Pat Gillick

Lawrence Patrick Gillick (born (1937-08-22)August 22, 1937) is a retired American professional baseball executive. He was the general manager of four Major League Baseball teams, and 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. A left-hander, Gillick posted a won/lost record of 45–32 with an earned run average of 3.42 in 164 minor league games.

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.

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

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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".

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).

In December 2010, Gillick was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

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

External links

• Career statistics and player information from Error: Template:Baseballstats must contain at least one valid parameter name.
• Alumni report from USC