Preston Gomez, the San Diego Padres’ first manager and a coach/assistant with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim for 28 years, died Tuesday in Fullerton at 85.

According to the Angels’ web site, the Cuban-born Gomez, a shortstop for the Washington Senators in 1944, never fully recovered from injuries suffered when he was hit by a truck at a Blythe gas station in March. Gomez, serving as a special assistant to the general manager, was on his way home from Angels Spring Training in Arizona.

“The Angels family has lost one of its invaluable members, and one of baseball’s truly great ambassadors,” Angels general manager Tony Reagins said on the web site. “His influence and impact on so many throughout the industry is impossible to measure. Though he will be missed, Preston’s legacy will forever remain a part of this organization.”

After his playing career ended, Gomez became a minor-league coach for a number of teams and reentered the majors in 1965 as a third-base coach for the Dodgers; in 1969, he became the first manager of a Southern California expansion team, the Padres. He served as the Angels’ third-base coach from 1981 to 1984 before moving into the special-assistant position he held until his death.

 – posted at 11:36 a.m. by Cathy Maestri

Filed under Entertainment

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

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