Yankees' Girardi congratulated Hinch in Astros' clubhouse after Game 7
This is the epitome of good sportsmanship after a hard-fought seven-game showdown.
Following his New York Yankees' season-ending loss to the Houston Astros in Game 7 of the ALCS on Saturday, Yankees manager Joe Girardi went to the home clubhouse and waited in some offices while the Astros celebrated, so he could congratulate his counterpart A.J. Hinch, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.
"I know it's your first time through," Girardi told Hinch, per Rosenthal. "Go win it all."
Hinch, for his part, was said to have greatly appreciated Girardi's graciousness during what was undoubtedly a tough moment at the end of his season.
Hinch was deeply touched by Girardi’s gesture, called it one of classiest things he has seen from one manager to another, a lesson for him.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) October 22, 2017
"I'd like to congratulate A.J. Hinch and the Astros," Girardi said to reporters during his official postgame press conference, according to ASAP Sports. "They beat us. And that's the bottom line."
Girardi already owns one World Series ring as a skipper, having managed the Yankees' 2009 championship team; his teams have reached the postseason six times in the last 10 years.
By contrast, the 42-year-old Hinch - who, like Girardi, is a former big-league catcher - will be managing in his first World Series and has just five seasons of managerial experience under his belt. Before joining the Astros in 2015, Hinch had an ill-fated stint managing the Diamondbacks that saw him get fired before completing a full season on the job.