Preston Gómez
(Redirected from Preston Gomez)
Preston Gómez Martinez
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 5' 11", Weight 170 lb.
- Debut May 5, 1944
- Final Game August 12, 1944
- Born April 20, 1922 in Preston, Oriente, Cuba
- Died January 13, 2009 in Fullerton, CA USA
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 |
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