A mainstay in the baseball world passed away this week as Major League Baseball mourned the loss of Pat Corrales, a former manager, and player who spent his entire life around the game before his death at age 82. Players and front office personnel from around the league shared their respects for Corrales, who left a mark on the game of baseball.
Chicago Cubs legend Fergie Jenkins released a statement on Twitter to say goodbye to his friend Pat Corrales. Jenkins wrote, “Sad to hear about the passing of Pat Corrales. We had quite a few battles on the field, Pat was a great guy, a great teammate, and a friend. My thoughts and prayers go out to the Corrales family.”
Sad to hear about the passing of Pat Corrales. We had quite a few battles on the field, Pat was a great guy, a great teammate, and a friend. My thoughts and prayers go out to the Corrales family. pic.twitter.com/aySLZMueX0
— Fergie Jenkins (@fergieajenkins) August 28, 2023
Corrales played nine years in the MLB, and though his offensive stats were less than stellar, his work ethic and reputation as a teammate gave him his start in coaching and managing. The Washington Nationals, for whom Corrales coached from 2007-2009, released a statement.
The Nationals’ Twitter account said, “We join all of Major League Baseball in mourning the passing of Pat Corrales, who served on the Nationals coaching staff from 2007-09 and 2011.”
We join all of Major League Baseball in mourning the passing of Pat Corrales, who served on the Nationals coaching staff from 2007-09 and 2011. pic.twitter.com/8IrC4XJNUf
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) August 28, 2023
Legendary Manager Ozzie Guillen jumped in as well, saying, “Pat gracias for the lessons. I was lucky to have you later in my career in Atlanta. You helped me turn my field leadership into coaching then managing. We had good times. Hasta que no volvamos a ver. We need More Pat Corrales in the game. Thank you.”
Pat gracias for the lessons. I was lucky to have you later in my career in Atlanta. You helped me turn my field leadership into coaching then managing. We had good times. Hasta que no volvamos a ver. We need
More Pat Corrales in the game. Thank you. pic.twitter.com/dPdxIuC6Tc— Ozzie Guillen (@OzzieGuillen) August 28, 2023
Other teams, including the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Atlanta Braves, also had representatives say their heartfelt goodbyes to Corrales, who passed away from heart disease. Eddie Perez of the Atlanta Braves Coaching staff gave this message about Corrales, “It hurts me a lot losing him because I wish I could have seen him more in Atlanta. I wish I could have seen him more with this team. I’m going to miss him a lot.”
Corrales managed the Phillies in 1983 when the team reached the World Series, ultimately losing to the Orioles, although Corrales only managed the first part of the season before being replaced by the team’s general manager.
Corrales went on to work with the Texas Rangers, Atlanta Braves, and New York Yankees before returning to the Washington Nationals for another stint. His longevity in the game is a symptom of the respect that he commanded in clubhouses across the league. His players loved to play for him, and front offices loved to work with him.
Carrales’ place in the game is held in such high esteem that the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum paid respects on their own Twitter page. “The Hall of Fame remembers longtime player, coach and manager Pat Corrales, who passed away at the age of 82.”
The Hall of Fame remembers longtime player, coach and manager Pat Corrales, who passed away at the age of 82.
(Paul Spinelli/MLB Photos ) pic.twitter.com/bxVmJ5QiId
— National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum ⚾ (@baseballhall) August 28, 2023
The MLB Network also posted a video to YouTube titled “Remembering Pat Corrales.”
The featured Image is a screenshot from an embedded YouTube video.
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