Fresno native who became the first MLB manager of Mexican-American descent dies

Pat Corrales, a Fresno native and former high school star who went on to become a pioneer in Major League Baseball, died Sunday.

Corrales was 82 years old when he passed away peacefully at his home in Big Canoe, GA.

Corrales spent nine seasons as a MLB manager and became the first big league manager of Mexican-American descent, according to a Los Angeles Dodgers news release, when the Texas Rangers promoted him from coach in 1978.

His Rangers managerial stint lasted through the 1980 season before Corrales managed the Philadelphia Phillies (1982-1983) and Cleveland Indians (1983-1987).

Corrales did not exactly excel as a Major League player, limited to 300 games during a nine-year career and hitting a lifetime .216 average.

But his baseball mind remained highly regarded for years to come.

Six decades in pro baseball

Corrales’ baseball insight was so valuable and respected, he spent a total of 64 years working in some aspect of professional baseball, including a 16-year coaching stint with the Atlanta Braves during their glory days.

Corrales for the past 11 years served as a special assistant to the President in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization.

“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 Stan Kasten, Dodgers President and CEO. “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.”

Fresno days

Corrales’ baseball journey began in his hometown of Fresno.

A star football player and baseball at Fresno High, Corrales eventually gravitated toward the diamond and became part of one of America’s greatest high school baseball teams ever.

That 1958 Warriors baseball team finished 25-1 overall with wins against college freshman teams at Stanford, Cal and Fresno State.

As Fresno High’s starting catcher, Corrales caught for future Major League All Star pitchers Dick Ellsworth and Jim Maloney, as well as Lynn Rube, who played in the minors.

“I think we lost one game in two years, something like that, and it was a big honor just to be on the team,” Corrales later told the Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame. “People kind of forget some of the players like Dave Albracht, Chuck Smith, Blair Pollard, and others, but they remember Jim Maloney, Dick Ellsworth, Len Rube, and I guess, Pat Corrales, but it was a heck of a team there right through the roster.”

After high school in 1959, Corrales turned down several college football scholarships to play professional baseball.

Professional achievements

In 1964, Corrales reached the majors at 23 years old.

He spent nine seasons shuffling back and forth between the bigs and minors, while playing for the Phillies (1964-65), St. Louis Cardinals (1966), Cincinnati Reds (1968-72) and San Diego Padres (1972-73) organizations.

Then he eventually got into coaching and managing after his playing career.

As a manager, Corrales finished with a 572-634 overall record.

Corrales later returned, briefly joining the Yankees (1989) before coaching with the Braves (1990-2006) and the Washington Nationals (2007-09, 2011).

Corrales helped the Braves win the World Series in 1995, coaching under Atlanta manager and Selma native Bobby Cox.

Corrales also was a special advisor for the Dodgers championship team in 2020.

Corrales was inducted into the Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame in 1980 and his 1958 Fresno High baseball team was honored as part of the 2005 induction class.

This story was originally published September 1, 2023 at 7:46 AM.