Pat Gillick

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Pat Gillick is a member of the Toronto Blue Jays' Level of Excellence.

Pat Gillick (born August 22, 1937) is the current general manager of the Philadelphia Phillies.

Born in Chico, California, Gillick attended the 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.

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. Critics of Gillick have noted that this is the signature of a Gillick-run franchise -- several years of improvement with an aging team followed by Gillick departing with a barren farm system.

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, where he quickly turned what had been a losing ballclub into a playoff contender. 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.

Gillick's reign was nonetheless not without controversy. Prior to the 2000 season he traded future Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. one of the most popular athletes in Seattle history. Gillick's clubs also lost the American League Championship Series in 2000 and 2001. Critics charge that Gillick constantly failed to make deals at the trade deadline which might have improved the club into a World Series contender, earning him the nickname "Stand Pat". Consistent with his track record, the Mariners collapsed after his departure. He also has been blamed for the decline of the Mariners' farm system.

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

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". [1]

Gillick maintains his permanent residence in Toronto with his wife, Doris.

External links

• Alumni report from USC