Preston Gómez

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Preston Gómez Martinez

  • Bats Right, Throws Right
  • Height 5' 11", Weight 170 lb.

BR page

Biographical Information[edit]

Infielder Preston Gómez had a cup of coffee with the 1944 Washington Senators and was a long-time coach, manager, and baseball executive.

After his playing career ended, he was a Los Angeles Dodgers coach from 1965 to 1968 before becoming manager of the expansion San Diego Padres in 1969. The team finished in last place in every season he managed them, and he was replaced as skipper early in 1972.

He joined the Houston Astros coaching staff in 1973 and became their skipper the next year, leading the club for a season and a half. He was a St. Louis Cardinals coach in 1976 and a member of the Dodgers staff again from 1977 to 1979. Gómez began 1980 as manager of the Chicago Cubs before being replaced in midseason. As a manager, he is infamous for twice removing his starting pitcher for a pinch-hitter late in a game with a no-hitter in progress. On July 21, 1970, he removed Clay Kirby for pinch-hitter Cito Gaston with the Padres trailing 1-0 in the 8th; reliever Jack Baldschun gave up a hit in the 9th inning and the Padres lost 3-0. On September 4, 1974, he did the same thing to Don Wilson of the Astros; reliever Mike Cosgrove gave up a hit in the 9th inning of a 2-1 loss to the Cincinnati Reds.

From 1981 to 1984, he was a California Angels coach. After that, he was involved with the Angels for the remainder of his life, ending his career as special assistant to the general manager.

In addition to managing in the USA, Gomez also managed in Mexico and in Cuba. He managed the Havana Sugar Kings when they won the Junior World Series in 1959 over Gene Mauch's Minneapolis Millers.

On March 26, 2008, Gomez suffered serious head wounds when struck by a pick-up truck at a gas station in Blythe, CA. He never recovered from his injuries and died ten months later; the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim wore a patch in his honor on their uniform during the 2009 season.


Preceded by
N/A
San Diego Padres Manager
1969-1972
Succeeded by
Don Zimmer
Preceded by
Leo Durocher
Houston Astros Manager
1974-1975
Succeeded by
Bill Virdon
Preceded by
Herman Franks
Chicago Cubs Manager
1980
Succeeded by
Joey Amalfitano

Year-By-Year Managerial Record[edit]

Year Team League Record Finish Organization Playoffs Notes
1957 Fresnillo Rojos Central Mexican League -- Diablos Rojos del Mexico replaced by Agustin Bejerano April 27
Diablos Rojos del Mexico Mexican League 2nd none League Champs replaced Lazaro Salazar April 29
1958 Diablos Rojos del Mexico Mexican League -- none replaced by Luis Montes de Oca August 1
1959 Havana Sugar Kings International League 80-73 3rd Cincinnati Reds League Champs
1960 Spokane Indians Pacific Coast League 92-61 1st Los Angeles Dodgers none, League Champs
1961 Spokane Indians Pacific Coast League 68-86 7th Los Angeles Dodgers
1962 Spokane Indians Pacific Coast League 58-96 8th Los Angeles Dodgers none
1963 Richmond Virginians International League 66-81 9th New York Yankees
1964 Richmond Virginians International League 65-88 7th New York Yankees
1969 San Diego Padres National League 52-110 6th San Diego Padres
1970 San Diego Padres National League 63-99 6th San Diego Padres
1971 San Diego Padres National League 61-100 6th San Diego Padres
1972 San Diego Padres National League 4-7 -- San Diego Padres replaced by Don Zimmer on April 27
1974 Houston Astros National League 81-81 4th Houston Astros
1975 Houston Astros National League 47-80 -- Houston Astros replaced by Bill Virdon on August 19
1980 Chicago Cubs National League 39-52 -- Chicago Cubs replaced by Joe Amalfitano on July 25

Related Sites[edit]