Pat Corrales – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Pat Corrales wrapped up his playing career in 1973 after nine seasons as a backup catcher in Major League Baseball. He was born in Los Angeles in 1941 and played for four teams: the Philadelphia Phillies, St. Louis Cardinals, Cincinnati Reds, and San Diego Padres.

He played his final game on September 21, 1973, with the San Diego Padres. That marked the end of a modest but steady career, and he appeared in 300 games over nearly a decade.

Corrales never really became a star as a player. He batted .216 with just four home runs and 54 RBIs in his career.

He mainly worked as a backup, always behind established stars like Johnny Bench in Cincinnati and Tim McCarver in St. Louis. Corrales did get one World Series appearance in 1970 with the Reds, but it ended on a sour note when he grounded out for the final out as Cincinnati lost to the Baltimore Orioles.

Corrales’ 1973 retirement didn’t close the book on his baseball life. Instead, it kicked off a transformation that would define his legacy.

He shifted from player to coach, then eventually manager, and made a much bigger impact in those roles. That career would end up spanning more than six decades in pro baseball and break some important barriers in the sport’s leadership ranks.

Pat Corrales’ Baseball Career Overview

Patrick Corrales played nine seasons in Major League Baseball from 1964 to 1973, mostly as a catcher for four different teams.

He debuted with the Philadelphia Phillies at 23 and finished up with the San Diego Padres. Over 300 games, he compiled a .216 batting average.

Major League Debut and Final Game

Pat Corrales made his Major League Baseball debut on August 2, 1964, at Connie Mack Stadium in Philadelphia. The Phillies sent him in as a pinch-hitter for pitcher Ed Roebuck in the fifth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

He grounded out against lefty Larry Miller in his first at-bat. Nine days later, on August 11, he drew a walk from his old high school teammate Dick Ellsworth.

Corrales spent most of that season watching from the bench as the Phillies went through their infamous ten-game losing streak in September 1964. Even with limited playing time, that debut season gave him valuable experience.

Corrales played his final MLB game in 1973 with the San Diego Padres. He then played the 1974 season in the minors with the Hawaii Islanders before jumping into managing and coaching in 1975.

Primary Position and Playing Style

Corrales played catcher throughout his nine years in the majors. He stood 6 feet tall and weighed about 180 pounds, making him a solid presence behind the plate.

His offensive stats were pretty modest—a .216 batting average, 4 home runs, and 54 RBIs in 300 games. People mostly recognized him for his defense and ability to manage pitchers.

His nickname, “Ike,” followed him from his high school days at Fresno High School in California. Back then, he caught future major leaguers Jim Maloney and Dick Ellsworth.

Most teams used Corrales as a backup catcher. His busiest year was 1965 with Philadelphia, where he played in 63 games and got 174 at-bats while platooning with Clay Dalrymple.

Teams Played For

Corrales suited up for four MLB teams in his career:

Philadelphia Phillies (1964-1965)

• Debuted in 1964, saw limited action
• Played his most games (63) in 1965
• Named to Topps All-Rookie team in 1965
• Hit .224 with 2 home runs and 15 RBIs in 1965

St. Louis Cardinals (1966)

• Came over in a trade with Alex Johnson and Art Mahaffey
• Served as backup to All-Star Tim McCarver
• Appeared in just 28 games, hit .181

Cincinnati Reds (1968-1972)

• Backed up Johnny Bench for about 4½ seasons
• Played 134 games in Cincinnati
• Hit .231 with 2 home runs and 27 RBIs
• Made a World Series appearance in 1970

San Diego Padres (1972-1973)

• Traded to San Diego on June 11, 1972
• Backed up Fred Kendall
• Finished his MLB career with the Padres in 1973

Key Statistics and Achievements

Pat Corrales put up pretty modest offensive numbers during his nine years in the big leagues. He batted .216 with 4 home runs and 54 RBIs over 300 games.

His defensive skills as a catcher mattered more than his bat. He never picked up any major individual awards or much recognition as a player.

Career Batting and Fielding Stats

Corrales struggled at the plate. He posted a .216 batting average, a .291 on-base percentage, and a .276 slugging percentage.

His best offensive season came in 1968 with Cincinnati, when he hit .268 in 20 games. Over his career, he managed just 166 hits in 767 at-bats and only 4 home runs.

He did most of his damage in 1965, hitting 2 homers for Philadelphia. On defense, Corrales had a .983 career fielding percentage as a catcher.

He threw out 33 of 61 attempted base stealers. Corrales played 300 games over nine seasons, scored 63 runs, and drove in 54.

His most active season was 1965 with Philadelphia, playing 63 games and getting 174 at-bats.

WAR and Advanced Metrics

Advanced stats from Corrales’ era are a bit hard to come by, but the available data suggests he didn’t provide much offensive value. His career OPS (on-base plus slugging) was .567, which was well below the league average for catchers back then.

WAR numbers for his career aren’t easy to find in the records. Given his offensive struggles and average defense, he probably had negative or minimal WAR most seasons.

Corrales struck out 167 times and walked 75 times, so his strikeout-to-walk ratio wasn’t great. He grounded into 17 double plays, which hints at some difficulties with situational hitting.

Recognitions and Honors

Corrales never received major individual awards or honors during his playing days. He didn’t make any All-Star teams or get MVP votes, according to available records.

His biggest team achievement came as a backup catcher for Cincinnati during the Reds’ competitive years in the early 1970s. He didn’t play in any World Series or playoff games, at least not according to the search results.

After his playing days, Corrales actually gained more recognition as a manager and coach. His time as a player mostly set him up for later success in baseball management.

Notable Seasons Leading Up to Retirement

Pat Corrales spent his last decade as a player bouncing between four major league teams, usually as a backup catcher. His most productive years came with the Philadelphia Phillies and Cincinnati Reds.

He wrapped up his career with the San Diego Padres in 1973 after years of battling for playing time behind established starters.

Highlights With Philadelphia Phillies

Corrales made his debut with the Philadelphia Phillies in August 1964, playing in just two games but witnessing the team’s infamous collapse from playoff contention.

His biggest season was 1965, when he got the most playing time of his career. He played 63 games with 174 at-bats, hit .224 with two home runs and 15 RBIs, and drew 25 walks, pushing his on-base percentage to .323.

His defense stood out enough to earn him a spot on the Topps All-Rookie team.

One wild moment from that year: on July 10, Willie Mays of the Giants slid into Corrales at home plate, knocked him out cold, and cut his neck with his spikes. Corrales only missed five days before coming back with a 3-for-3 game against Cincinnati.

Manager Gene Mauch used Corrales in a platoon with Clay Dalrymple after Gus Triandos left for Houston in June 1965.

Stint With St. Louis Cardinals

The St. Louis Cardinals traded for Corrales after the 1965 season, sending Bill White and Dick Groat to Philadelphia. Corrales joined the Cardinals with Alex Johnson and Art Mahaffey in exchange for White, Groat, and Bob Uecker.

He didn’t get much playing time in 1966, stuck behind All-Star Tim McCarver. Corrales played just 28 games and hit a career-low .181.

In 1967, the Cardinals sent him to their Triple-A team in Tulsa. With regular playing time, Corrales hit .274 with 10 homers and 55 RBIs.

That run in the minors caught the eye of the Cincinnati Reds, who traded for him in exchange for Johnny Edwards.

Performance With Cincinnati Reds

Corrales spent four and a half seasons with the Cincinnati Reds from 1968 to 1972, backing up future Hall of Famer Johnny Bench. His role was limited but still mattered to the team’s success.

While with Cincinnati, Corrales hit .231 with two home runs and 27 RBIs in 365 plate appearances across 134 games.

He went through a personal tragedy in 1969 when his wife Sharon died from a blood clot while giving birth to their fourth child.

The Reds made a World Series run in 1970. Corrales got his only postseason plate appearance there, pinch-hitting against Baltimore’s Mike Cuellar in Game Five.

He grounded out to Brooks Robinson, ending the game and clinching the Series for the Orioles.

Corrales remarried in 1970 to Heidy Davis and kept backing up Bench after that.

Final Years With San Diego Padres

The San Diego Padres traded for Corrales on June 11, 1972, sending Bob Barton to Cincinnati. That move gave Corrales a fresh start with the young franchise, but he stayed in a backup role behind Fred Kendall.

He played through the end of the 1973 season with San Diego, appearing in limited games as the team’s secondary catcher. The Padres were still piecing together their roster in those early years.

After 1973, Corrales’ major league playing days ended. He spent 1974 with the Hawaii Islanders in the minors before switching to managing and coaching.

His final MLB stats: a .216 career batting average over nine seasons with four teams. That set the stage for his move into coaching and management.

Transition After Retirement in 1973

Pat Corrales spent five years away from Major League Baseball after his 1973 retirement. He came back in 1978 as manager of the Texas Rangers.

His post-playing career stretched across five decades and included some groundbreaking moments as the first Mexican American manager in MLB history.

Minor League and Coaching Positions

After wrapping up his playing days, Corrales stepped away from baseball for a few years before moving into coaching. He spent that time building his leadership skills and learning the game from a new angle.

Coaching gave Corrales a foundation for what would become a successful managerial run. He worked on understanding team management and player development.

The move from player to coach meant learning new things. Corrales focused on communication and developing strategies during those early coaching years.

Managerial Career in Major League Baseball

Corrales made history in 1978 when the Texas Rangers hired him as their manager, making him the first Mexican American to manage a major league team.

He managed for nine seasons across three organizations.

Teams Managed:

• Texas Rangers (1978-1980)
• Philadelphia Phillies (1982)
• Cleveland Indians (1983-1987)

His overall managerial record ended up at 572-634. He spent the most time with the Cleveland Indians, managing them for five seasons from 1983 to 1987.

Corrales brought his catcher’s perspective to his managing style. He used his knowledge of defense and pitcher management to lead his teams.

Contributions as a Scout and Consultant

After his managerial career, Corrales jumped into coaching and front office roles in 1989. He spent a year with the New York Yankees, then moved on to the Atlanta Braves.

Corrales worked with the Braves in a bunch of roles, including bench coach and scout. He stuck with the Braves for decades, working under manager Bobby Cox.

The Washington Nationals brought Corrales on as a coach from 2007 to 2009, then again in 2011. He wrapped up his career as Special Assistant to the General Manager with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Corrales focused his scouting work on player evaluation and development. He leaned on his decades of experience to spot talent and guide younger players moving up in the league system.

Personal Background and Early Life

Pat Corrales grew up in a working-class Mexican-American family in Los Angeles, then later in Fresno, California. In Fresno, he became a multi-sport athlete.

At Fresno High School, he stood out in both football and baseball. His success there really shaped his future in sports.

Birth and Family

Patrick Corrales was born on March 20, 1941, in Los Angeles, California. His parents, David and Josefina (Rivera) Corrales, raised six children.

His siblings were Elizabeth, Olga, Peggy, Gabriel, and Evelyn, who lived from 1943 to 1949. The family left Los Angeles for Fresno when Pat was still young.

David, Pat’s father, worked as a truck driver in Los Angeles. After moving to Fresno, he found work as a grinder in an iron foundry.

This working-class background shaped Pat’s early years. It really gave him the strong work ethic that helped him through his baseball journey.

Education at Fresno High School

At Fresno High, Corrales played both football and baseball. He was a 6-foot, 184-pound pulling guard and linebacker on the football team.

His football skills caught a lot of attention. The Fresno Bee named him high-school lineman of the year, and he made the All-City team.

He got picked for the Shrine Game in Los Angeles, which brought together top high school players from Northern and Southern California. An injury before the game ended his football plans and pushed him toward baseball.

On the baseball team, Corrales caught for the squad. He played alongside future major-league pitchers Jim Maloney and Dick Ellsworth.

His team often beat rival Selma High School, where Bobby Cox, another future big leaguer, played.

Nickname and Identity

During his time at Fresno High, people started calling Corrales “Ike.” The nickname probably came from the comic strip character Ozark Ike, who was brawny and walked with a slow, steady gait, kind of like Pat.

That nickname stuck with him all through his professional career. It helped set him apart from other players with similar names.

The nickname pointed to his physical style and presence on the field. Those traits really defined how he approached the game as a player, manager, and coach.

Pat Corrales’ Legacy in Baseball

Pat Corrales left a real mark on baseball. He broke ground as the first Mexican-American manager in Major League Baseball and spent five decades as a player, manager, and coach.

His legacy goes way beyond his .216 batting average. He shaped teams and developed talent across several organizations, earning a lot of respect in the baseball community.

Impact on Teams and Players

Corrales made history in 1978 when he became the first Mexican-American manager in MLB with the Texas Rangers. That milestone broke barriers and opened doors for Latino managers who came after him.

He managed three teams over eight seasons. With the Rangers, he led them to a 47-34 record at the 1979 All-Star break, tying for first in the American League West.

The Philadelphia Phillies brought Corrales on in 1982 to manage a roster with Hall of Famers Steve Carlton, Mike Schmidt, and Pete Rose. He kept the team in the race until September.

In 1983, the Phillies fired Corrales while the team sat in first place. He became the only manager in baseball history to get dismissed while leading his division.

With the Cleveland Indians from 1983 to 1987, Corrales worked with young players like Joe Carter, Julio Franco, and Cory Snyder. In 1986, the Indians finished 84-78 in a tough AL East.

Long-Term Contributions to the Game

Corrales spent over 60 years in professional baseball. His career began as a player in 1964 and stretched through executive roles with the Los Angeles Dodgers until his passing in 2023.

As a coach, Corrales found his greatest success with the Atlanta Braves from 1990 to 2006. He worked with Bobby Cox, helping the team win 14 division titles, five National League pennants, and a World Series championship.

His defensive expertise as a former catcher helped him develop pitchers and catchers. Corrales was known as a top defensive catcher and really became a “student of the game.”

The Sharon Corrales Scholarship Fund, set up after his first wife passed away in 1969, showed his commitment to helping others. Teams across MLB chipped in to support his children’s education.

Recognition Within MLB

Corrales earned respect from peers and players for his baseball knowledge and leadership abilities. People who worked with him often called him a “true baseball lifer” because he stayed active in the sport well into his 80s.

The Texas Rangers celebrated his trailblazing role as their first Mexican-American manager. When he got his debut victory against the Seattle Mariners, it felt like a big deal in baseball history.

MLB organizations kept reaching out to him for different roles, and honestly, that says a lot:

• Player (1964-1973)
• Manager (1978-1987)
• Coach (1976-2009)
• Executive (2009-2023)

He spent years with winning teams like the Braves, which really shows how much people valued what he brought to the table. Corrales also worked alongside plenty of Hall of Fame players and managers.

In August 2023, Corrales was still working as an assistant to the general manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Even late in his life, he played a key role in MLB operations.