Former Chicago Cub Joe Girardi to Receive Distinguished Alumnus Award Feb. 20

EVANSTON, Ill. --- Joe Girardi, a Northwestern University alumnus and former catcher for the Chicago Cubs and New York Yankees, will receive the Distinguished Alumnus Award Tuesday, Feb. 20, from Northwestern's department of industrial engineering and management sciences in the McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science.

Girardi, who graduated from the University in 1986 with a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering, will be honored at a special event from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. in Room M345 of the Technological Institute, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston campus. After receiving his award, he will discuss the influence his Northwestern education has had on his career. All Northwestern faculty, staff and students are invited to attend.

During his visit, Girardi also will meet with small groups of students and faculty from the industrial engineering and management sciences department as well as with McCormick School Dean Julio Ottino.

While at Northwestern Girardi played baseball and was a three-time Academic All-American and two-time All-Big 10 selection. He made his Major League Baseball debut in 1989 and played for 15 seasons as a catcher with the Chicago Cubs, Colorado Rockies, St. Louis Cardinals and New York Yankees. Girardi was a member of three World Series Championship squads in New York and, while playing for the Cubs, was named to the 2000 All-Star team. He retired as a catcher in 2004.

In 2006, Girardi was manager of the Florida Marlins and received the National League Manager of the Year Award. He now works as a broadcaster for the YES Network.