He won three World Series championships with the Yankees in the 1990s and served as the catcher for both Dwight Gooden's no-hitter and David Cone's perfect game.

He served as a color analyst for MLB Network and Fox Sports for two years before being named manager of the Philadelphia Phillies in October 2019; he was fired midway through the 2022 season.

Girardi, the third son of Jerry, a former blue collar worker and United States Air Force veteran,[1] and Angela Girardi, was born in Peoria, Illinois, and grew up in East Peoria, Illinois and attended high school at the Spalding Institute.

He played for the Northwestern Wildcats baseball team, where he was a two-time All Big Ten selection and a three-time Academic All-American.

[5][6] In 1986, he earned a bachelor of science degree in industrial engineering and was awarded the Big Ten Medal of Honor, which recognizes one male and one female student from the graduating class of each Big Ten member school for demonstrating joint athletic and academic excellence throughout their college career.

[11] The Cubs left Girardi unprotected in the 1992 MLB expansion draft and the Colorado Rockies chose him.

[11] After the 1995 season, the New York Yankees acquired Girardi from the Rockies in exchange for pitcher Mike DeJean.

[16] During the World Series-winning 1999 season, Girardi played in 65 games batting .239 with two home runs and 27 RBIs.

[11] In 2000, Girardi left the Yankees and returned to the Cubs, where he was named to that year's All-Star team, as an injury replacement for Mike Piazza.

Taking to the field microphone behind home plate, an emotional Girardi fought back tears as he said that "due to a tragedy in the Cardinal family" there would be no game that day.

[22] Girardi was a broadcaster for the third, fourth, and fifth games of the 2006 World Series for Fox as part of the network's pregame and postgame team, along with host Jeanne Zelasko and regular analyst Kevin Kennedy.

[23] in August 2022, he joined Marquee Sports Network as a part-time analyst for Chicago Cubs telecasts.

[26] His first notable action as manager was to prohibit facial hair, a policy similar to that of Yankees owner George Steinbrenner.

According to witnesses and video footage, the Marlins owner was heckling home plate umpire Larry Vanover.

Team executives had to talk Loria out of his stated desire to fire Girardi immediately after that game.

[31] On October 3, 2006, the Marlins announced they had fired Girardi as manager, and replaced him with Atlanta Braves third base coach Fredi González.

Girardi was also a candidate for the manager position with the Chicago Cubs, to succeed Dusty Baker; he interviewed for the job just days after leaving the Marlins.

Girardi took himself out of the running for the Washington Nationals' managerial job shortly thereafter and returned to the broadcast booth for the YES Network in 2007.

Girardi's first year as a Yankees manager was unsuccessful as the team was eliminated from postseason contention for the first time since 1993, finishing 2008 with an 89–73 record, third in the AL East.

[48] The Yankees reached the playoffs and defeated the Baltimore Orioles 3–2 in the ALDS, but were swept by the Detroit Tigers in the ALCS on October 18, 2012.

Girardi's 2013 season was marred by numerous player injuries and controversies, resulting in the Yankees finishing 85–77 (tied 3rd in AL East) and missing the postseason for the first time since 2008.

[49] On October 10, 2013, Girardi signed a four-year deal worth $16 million to remain as manager of the New York Yankees.

[52] The Yankees beat the Twins, 8–4, in the wild card game and advanced to the ALDS, where they played the Cleveland Indians.

After falling behind 0–2, amidst a controversial decision to not challenge a potential hit-by-pitch, Girardi's Yankees rallied back to win three games in a row and faced the Houston Astros in the ALCS.

Afterward, Girardi's contract expired and on October 26, the Yankees announced he would not return as manager, being replaced by Aaron Boone.

[68] While driving home after winning the 2009 World Series, Girardi stopped to help a car crash victim on a dangerous blind curve of the Cross County Parkway in Eastchester, New York.