The Italian American Baseball Foundation is proud to announce our 2019 Guest of Honor: Joseph Elliott Girardi. Joe Girardi, was born in Peoria, Illinois and grew up in East Peoria, Ill. He attended East Peoria's Neil Armstrong grade school; and Peoria's Sacred Heart/Father Sweeney, where he was coached in basketball by his father. He then attended Academy of Our Lady/Spalding Institute in Peoria, Illinois, where he played quarterback for the football team and catcher for the baseball team. 

Girardi enrolled at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, where he attended from 1983 through 1986. He played for the Northwestern Wildcats baseball team. Girardi was named an Academic All-American and earned a bachelor of science degree in industrial engineering.

The Chicago Cubs drafted Girardi in the fifth round of the 1986 MLB draft. He spent four seasons in the Cubs minor league system before making his major league debut in 1989. Joe Girardi played for the Chicago Cubs, the Colorado Rockies, the New York Yankees and the St. Louis Cardinals. 

During a 15-year playing career, Girardi won three World Series championships with the Yankees in the 1990s, and served as the catcher for Dwight Gooden's no-hitter and David Cone's perfect game. 

After his playing career ended, Girardi became a manager, and in 2006, he managed the Florida Marlins and was named the National League Manager of the Year, Girardi managed the Yankees from 2008 to 2017, winning the 2009 World Series. He currently serves as an analyst for MLB Network and Fox Sport. 

Joe and his wife Kim Innocenzi-Girardi have three children. We are honored to welcome Joe and Kim to the IABF Family. Auguri !