Major League Baseball Player, Manager, Coach. He was born Pedro (Martinez) Gomez in Preston, Cuba. He made his big league debut on May 5, 1944 and appeared in 8 games at the second base and shortstop positions with the Washington Senators. For the next twenty years, he played in the minor leagues and spent time managing in the Mexican Winter League. In 1965, he returned to the Major League level as a coach with the Los Angeles Dodgers (1965 to 1968) and was on Walter Alston's staff when the team won two National League pennants (1965, 1966) including a World Series title (1965). During Major League Baseball's expansion year of 1969, Gomez was hired as the first manager of the new San Diego Padres' franchise and served at that capacity until 1972. During his career, he had managerial stints with the Houston Astros (1974 to 1975) and Chicago Cubs (1980). In 1977, he rejoined the Dodgers as a coach (1977 to 1979) under Tom Lasorda when the team won two more National League pennants (1977, 1978). He also coached with the Astros (1973), St. Louis Cardinals (1976) and California Angels (1981 to 1984). He would remain with the Angels organization as a scout consultant. In March 2008, Gomez was struck by a vehicle and suffered severe head injuries of which he never fully recovered from.
Major League Baseball Player, Manager, Coach. He was born Pedro (Martinez) Gomez in Preston, Cuba. He made his big league debut on May 5, 1944 and appeared in 8 games at the second base and shortstop positions with the Washington Senators. For the next twenty years, he played in the minor leagues and spent time managing in the Mexican Winter League. In 1965, he returned to the Major League level as a coach with the Los Angeles Dodgers (1965 to 1968) and was on Walter Alston's staff when the team won two National League pennants (1965, 1966) including a World Series title (1965). During Major League Baseball's expansion year of 1969, Gomez was hired as the first manager of the new San Diego Padres' franchise and served at that capacity until 1972. During his career, he had managerial stints with the Houston Astros (1974 to 1975) and Chicago Cubs (1980). In 1977, he rejoined the Dodgers as a coach (1977 to 1979) under Tom Lasorda when the team won two more National League pennants (1977, 1978). He also coached with the Astros (1973), St. Louis Cardinals (1976) and California Angels (1981 to 1984). He would remain with the Angels organization as a scout consultant. In March 2008, Gomez was struck by a vehicle and suffered severe head injuries of which he never fully recovered from.
Bio by: C.S.
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