R.I.P. Pat Corrales

(Pat Corrales died on Sunday evening, August 27, at his home in Big Canoe, GA, north of Atlanta. Had the privilege of chatting with him this past May. A reprint of my story).

Pat Corrales is the epitome of a baseball lifer. Now 82 years of age, the former Phillies catcher and manager is in his 64th consecutive year of professional baseball. Putting it another way, Pat is like the Energizer bunny….he keeps going and going and going.

Along his journey Pat worked for the Atlanta Braves and Washington Nationals, two organizations in which Stan Kasten was president. When Kasten joined the Los Angeles Dodgers as president and part owner, he employed Corrales as a special assistant to general manager Ned Colletti. That was 2013. He remains in that role currently reporting to Andrew Friedman.

Following two weeks in spring training with the Dodgers, Pat and his wife, Donna, returned to their mountain home north of Atlanta. “I’ll spend one week a month going to one of their minor league clubs to observe and file reports,” he explained. He’ll also file reports on the Braves who are in his backyard.

The Beginning

Corrales was a football and baseball star at Fresno (CA) High School. Jim Maloney and Dick Ellsworth were two pitchers on the staff. Combined they spent 25 years in the majors. Rival Selma high school had an infielder named Bobby Cox. Phillies scout Babe Herman signed 18-year-old Corrales to a pro contract that included a $18,000 bonus on June 16, 1959. “Like a typical kid, I bought a car,” he said laughing.

Minors

Corrales spent 12 years in the minor leagues of which the first seven were with the Phillies. Among his minor league teammates were Dick Allen, Dallas Green, Fergie Jenkins, Cookie Rojas and Rick Wise. He played for manager Frank Lucchesi and later was a coach when Lucchesi managed the Texas Rangers.

The Phillies sent Corrales to Johnson City, TN (Class D Appalachian League). After 23 games there, he finished the season playing five games in Bakersfield, CA. Paul (The Pope) Owens was the manager. Their paths would later cross.

“Got in a fight with the first-string catcher on the bus,” he recalled. “The Pope made me sit next to him on the other trips.”

He also spent one minor league season (1988) managing the Toledo Mud Hens, the Detroit Tigers AAA affiliate.

Majors

Nine years in the big show (Phillies 1964–65; Cardinals 1966, Reds 1968–72, Padres 1972–73). An even 300 games, .216 lifetime average. Was traded three times. Back-ups to Clay Dalrymple, Tim McCarver, Johnny Bench and Fred Kendall. An excellent “catch and throw” catcher, Corrales also became a student of the game.

Major league debut came as a 23-year-old, August 2, 1964, a pinch-hitter against the Dodgers at Connie Mack Stadium. He grounded back to pitcher Larry Miller. Nine days later his second at-bat was against the Cubs at Wrigley Field. He drew a walk off his high school teammate, Dick Ellsworth.

His lone World Serie came with the 1970 Reds who lost to the Baltimore Orioles in five games. Appeared in one game and had one at-bat, a grounder to third baseman Brooks Robinson to end the Series.

Coaching

Following his playing career, Corrales coached for many seasons in the majors, first and third base and bench coach. Texas Rangers (1976–77), Yankees (1989) and a very long run with ex-high school enemy, Bobby Cox. They were together during Atlanta’s amazing dominant run, 1990–2006. Bobby Wine, a former Phillies teammate, was the Braves’ advance scout at the same time.

Corrales’ final coaching stint was 2007–09 with the Washington Nationals. In 2012, Corrales was officially listed as Senior Assistant, Player Development for the Nationals.

Manager

His 1978 season as a coach with Rangers ended as the interim manager for the final game. He was named their manager for 1979–1980, becoming the first Mexican-American manager.

When Dallas Green left the Phillies to become president of the Chicago Cubs, Corrales replaced his friend as the Phillies manager starting with the 1982 season. It was the best season of his nine-year managerial career, 89–73, second place.

1983’s baseball calendar began with his marriage to Donna Myers during spring training in Clearwater. With the 43–42 Phillies in first place on July 19, Corrales was replaced by his friend, Paul Owens, an unprecedented move.

“It was so sudden. Shocked and hurt but I believe everything in life happens for a reason. It’s baseball. I have so many fond memories of my time in Philadelphia, The Pope, Dallas, Hugh Alexander, Bill Giles and a lot of great teammates. Dick Allen is the greatest right-handed hitter I’ve ever seen,” he said.

Two weeks later he was hired to manage the Cleveland Indians. He was there into the 1987 season.

During his career he managed eight Hall of Famers, Fergie Jenkins, Gaylord Perry, Mike Schmidt, Steve Carlton, Joe Morgan, Tony Perez, Bert Blyleven, Phil Niekro and Carlton again in Cleveland.

The Collision

Baseball once was a game in which base runners took out middle infielders to break up double plays. A runner also could bowl over a catcher at home plate. Catchers on the other hand were allowed to block the plate. Anything to prevent a run from scoring. Runs lead to wins or losses.

One of the most violent home plate collisions came at Connie Mack Stadium, July 10, 1965. The Giants’ Willie Mays, attempting to score on a bang-bang play slid into home plate in the first inning with his left foot in the air. The foot caught Corrales under his left chin. He was knocked unconscious, eventually helped off the field. Spent the night in the hospital. Mays sustained a bruised right hip. Corrales lost control of the ball and was kindly charged with an error.

“Next time I saw Willie, I let him know if I get a chance, I WILL get even,” Corrales remembers. “Over time we became friends. After that collision I never took my mask off on a play at home plate. I learned my lesson.”

That game was the last one before the All-Star Game break. Mays played in the ASG three days later. Corrales was back in the lineup on July 15, the Phillies first game after the break.

Summary

Patrick Corrales, a guard on his high school football team, was tough. He played baseball with football mentality. He never backed down when challenged and didn’t hesitate to be the instigator. Yet inside that shell of toughness is a caring person with a kind heart. And a smile of warmness.

His toughness currently helps him get around as he needs to use two walking sticks because of mobility issues. When asked if he could steal second base with the walking sticks, he laughed, “No. And I never did.” Well, he’s wrong. He stole one base and was caught once. That’s .500. The one steal came during the 1966 Cardinals season. He sneaked into second base while a teammate was stealing third. Hall of Famer Lou Brock.

Family

Pat is survived by his wife of 40 years Donna Myers Corrales; daughters Rena C. Hammerness of Austin, Texas, and Patricia C. Collins of Williamstown, N.J.; and son Jason P. Corrales of San Diego. He was preceded in death by son Patrick D.P. Corrales of Atlanta and daughter Michele D. Pollitt of Williamstown, N.J.

A funeral service will be held September 5 in Atlanta, with burial in Marble Hill, Ga.