Joe Torre accepts Yankees' manager Aaron Boone's invite to All-Star coaching staff

NEW YORK – Joe Torre played in nine All-Star Games and managed the American League team six times, following Yankee World Series appearances.

And at next month’s Midsummer Classic in Atlanta, Torre will return to the AL dugout – in a road Yankees uniform.

As the skipper of this year’s AL team, Yankees manager Aaron Boone said he went to MLB officials about extending a coaching invitation to Torre, the Hall-of-Famer who turns 85 next month.

“They, of course, loved the idea,’’ said Boone, who named Cleveland Guardians manager Stephen Vogt, last year’s AL manager of the year, as his other honorary coach for the July 15 game.

Boone's Yankees advanced to the 2024 World Series after taking out Cleveland in the AL Championship Series.

Atlanta is Joe Torre's town, too

Over the last two years, Torre has accepted Boone’s invite to spring training and quickly coaxed a reluctant Torre into donning the pinstripes again.

Boone even got Torre to make a couple of exhibition game mound visits, and “I think he loved it,’’ said Boone. “I know our guys loved being around him.’’

So, after running his idea through MLB, Boone went to Torre and said: “You don’t have to answer this right now but just hear me out’’ about being on the All-Star coaching staff.

Torre didn’t hesitate in responding “yes’’ to Boone’s request, “and he seemed really excited about it, seemed moved by it.

“Hopefully, the rest of the AL team will love having him, too.’’

After the Yankees dropped the first two games of the 1996 World Series to the Braves, Torre famously told the late Yankees owner George Steinbrenner not to worry as the Series switched cities.

“Atlanta is my town,’’ said Torre, and the Yanks won three straight games before clinching Game 6 at home.

Yankees to be well represented at the All-Star Game

March 18, 2024; Tampa, Florida: New York Yankees former manager Joe Torre during spring training at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

Boone will have his entire current coaching staff in Atlanta for the game, with Dodgers manager Dave Roberts at the helm of the NL All-Stars.

Every now and then, Torre will arrive at the Stadium to say hello to Boone, and “he gives me my space but is always kind of aware a little bit of what’s going on with the team.’’

It’s a quiet wisdom that Boone receives from Torre, who is “always just really gracious and empathetic of the chair’’ after 12 Bronx years, with some tumultuous times amid four world championship seasons.

Boone can expect to arrive in Atlanta with his own MVP, Aaron Judge, along with current lefty ace Max Fried and a few more familiar pinstriped figures.

“I’m thrilled to be going,’’ Boone said of his first All-Star Game managing gig. “And I know our staff is, too. In a lot of ways, it’s the experience of a lifetime.’’