Five famous athletes named Valentine

Valentine’s Day is traditionally a time to celebrate courtly love. And while we certainly enjoy bon bons in heart-shaped boxes, we enjoy sports a whole lot more. That’s why we’re turning our attention this year to five famous athletes named Valentine.

Our talented quintet includes a pair of baseball players, a hoops star, a decorated defensive tackle, and a larger-than-life wrestler famous for his flying elbow.

1. Bobby Valentine

Sometimes the worst players make the best managers. That was certainly the case with Bobby Valentine, who was a career .260 hitter who flamed out with five different franchises.

Although he may have been a dud at the plate, Valentine was a marvel in the dugout, thanks to his keen understanding of the game. The fast-talking Stamford native compiled a 1,186-1,165 (.504) record over 16 seasons, and led the Mets to their first World Series appearance in 14 years.

Now 70 years old, “Bobby V” is still intimately involved in sports as the athletic director at Scared Heart University, a well-regarded Catholic school in Fairfield, Connecticut.

2. Darnell Valentine

One of three Valentines to play in the NBA, Darnell enjoyed a solid nine-year career with three different franchises. The crafty, pass-first point guard finished in the top 20 assists in 1985 and 1987, and was a key reserve on a Portland Trail Blazers squad that was regularly among the best teams in the Western Conference.

The Kansas alum retired in 1994, but remained close to the game he loved as a regional representative for the National Basketball Players Association and Director of Player Programs for the Blazers.

3. Ellis Valentine

Eight Valentines have played Major League Baseball, but none were better than Ellis. The 6’4” Arkansas native was a sweet-hitting, slick-fielding rightfielder who helped transform the Montreal Expos into a National League powerhouse during his seven seasons with the team.

Valentine’s finest season came in 1977, when he hit .293 with 25 home runs and 76 RBIs, and made his first All-Star team. He won a Gold Glove the following year and remains one of the most beloved figures in franchise history.

4. Vincent Valentine

Easily the biggest Valentine on our list, Vincent was a 6’3”, 320 lb. defensive tackle who first rose to prominence at the University of Nebraska, where he earned a reputation as bone-crunching run-stopper. The imposing Illinois native racked up 76 tackles over three seasons as a Cornhusker, and was selected by the New England Patriots in the third round of the 1996 NFL Draft.

Valentine only played two seasons in the NFL, but he made the most of his brief time in the league by winning a Super Bowl ring as a rookie. Now he just needs six more to catch up to former teammate Tom Brady!

5. Johnny Valentine

Valentines don’t get much more colorful than Johnny Valentine, a four-time Hall of Famer who is widely considered one of the most influential wrestlers to ever enter a ring. Born John Theodore Wisniski, the towering grappler won titles with more than a dozen regional promotions during the 1950’s and 60’s including, most notably, All Japan Pro Wrestling, Maple Leaf Wrestling, and the National Wrestling Federation.

Tragically, Valentine was paralyzed in a plan crash in 1975, but he never lost his indomitable spirit, and remained active in the sport for many years as a manager. Today, his legacy lives on through his son, Greg “The Hammer” Valentine, another wrestling legend who won more than 40 titles and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2004.