Former Texas Rangers manager Pat Corrales died of natural causes over the weekend. He was 82 years old.
Corrales joined the Rangers coaching staff in 1976 and was promoted to manager at the end of the 1978 season, becoming the first Mexican-American MLB manager.
“The Rangers extend their thoughts and prayers to the family of former manager Pat Corrales, who passed away on Sunday night at age 82,” Rangers Vice President of Public Affairs John Blake wrote on social media on the team’s behalf. “Pat was Rangers’ coach from 1976-78 and managed the club from 10/1/78-10/5/80 with [a] 160-164 overall record. He will be missed by the MLB family.”
After managing the Rangers, Corrales served seven more seasons as a Major League manager with the Philadelphia Phillies and the Cleveland Guardians (then the Cleveland Indians) from 1982-87. Philadelphia was the only team with which he finished with a record over .500 during his tenure, including a career-best 89-73 season in 1982.
“The Phillies mourn the passing of Pat Corrales,” a statement from the Phillies on social media read. “Over the course of a baseball career that spanned more than six decades as a player, coach, manager, and executive, Pat became a well-respected baseball lifer.”
The statement continued:
“Pat was originally drafted by the Phillies in 1959 as a nondrafted free agent. He made his ML debut for the Phillies in 1964, his first of two seasons playing for the club, then returned to manage the team for parts of the 1982-83 seasons. Our heartfelt condolences go out to Pat’s family and all those who were fortunate to know him.”
Corrales stopped managing after the 1987 season but spent 16 seasons as a member of the coaching staff for the vaunted Atlanta Braves teams of the 1990s and early 2000s. He also spent time with the New York Yankees and the Washington Nationals. He had been a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ front office as a special assistant to the general manager since November 2012.
He managed 1,211 games in his career, accumulating a 572-634-5 record.
Prior to his career as a manager, Corrales also spent a combined nine seasons as a Major League catcher with the Cincinnati Reds, San Diego Padres, Philadelphia Phillies, and St. Louis Cardinals.
Surviving Corrales are his wife of 40 years, Donna Myers Corrales, daughters Rena C. Hammerness and Patricia C. Collins, and son Jason P. Corrales. A son, Patrick D.P. Corrales, and daughter, Michele D. Pollitt, preceded him in death.
Corrales’ funeral was held in Atlanta Tuesday morning.
