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Pat Gillick

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Pat Gillick (born (1937-08-22)August 22, 1937) was the general manager of four Major League Baseball teams. He guided teams to three World Series championships in his career: 1992 and 1993 titles with the Toronto Blue Jays, and a 2008 title with the Philadelphia Phillies.

Early life

Born in Chico, California, Gillick attended USC and joined the Delta Chi Fraternity. He graduated in 1958 with a degree in business. He was also a gifted pitcher, playing on the 1958 National Title baseball team at USC and spending five years in the Baltimore Orioles minor league system, venturing as high as Triple-A.

Front office career

Gillick retired from playing and began a front-office career in 1963 when he became the assistant farm director with the Houston Astros. He would eventually work his way up to the position of Director of Scouting before moving to the New York Yankees system in 1974 as a Coordinator of Player Development. In 1976 he moved again, this time to the expansion Toronto Blue Jays, becoming their Vice President of Player Personnel, and in 1977, their Vice President of Baseball Operations. In 1984 he was named Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations.

As Toronto's general manager, Gillick won five division titles (1985, 1989, 1991, 1992 and 1993) and led the club to their first World Series championships in 1992 and 1993. Shortly after Gillick left, the Blue Jays went into decline, not finishing higher than 3rd place until the 2006 season.

In 1995, Gillick was named the general manager of the Baltimore Orioles organization and he guided the Orioles to the playoffs in 1996 and 1997. He left at the conclusion of his three-year contract in 1998. The Orioles have not had a winning season since.

Gillick then became the general manager of the Seattle Mariners, who had parlayed their incredible 1995 playoff run into a new ballpark and the financial resources to become a perennial contender. Upon his hiring, the responsibility fell on Gillick to trade Ken Griffey Jr. to Cincinnati after Griffey played out his final season in Seattle. The Mariners made back to back playoff appearances for the only time in franchise history in 2000 and 2001, and the 2001 team, with a 116-46 record, tied the 1906 Chicago Cubs for the all time Major League Baseball record for most wins in a single season. However, the Mariners failed to make it past the American League Championship Series in either year, and did not make the playoffs for the rest of Gillick's tenure as GM and advisor.

Like the Blue Jays and Orioles, the Mariners have also not reached the playoffs since his departure as GM.[1]

Gillick was inducted into the Toronto Blue Jays "Level of Excellence" on August 8, 2002.

File:JaysRetired00.PNG
Pat Gillick is a member of the Toronto Blue Jays' Level of Excellence.

On November 2, 2005, Gillick was named the Philadelphia Phillies' general manager. Gillick's first big move in Philadelphia was to trade Jim Thome and cash to the Chicago White Sox for Aaron Rowand and prospects Gio Gonzalez and Daniel Haigwood.

In June 2006, Gillick faced criticism from members of the media and women's groups for allowing pitcher Brett Myers to make his scheduled start against the Boston Red Sox on June 24, 2006, just one day after being arrested for assaulting his wife on a Boston street. Gillick was quoted by The New York Times as saying "I think it's in the best interest of the club; he's our best pitcher".[2]

Gillick had permanent residence in Toronto with his wife Doris, but they have since re-located to Seattle after he became the Phillies GM.

Gillick retired as a GM after leading the Phillies to a World Series championship in 2008. Rubén Amaro, Jr. was named his successor. Although he retired from all general manager duties, Gillick decided to remain an advisor to the team.

Honors and awards

In 1993, Sporting News awarded its Sportsman of the Year honor to Gillick and Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston.

In 1997, Gillick was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame.

In 2008, the fans voted him the 2008 "This Year in Baseball Awards" Executive of the Year (in Major League Baseball, not just the National League).

In December 2009, Sports Illustrated named him as number 7 on its list of the Top 10 GMs/Executives of the Decade (in all sports).[3]

Executive career

    Regular Season   Playoffs
Season Team League Position W L GB Finish  
1964 Houston Colt .45s NL Assistant Farm Director 66 96 27.0 9th
1965 Houston Colt .45s NL Assistant Farm Director 65 97 32.0 9th
1974 Houston Astros NL Director of Scouting 81 81 20.0 4th
1975 New York Yankees AL Scouting Director 83 77 12.0 3rd
1976 New York Yankees AL Scouting Director 97 62 - [up 10.5] 1st Won AL Pennant
1977 Toronto Blue Jays AL Assistant GM 54 107 45.5 7th
1978 Toronto Blue Jays AL General Manager 59 102 40.0 7th
1979 Toronto Blue Jays AL General Manager 53 109 50.5 7th
1980 Toronto Blue Jays AL General Manager 67 95 36.0 7th
1981 Toronto Blue Jays AL General Manager 37 69 23.5 7th
1982 Toronto Blue Jays AL General Manager 78 84 17.0 7th
1983 Toronto Blue Jays AL General Manager 89 73 9.0 4th
1984 Toronto Blue Jays AL General Manager 89 73 15.0 2nd
1985 Toronto Blue Jays AL General Manager 99 62 - [up 2.0] 1st Lost in ALCS
1986 Toronto Blue Jays AL General Manager 86 76 9.5 4th
1987 Toronto Blue Jays AL General Manager 96 66 2.0 2nd
1988 Toronto Blue Jays AL General Manager 87 75 2.0 3rd
1989 Toronto Blue Jays AL General Manager 89 73 - [up 2.0] 1st Lost in ALCS
1990 Toronto Blue Jays AL General Manager 86 76 2.0 2nd
1991 Toronto Blue Jays AL General Manager 91 71 - [up 2.0] 1st Lost in ALCS
1992 Toronto Blue Jays AL General Manager 96 66 - [up 4.0] 1st Won WS
1993 Toronto Blue Jays AL General Manager 95 67 - [up 7.0] 1st Won WS
1994 Toronto Blue Jays AL General Manager 55 60 16.0 3rd
1996 Baltimore Orioles AL General Manager 88 74 4.0 2nd Lost in ALCS
1997 Baltimore Orioles AL General Manager 98 64 - [up 2.0] 1st Lost in ALCS
1998 Baltimore Orioles AL General Manager 79 83 35.0 4th
2000 Seattle Mariners AL General Manager 91 71 0.5 2nd Lost in ALCS
2001 Seattle Mariners AL General Manager 116 46 - [up 14.0] 1st Lost in ALCS
2002 Seattle Mariners AL General Manager 93 69 10.0 3rd
2003 Seattle Mariners AL General Manager 93 69 2.0 2nd
2006 Philadelphia Phillies NL General Manager 85 77 12.0 2nd
2007 Philadelphia Phillies NL General Manager 89 73 - [up 1.0] 1st Lost in NLDS
2008 Philadelphia Phillies NL General Manager 92 70 - [up 3.0] 1st Won WS

References

  1. ^ Rake, Jake (December 6, 2008). "Pat Gillick Rules". Rake Blog. Wordpress.com.
  2. ^ Jenkins, Lee (June 25, 2006). "Start Yields Boos for Myers and Criticism for Phillies". The New York Times.
  3. ^ The list's only other MLB GMs were Boston's Theo Epstein (No. 3) and Oakland's Billy Beane (No. 10). Friedman, Dick (December 22, 2009). "2000s: Top 10 GMs/Executives". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 2010-09-23.
Sporting positions
Preceded by Toronto Blue Jays General Manager
1978–1994 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Baltimore Orioles General Manager
1995–1998 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Seattle Mariners General Manager
1999–2003 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Philadelphia Phillies General Manager
2005–2008 		Succeeded by

Template:1977 Toronto Blue Jays

Template:Persondata

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