Pat Gillick

Hall of Fame architect of Blue Jays and Phillies champions

Lawrence Patrick David Gillick (born August 22, 1937) is an American-Canadian professional baseball executive. He served as the general manager of four MLB teams: the Toronto Blue Jays (1978–1994), Baltimore Orioles (1996–1998), Seattle Mariners (2000–2003), and Philadelphia Phillies (2006–2008). He guided the Blue Jays to World Series championships in 1992 and 1993 and the Phillies in 2008. He is a minority owner of the Phillies. Gillick was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2011, the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 1997, the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in 2013, the Toronto Blue Jays Level of Excellence in 1997, and the Phillies Wall of Fame in 2018.

Quick Facts

Position

General manager

Born

22 August 1937

Birthplace

Chico, California, U.S.

Highlights

3× World Series champion (1992, 1993, 2008)
Toronto Blue Jays Level of Excellence
Philadelphia Phillies Wall of Fame

Lore & Background

Before working as an executive, he won a college national championship as a pitcher for the University of Southern California (USC) Trojans in 1958. He spent five years in the minor league systems of the Baltimore Orioles and Pittsburgh Pirates, venturing as high as Triple-A. A left-hander, Gillick posted a win–loss record of 45–32 with an earned run average of 3.42 in 164 minor league games. He retired from playing and began a front-office career in 1963, when he became the assistant farm director with the Houston Colt .45s.

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 to the expansion Toronto Blue Jays, becoming their vice-president of player personnel, and in 1977, their vice-president of baseball operations and general manager. 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 resigned in 1994, the Blue Jays went into decline. In 1995, Gillick was named the general manager of the Baltimore Orioles. He guided the Orioles to the playoffs in 1996 and 1997. He announced on September 20, 1998 his departure from the Orioles when his three-year contract expired after the conclusion of the 1998 season.

Gillick then became the general manager of the Seattle Mariners. The Mariners made back-to-back playoff appearances for the first (and 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 resigned after the 2003 season. On November 2, 2005, Gillick was named the Philadelphia Phillies' general manager.

He retired from his position as general manager after leading the Phillies to a World Series championship in 2008. Gillick remained with the Phillies as a senior advisor. In August 2014, Gillick became interim president of the Phillies while Montgomery was on medical leave. In January 2015, Montgomery returned but became Phillies chairman, while Gillick assumed the club presidency on a permanent basis.

Did You Know?

In 1993, Sporting News awarded its Sportsman of the Year honor to Gillick and Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston.
He earned his Eagle Scout from the Boy Scouts of America in 1951 and later received the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award in 2015.
Gillick hitchhiked to Vulcan, Alberta, as a teenager to pitch for the semi-pro Vulcan Elks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Pat Gillick?

He was the visionary executive who built the Toronto Blue Jays' championship teams during their golden era. His leadership transformed an expansion franchise into back-to-back World Series champions before he left the club in 1994.

What position did Pat Gillick hold with the Blue Jays?

Gillick served as General Manager for fourteen years, starting his tenure in 1980 and ending it in 1994. In this role, he managed all personnel decisions including trades and free agency signings.

Where did Pat Gillick work before Toronto?

Before arriving in Toronto, he established a reputation for savvy personnel management with the Philadelphia Phillies and Seattle Mariners. His experience across multiple organizations contributed to his eventual Hall of Fame induction.