Joe Torre: 1,000 Reasons to Smile

When the Yankees' coaches congratulated him after Sunday's 8-5 victory over the Texas Rangers, Manager Joe Torre tried to play down what he had just done...

Torre's road to a thousand Yankees victories has been glorious at times, with six pennants and four World Series titles. But even with the talent that George Steinbrenner, the principal owner, has given him, it has not always been easy.

"It's unbelievable; I don't care how much talent he's had," said Larry Bowa, the Yankees' third-base coach, who has 418 victories as a manager.

Torre became the fourth Yankees manager to reach 1,000, joining Joe McCarthy (1,460), Casey Stengel (1,149) and Miller Huggins (1,067). Catcher Kelly Stinnett gave him the game ball, and Torre said he would save the lineup card.