Patrick Gillick

Patrick Gillick

Lawrence Patrick David Gillick, baseball executive, general manager Toronto Blue Jays (born at Chico, California, 22 Aug 1937). Pat Gillick grew up in Sherman Oaks, California, and was educated at the University of Southern California, where he earned a business degree. He was a talented pitcher and played baseball at USC and in the minor leagues, reaching the Triple-A level.

Pat Gillick as Talent Scout

In 1963, Gillick left the ball diamond for the front office to become assistant farm director in Houston and eventually a talent scout. In 1977 he became the Vice President of Baseball Operations for the expansion Toronto Blue Jays. The franchise had been granted to Toronto in 1976 and began play at Exhibition Stadium in 1977. It was the first Canadian team admitted to the American League.

Blue Jays General Manager

Gillick was the team's general manager from 1978 to 1994 and led the team to five division titles (1985, 1989, 1991-93) and two World Series championships (1992 and 1993; he won a third World Series with Philadelphia in 2008). In December 1990, in a move that seemed to redirect the Blue Jays' future, he traded shortstop Tony Fernandez and first baseman Fred McGriff to the San Diego Padres for second baseman Roberto Alomar and outfielder Joe Carter. Gillick left the Blue Jays at the end of the strike-shortened season of 1994. He took a position with the Baltimore Orioles in 1996.

Baseball Hall of Fame

Gillick was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 1997 and in 2002 was inducted into the Blue Jays Level of Excellence at Toronto's Rogers Centre, joining players such as George Bell, Dave Stieb, Joe Carter, and Roberto Alomar, the first Blue Jay to be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY. Both Gillick and Alomar were inducted into the hall of fame on 24 July 2011.