Q&A: Phillies assistant GM on Pat Gillick, the GM and man

Benny Looper was doing spring training scout coverage for the Seattle Mariners in the late 1980s when he spotted a familiar face — Pat Gillick.

They hadn't seen each other in 20 years, not since Gillick — then a Houston Astros scout — paid a visit to the former catcher's hometown of Granite, Ok. on a summer day in '66 to watch Looper, who was in his draft year, play American Legion Baseball.

"I walked up to Pat and said: 'Pat, Benny Looper.' And he said: 'Yeah, Granite, Oklahoma, right?' That's how intelligent he is. He remembered from that long ago not only who I was but where I was from."

Gillick, as affable and friendly then as he was during his induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday in Cooperstown, N.Y., took the catcher and his family out for dinner that night in '66.

The Astros would end up selecting Looper in the 27th round that year but he didn't sign a contract. The St. Louis Cardinals chose him in the second round of the 1968 secondary draft and went on to play five minor league seasons before entering the scouting and front office ranks with the Mariners.

"I was just excited about someone of [Gillick's] stature coming to see me play, and just talking baseball with him," Looper, now the assistant general manager, player personnel with the Philadelphia Phillies, said over the phone before travelling to Cooperstown for Hall of Fame weekend.

"Pat's passion for the game stands out. I think what a lot of people don't know about him is he's got such a big heart. He treats people with respect, he listens to people. Those three characteristics … has made Pat so special."

In a wide-ranging interview Looper, 62, talked to CBCSports.ca about Gillick the general manager and person — he remains an advisor to the Phillies — their working relationship in Seattle and why Gillick deserves to be part of a select group of baseball greats.

CBCSports.ca: Did it become clear to you early in Pat's tenure as GM of the Mariners in 2000 that he was a good man to be connected with in the game?

BL: I knew that before he started working there, from talking to people that had worked with him, the success he had in Toronto [two World Series titles, five division titles] and Baltimore [two playoff berths]. At the time we weren't thinking about future Hall of Famer, but we knew we were getting the top GM in baseball. Then, after working with him, learning from him and watching him operate, you could see why he had been so successful.

CBCSports.ca: In Pat's four years with Seattle, the Mariners compiled more victories than any team in baseball (393), made the playoffs twice and won a record-setting 116 games in 2001. Wherever he went he built a winning team, right?

BL: He had that great ability to add smaller parts together [and] put together a club that was beyond competitive. Sometimes it's a lot of the smaller deals he makes that makes the ball club. In the winter of [1999], we picked up [first baseman] John Olerud and we picked up [second baseman] Bret Boone [and pitcher] Aaron Sele [in 2000].

It's not so much going out and signing future Hall of Famers as free agents but some smaller pieces when you add them together make for a great ball club. Pat's relied on his scouts, he listens to his scouts and he always wanted to meet the free agent or the player [acquired in a trade] one-on-one. He liked to sit down with them and look them in the eye.

CBCSports.ca: What did you learn from him just by watching him, in terms of how he orchestrated such player moves?

BL: I learned about his willingness and ability to listen to other people. He listened to scouts and everybody that had an opinion who had seen [a player]. He really is outstanding at getting opinions from other people and then formulating his own. He has the ability to get to know a player, whether it's a free agent or drafted player, and sit down with the player and maybe his family and get to know more about them.

He had the desire to go to great lengths to do so — flying across the country — to meet with someone before he made a decision on what direction we were going. Pat's big on the makeup [and] character of a player, and that stands out as well.

CBCSports.ca: On Dec. 5, 1990, Pat sent infielders Fred McGriff and Tony Fernandez to the San Diego Padres for a veteran slugger in Joe Carter and an up-and-coming talent in Roberto Alomar. How did he make the big deal and seemingly convince the other general manager it was a good deal for both sides?

BL: The other thing about Pat is he's not afraid. He has definite ideas and opinions about players and he's not afraid to take a chance. He knows that in the business we're in and the scouting end of it that you're going to make mistakes but you can't shy away from it.

Pat has never shied away from taking chances, especially when he's got all the information he wants and maybe has had the chance to see the player himself and meet with him.

CBCSports.ca: Is it safe to say he's been quite influential in your 30-plus years in the game as a scout and in the front office?

BL: No question. Just from learning from him, from seeing how good he treats people, how he sees the importance of the character of a person, not only a player but the people that work with us in the front office [and] our scouts in the field [of work]. He's been a tremendous influence on many, many people throughout baseball. He's impacted a lot of us that are in the game.

CBCSports.ca: After 30 years in the game in an off-field capacity, what is it that you are still learning from Pat's teachings and performance?

BL: Probably in the scouting players and when we're talking about players, amateurs or professionals, and hearing his opinion on them after I've seen them play to compare notes. He'll see something that the rest of us didn't see or maybe have an idea about a player.

CBCSports.ca: Is there something about Pat that maybe a lot of people in Toronto and across Canada don't know about him?

BL: The one thing that pops in my mind is Pat is easy to laugh. He's got a great laugh and it's a lot of fun working with him because he can see the lighter side of things.

CBCSports.ca: Why is Pat Gillick the right person to have alongside many of the great people in baseball history?

BL: This is a production business that we're in, and if you look at his track record and what the clubs have accomplished that he's been associated with, it speaks for itself. What makes it so particularly gratifying is that it's happening to such a great person. It makes you feel proud for Pat that he's getting this deserving honour.

CBCSports.ca: Are you travelling to Cooperstown for the National Baseball Hall of Fame ceremony simply because of your connection and close relationship with Pat?

BL: Yes, no question. I was fortunate enough to be with him during the winter meetings [last December] when he got the call [saying he was entering the Hall]. He went in the [hotel] room next door and came back and told us [Phillies employees]. That was an exciting time. He's so deserving, he's such a good person. This weekend will be special.

CBCSports.ca: An emotional man, do you think Pat will last through his induction speak or be forced to have someone talk in his place?

BL: He'll finish it. He is emotional, and he will be emotional. He's got his speech ready, knows it by heart. It may be hard for him but he'll get through it.