Pat Corrales spent five decades in Major League Baseball (MLB), beginning as a player before moving on to managing and coaching. He was the first Mexican American MLB manager.
- Died: August 27, 2023 (Who else died on August 27?)
- Details of death: Died in Big Canoe, Georgia, of natural causes at the age of 82.
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Pat Corrales’ legacy
Baseball wasn’t the first sport where Corrales’ talent became apparent. Born in Los Angeles, he was a football star at Fresno High School, where he was named Lineman of the Year by The Fresno Bee. However, he pursued baseball instead, signing with the Philadelphia Phillies as an amateur free agent in 1959.
Corrales made his MLB debut in 1964. He was a catcher, playing largely in a backup role, and did time with the Phillies, St. Louis Cardinals, Cincinnati Reds, and San Diego Padres. He retired after the 1973 season, playing in 300 games and getting 166 hits over the course of his career.
Five years later, in 1978, Corrales was hired as the manager of the Texas Rangers. In doing so, he became the first Mexican American to manage a major league baseball team. He was hired by the Phillies as manager in 1982, and then he later joined what is now the Cleveland Guardians from 1983 to 1987. As a manager, his teams went 572–634.
Corrales transitioned into coaching in 1989, spending one year with the Yankees. In the years that followed, he did stints with the Atlanta Braves and Washington Nationals, serving as bench coach, scout, and in other capacities. He is a member of the Fresno County Athletic Hall of Fame.
Tributes to Pat Corrales
Full obituary: ESPN
