Pat Gillick facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pat Gillick |
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Gillick at the 2008 Phillies World Series parade
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| General manager | |
| Born: August 22, 1937 Chico, California, U.S. |
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| Teams | |
As general manager
As president
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| Career highlights and awards | |
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 Baseball Hall of Fame |
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| Induction | 2011 |
| Vote | 81.3% |
| Election Method | Expansion Era Committee |
Pat Gillick (born August 22, 1937) is a famous American baseball executive. He is best known for being a general manager (GM) for several Major League Baseball (MLB) teams. A GM is like the head of a baseball team's operations. They make big decisions about players, trades, and drafting new talent.
Gillick led the Toronto Blue Jays to win the World Series in 1992 and 1993. Later, he helped the Philadelphia Phillies win the World Series in 2008. He was also a pitcher in college and in the minor leagues. Pat Gillick is a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
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Pat Gillick's Early Life
Pat Gillick was born in Chico, California. His father was also a baseball player. When he was young, Pat became an Eagle Scout. This is the highest rank in the Boy Scouts of America.
He went to the University of Southern California (USC). There, he played baseball as a talented pitcher. In 1958, his USC team won the college national championship. After college, he played professional baseball for five years. He was a left-handed pitcher in the minor leagues. He played for teams connected to the Baltimore Orioles and Pittsburgh Pirates.
Building Winning Teams
Pat Gillick stopped playing baseball in 1963. He then started working in the "front office" of baseball teams. This means he worked behind the scenes, helping to manage the team. His first job was with the Houston Astros. He helped find new players for the team.
Later, he worked for the New York Yankees. In 1976, he joined the new Toronto Blue Jays team. He became their general manager in 1977.
Success with the Blue Jays
As the Blue Jays' general manager, Gillick built a very strong team. They won their division five times. Most famously, he led the Blue Jays to win two World Series championships. They won in 1992 and again in 1993. These were the first World Series titles for the Blue Jays.
Leading the Baltimore Orioles
After leaving the Blue Jays in 1994, Gillick came out of retirement. In 1995, he became the general manager for the Baltimore Orioles. He helped the Orioles reach the playoffs in 1996 and 1997. He left the Orioles after the 1998 season.
The Seattle Mariners' Record Season
Gillick then became the general manager for the Seattle Mariners. He helped the Mariners make the playoffs in 2000 and 2001. The 2001 Mariners team was amazing. They won 116 games, which tied the record for the most wins in a single MLB season. Even with so many wins, they did not reach the World Series.
World Series Win with the Phillies
In 2005, Pat Gillick became the general manager for the Philadelphia Phillies. He made some important player moves. One big move helped Ryan Howard become a permanent starter. Ryan Howard later won the National League MVP award.
Gillick retired after leading the Phillies to a World Series championship in 2008. This was his third World Series title as a general manager. After retiring, he stayed with the Phillies as an advisor. In 2014, he became the team's interim president. He then served as the permanent president for a short time.
Since 2016, Gillick has been a part-owner of some college baseball teams. He helped the Chico Heat win championships in 2016 and 2018.
Awards and Honors
Pat Gillick has received many awards for his work in baseball:
- In 1993, he was named "Sportsman of the Year" by Sporting News. He shared this honor with Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston.
- He was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 1997.
- In 2002, the Toronto Blue Jays added him to their "Level of Excellence."
- In 2008, baseball fans voted him the MLB "Executive of the Year."
- Also in 2008, he was named "King of Baseball." This award honors people who have dedicated a long time to professional baseball.
- In 2010, Pat Gillick was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. He was inducted on July 24, 2011. He was only the fourth general manager to be chosen for the Hall of Fame.
- In 2015, he received the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award.
- In 2018, he became the first executive to be inducted into the Philadelphia Baseball Wall of Fame.
