Long before Joe Maddon became the fourth manager in the short history of the Tampa Bay Rays, Lil’ Joe was a bright-eyed two-sport athlete at Lafayette College.

Click on any image to see a larger version…


Maddon attended Lafayette from 1972-1976, where he was originally recruited as a football player. Manager Norm Gigon eventually converted Maddon to catcher.


He would eventually sign with the Angels. He spent two years in the Angels minor league system, where he hit .257-2-23 in 62 career games before giving up the dream to be a major league player in hopes of one day becoming a major league manager.

But let’s face it…we don’t care about his stats. We just love the photos. Nice hair Papa Joe! And love the stirrups. Why can’t we get some of those on the kids these days? And does anybody else see a little Pete Rose in the photo above where Maddon is being congratulated by #19? The smile. The hair. The pudginess. And I am willing to bet that Maddon always ran to first when he received a walk.

In the team photo (below, right), we are not convinced that #22 is Joe Maddon. This is the team photo that was provided by Lefayette College and their archive department. #22 is the number worn by Maddon in the other photos. Notice that the numbers on the front of the uniforms in the team photo are on the right side of the chest, which is the opposite of the other photos. Clearly this is a team photo from a different season. We are not sure if any of the players in the team photo are Maddon.

Special thanks to the Lafayette College Athletic Department for providing the photos.

Related posts:

  1. [PAPA JOE MADDON] Joe Maddon Keeps Promising To Tighten The Leash On His Players
  2. [PAPA JOE] Joe Maddon Wins AL Manager Of The Year Award
  3. [PAPA JOE MADDON] Criterion For Being A Good Manager: No High Draft Picks