On the heels of the monster Jayson Werth signing by the Washington Nationals, it was announced earlier this week that former Phillies general manager, and current senior advisor for the team, Pat Gillick will be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. With an assist from outgoing general manager Ed Wade, Gillick cobbled together the pieces needed to return the Phillies to the Postseason in 2007. The team has returned every year since, winning the 2008 World Championship during his reign. He's the only general manager in history to lead four franchises (Blue Jays, Orioles, Mariners and Phillies) to the Postseason.
Gillick becomes the first person with a connection to the Phillies to be inducted since Ryne Sandberg gained admission in 2005. Other recent inductees with Phillies connections are Sparky Anderson and Tony Perez (2000), Jim Bunning (1996) and (my favorite class) Mike Schmidt and Richie Ashburn (1995).Thank you, Mr. Gillick for bringing a winning tradition back to the Phillies and good luck with your speech in Cooperstown!
Do other teams get nervous when discussing trades with a "Hall of Fame" GM, or senior advisor? Do they say, "This guy's in the HOF for crikes sake. I must be missing something. Make him add another player."
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