Pat Gillick, USC ’58

PAT GILLICK, USC ’58 Steps Down in Seattle By Jim Street Courtesy of MLB.com Photo Credit: Ben VanHouten

News that Pat Gillick had resigned as the Mariners general manager came as a surprise to a pair of younger colleagues who have helped get their teams into the playoffs this season.

“Wow, I didn’t see that coming,” said Theo Epstein, the Red Sox first-year GM. “Pat has been one of the best GMs in the game for a long, long time and he built a remarkable Mariners team that never quite got to where they wanted to go.”

Gillick stepped away from a job that he initially rejected, but then accepted several weeks later, helping to build a team that enjoyed great success in the regular season, but never made it to the World Series. The Mariners came close in 2000 and 2001, losing in the American League Championship Series to the Yankees in six games both years.

During his four-year regime, the Mariners won more regular season games (393) than any team in the Major Leagues and Gillick was selected as the league’s Executive of the Year in 2001 when Seattle tied the MLB record for wins in a season with 116.

“After much thought, I’ve decided to step away from my current role with the Mariners,” Gillick said in a statement. “I’ve had four chances at the brass ring here and think maybe it’s time for someone else to take a shot at taking this team to a higher level.”

“I’m glad he’s out of the division,” said Athletics GM Billy Beane. Gillick will remain as the GM until a successor is found and then become a consultant, signing a series of three, one-year contracts.

“Pat is one of the most respected general managers to ever hold the position,” Beane said. “For as much success he’s had, and as long as he’s being doing this, I don’t blame him for wanting to take some time off and spend it with his family.”

“We will begin a (GM) search immediately, which will include both internal and external candidates,” Mariners CEO Howard Lincoln said.

Benny Looper, the vice president of player personnel, is regarded as the leading in-house candidate. The Mariners hope to have the new GM on board by the end of October.

“We thank Pat for the exceptional job he has done the past four years, and the professionalism he has brought to the Mariners. Finally, we are pleased he will still be connected with our organization,” Lincoln said.

The Mariners have some difficult decisions looming. Eight players are eligible for free agency and at least one coach must be replaced. Hitting coach Lamar Johnson departed via mutual agreement.

Center fielder Mike Cameron, one of the eight potential free agents, said he isn’t sure if the GM change affects his situation one way or another.

“There were a lot of crazy things written about him not making the right moves,” he said. “He built a great tradition of a winner in Seattle, but the bottom line is we didn’t bring any titles.”

“I have nothing but good things to say about him,” said second baseman Bret Boone, one of the free agents Gillick signed. “At this point of his life, he has done it so long, doing it full-time is hard to do. He’s a hands-on guy and in my mind, he is a top- flight GM.”

According to Gillick, whoever moves into the GM office at Safeco Field will have plenty of talent at his disposal.

“I believe we have a core of players in place, espe cially pitchers, that will allow the Mariners to contend for the next several years, at least, and I am looking forward to remaining involved with the Seattle organization,” he said.

The Mariners won 93 games for the second consecutive season, but also failed to reach the postseason for the second straight time — the only 90-win team in MLB to miss out in the playoffs.

During his 23 years as a Major League general manager Gillick’s teams compiled an overall mark of 2010-1773, including a 393-255 mark in Seattle. But he came under criticism the past two seasons when he couldn’t pull off a “major” trade prior to the July 31 trading deadline.

Even so, Gillick probably will be remembered most in Seattle for trading center fielder Ken Griffey Jr., to the Cincinnati Reds for center fielder Mike Cameron, starting pitcher Brett Tomko and minor league in-Pat Gillick and Mariner shortstop Mark McLemore at the batting cage.

Gillick’s win-loss record in Seattle Year Record 2000 91-71 2001 116-46 2002 93-69 2003 93-69 Total 393-255

Pat Gillick in the Mariners’ dugout with Club President Chuck Armstrong (seated), CEO Howard Lincoln and Manager Bob Melvin.

fielder Antonio Perez. The biggest deal in club history occurred about three months after Gillick replaced Woody Woodward as the Mariners GM.

His ability to sign free agents enabled the Mariners to overcome some major personnel changes - - primarily Junior’s departure in 2000 and All-Star shortstop Alex Rodriguez leaving prior to the 2001 season.The Mariners already had lost left-hander Randy Johnson, traded to the Astros midway through the 1998 season.

“To lose those three potential Hall of Fame players and still have the run they had says a lot about Pat’s abilities,” Epstein said.

Even without the Big Three, the Mariners set an AL record for most wins in a season, a remarkable 116 victories in 2001. Gillick was selected as the Executive of the Year by The Sporting News, Baseball America, the Boston Chapter of the BBWAA, Washington CEO Magazine and The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum (Rube Foster Legacy Award). In addition, Baseball America named him Executive of the past 20 Years.

Gillick was added the Toronto Blue Jays “Level of Excellence”, the most prestigious award that the Jays bestow, in a pre-game ceremony on Aug. 8, 2002 at the SkyDome.

“I think building the expansion franchise in Toronto and eventually winning two World Series championships there is what he’ll be remembered the most for,” Beane said. “He was the architect of a great Blue Jays team.”

Epstein will remember Gillick in another way.

“Pat is a very serious guy and he would show up in the oddest places going after a player,” he said. “You would see him at a high school game in the middle of nowhere looking at a kid he might draft.

“One time, I ran into him in Managua, Nicaragua when we were both going after (Jose) Contreras and he was hiding in the bushes. Well, maybe not ‘hiding’ but there was a bush between us. Pat was always working hard and been a real scout’s guy who is very well respected in this business.”

Gillick began his front office career in 1963 as assistant farm director with the Astros. He spent 10 years with Houston, working his way to Regional Scouting Coordinator and then Director of Scouting. He joined the Yankees in Sept. of 1974 as Coordinator of Player Development and Scouting, a position he kept until joining the Blue Jays on Aug. 16, 1976 as their Vice President of Player Personnel. He was promoted to VP of Baseball Operations on Nov. 24, 1977 and named Executive VP-Baseball on Sept. 24, 1984. While in Toronto, he won five AL East titles (1985, 1989, 1991-93) and back-to-back World titles in 1992 and 1993. Gillick was named GM of the Orioles on Nov. 27, 1995 and the Orioles advanced to the ALCS in 1996 and 1997. After leav-

During his four-year regime, the Mari- ing the Orioles at the conclusion of his three-year contract in Nov., 1998, heners won more regular season games was named Chair of 1999 Pan Am (393) than any team in the Major Leagues Games baseball team steering comand Gillick was selected as the league’s mittee in March of 1999. Gillick was born Aug. 22, 1937 inExecutive of the Year in 2001. Chico, Calif., and graduated from USC in 1958 at the age of 20 with a business degree. While at USC, he was a member of the ’58 National Title baseball team and a teammate of Mariners broadcaster Ron Fairly. Gillick pitched five seasons in the Orioles minor league system, reaching as high as Triple-A, before retiring to accept the job in Houston. Gillick and his wife, Doris, have a daughter, Kimberley, who lives in Toronto. Jim Street is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to approval by Major League baseball or its clubs.