Day: October 19, 2007

Torre done with Yankees, rejects pay cutTorre done with Yankees, rejects pay cut

New York Yankees team owner George Steinbrenner, left, and manager Joe Torre get emotional after being presented with the trophy after the Yankees swept the San Diego Padres to win the World Series at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, Calif., in this Oct. 21, 1998, file photo. Torre walked away Thursday, Oct. 18, 2007, turning down a $5 million, one-year contract, $2.5 million less than he made this season, when the Yankees failed to make it past the first round of the playoffs for the third-straight year.

Joe Torre took a morning flight to Tampa, Fla., walked into George Steinbrenner’s office at Legends Field and listened to the offer. He said he couldn’t accept it, shook hands and left the ballpark, the New York Yankees’ manager no more. After all he had accomplished — four World Series titles, 12 straight years in the playoffs, almost certain entry into the Hall of Fame — and after all the…