Pat Gillick, who oversaw three World Series titles as a general manager, including the Toronto Blue Jays two championships in 1992 and 1993, was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame by the Expansion Era Committee on Monday.
Pat Gillick, Longtime GM, Elected To Baseball Hall Of Fame; Marvin Miller, George Steinbrenner Miss Out
Gillick was the only candidate to earn the necessary 75 percent of the votes from the 16-person Expansion Era Committee. That means Marvin Miller and George Steinbrenner both missed out. Miller, executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association from 1966 to 1982, fell short by just one vote.
Gillick, who served as a baseball executive for 44 years, beginning as Assistant Farm Director for the Houston Colt .45s in 1964, becomes the 32nd executive elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.
“We are thrilled to have Pat as the newest member of the Baseball Hall of Fame, and we welcome him into the Hall of Fame family,” said Hall of Fame Chairman of the Board Jane Forbes Clark. “Pat’s consistent excellence as a talent evaluator and team builder has been evident at every step throughout his brilliant career, constructing three World Series champions with his teams making 11 postseason appearances.”
As general manager of the Blue Jays from 1978 to 1994, Gillick helped guide the Blue Jays to five American League Championship Series as well as two World Series titles. In three years spent in the same position with the Baltimore Orioles (1996-1998), his team reached the ALCS twice.
Gillick then went to Seattle (2000-03), where, as the team’s GM, he helped to orchestrate two straight ALCS appearances, including 2001’s 116-win team. From there Gillick went back east to takeover the Philadelphia Philles. And in just three years, he had helped them win their franchise’s second ever World Series. He retired following that 2008 title but still remains an advisor to the team.
Hall of Fame Weekend 2011 is July 22-25 in Cooperstown, NY.
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