Bobby Valentine Running For Mayor In Connecticut

Former MLB manager Bobby Valentine has decided to try his hand at managing an entire city -- Stamford, Conn., to be exact.

That's because Valentine is running as an independent for mayor of Stamford, the city of which he is native.

“I feel like it’s a great time for me to get to my hometown and do some more leadership work," he told WTNH-TV. "We are up against a big political machine with the Democrats and a real strong base political machine with the Republicans. It’s not going to be an easy situation that’s for sure."

Valentine will go up against incumbent David Martin. Democratic State Representative Carolina Simmons has also announced her own candidacy.

Valentine, 70, currently serves as athletic director of Sacred Heart University. He spent 10 years in the majors as a player (1969-79) before becoming manager of the Texas Rangers in 1985.

He also spent time as manager of the New York Mets and Boston Red Sox.

A former three-sport high school standout at Rippowam High School in Stamford, Valentine was recruited for football by the likes of Nebraska, Notre Dame and USC.

This marks his first foray into politics.

"The greatest commodity I have is my time, and I want to give my time and my energy and my wherewithal back to the city that has given me so much over my lifetime," he said on social media.