 inches |
| Weight | In kg: 88 kg In lbs: 195 lbs |
| Hair Color | Steel-gray |
| Eye Color | Dark brown |
Joe Girardi Social Media
 @joegirardi |
FAQs
Who is Joe Girardi?
Joe Girardi is an American former MLB catcher and manager, now a baseball broadcaster. He won three World Series as a player and one as Yankees manager.
How old is Joe Girardi?
Joe Girardi is 62 years old. He was born on October 14, 1964, in Peoria, Illinois.
Is Joe Girardi married?
Yes, Joe Girardi is married to Kimberly Innocenzi, and the couple has three children.
How many World Series has Joe Girardi won?
He has won four World Series titles in total, three as a Yankees player and one as their manager in 2009.
Which teams did Joe Girardi manage?
He managed the Florida Marlins, the New York Yankees, and the Philadelphia Phillies.
Where did Joe Girardi go to college?
He attended Northwestern University, where he earned a degree in industrial engineering.
What is Joe Girardi doing now?
He works as a baseball game analyst, most recently calling Yankees games on the YES Network.
