by Mark Langill
Pat Corrales, the Dodgers’ assistant to the general manager who worked more than 64 years in professional baseball as a catcher, coach, manager, and special assistant, passed away on Sunday at his home in Big Canoe, Georgia. He was 82.
The Los Angeles native made history in 1978 as the first Major League manager of Mexican-American descent. Corrales managed the Texas Rangers (1978–80), Philadelphia Phillies (1982–83), and Cleveland Indians (1983–87). Corrales was also a coach with the Rangers, Yankees, Braves, and Nationals.
Corrales joined the Dodgers in November 2012 as special assistant to the President.
“I was fortunate to have worked with Pat for more than 30 years at three franchises and he was instrumental in turning all three into championship organizations,” said Dodgers’ President and CEO Stan Kasten. “He loved mentoring young players and the number of players he influenced is too long to count. Pat truly loved the game of baseball, and we will miss him.”
Corrales won a World Series championship with the Braves in 1995 and also was a member of the Dodgers’ world championship victory in 2020.
At Fresno High School, Corrales caught future Major League pitchers Jim Maloney and Dick Ellsworth. Future Major League infielder Bobby Cox played at rival Selma High School and the two became competitors and friends. Corrales spent 17 seasons on Cox’s coaching staff with the Braves between 1990 and 2006.
After his high school graduation, Corrales signed with the Phillies in 1959. He made his Major League debut with Philadelphia in 1964. Overall, Corrales batted .216 with four home runs and 54 RBI in 300 regular-season games with the Phillies (1964–65), Cincinnati Reds (1968–72) and San Diego Padres (1972–73). He also appeared in the World Series with the 1970 Reds.
Dodger special assistant and longtime baseball figure Pat Corrales passes away was originally published in Dodger Insider on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.