Pat Gillick: Architect of ’08 Phils inducted into Hall of Fame

Lawrence Patrick David “Pat” Gillick, who rose through scouting ranks with the Houston Astros and New York Yankees, was inducted into baseball’s Hall of Fame this afternoon along with second baseman Roberto Alomar Jr. and pitcher Bert Blyleven.

“He built Baltimore and Seattle into playoff contenders before constructing Philadelphia’s 2008 World Series champions,” Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig said of Gillick, after also describing the GM’s championship resume with the Toronto Blue Jays of the early 1990s.

Here’s some of what he had to say just a couple hours ago at the Cooperstown ceremony. Here’s a link to the full speech.

“Then I ended up with the Phillies, which was an incredible capstone to my career,” he said after noting his achievements in Toronto, Baltimore and Seattle. “Philadelphia loves its teams. … Just like Paul Molitor in ’93, I’ll never forget the look on Jaime Moyer’s face. Twenty-three years in the league and he finally had his ring.”

Philadephia Daily News columnist Bill Conlin also received a spot in American sports’ most prestigious hall.