Former MLB manager, coach, catcher Pat Corrales dies at age 82

Corrales was a backup catcher with four teams over a nine-year career in the majors, but he was more notable as MLB’s first manager of Mexican-American descent when he took over the Rangers for the final game of 1978 season.

Corrales was fired by the Phillies in 1983, even though the team was tied for first place in the NL East. General manager Paul Owens replaced Corrales and guided the Phillies to the World Series, where they lost to the Baltimore Orioles in five games.

Corrales’ managed the Rangers for two full seasons after his one-game interim stint, finishing with a record of 160-164 in Arlington.

He was hired as the Phillies manager in 1982, going 89-73 in his only full season with the team. Corrales was let go with Philadelphia at 43-42 the following year, but he wasn’t out of work for long.

Finishing out the season as Cleveland’s manager, he would guide the AL team then known as the Indians over five seasons. After a 102-loss campaign in 1985, Cleveland bounced back to an 84-78 mark the following year.