L.A. relief ace and longtime pitching coach
The Dodgers have lost another legend of their past.
Ron Perranoski, a two-time World Series-winning reliever with the club in the 1960s who went on to serve for 14 seasons as its pitching coach, died at age 84 on Friday night, the team announced Saturday.
The news came less than a week after the deaths of fellow former Dodgers players Jay Johnstone and “Sweet” Lou Johnson. Born on April 1, 1936, in Paterson, N.J., Perranoski died in his Vero Beach, Fla., home from complications of a long illness, his sister Pat Zailo told the Associated Press.
Nicknamed “Perry” during his 13-year major league career, Perranoski broke into the big leagues with the Dodgers in 1961 and quickly earned a key role in their bullpen, helping the team to three National League pennants and two World Series titles between 1963 and 1966.
In 1963, he recorded a 16-3 record and 1.67 earned-run average in a league-leading 69 appearances, finishing fourth in NL MVP voting behind Sandy Koufax, Dick Groat and Hank Aaron.
Perranoski led the league again with 70 appearances in 1967 before being traded to the Minnesota Twins the next season and leading the American League in saves in 1969 and 1970.
Perranoski’s coaching career with the Dodgers began as their minor league pitching coordinator from 1973 to 1980, then as their major league pitching coach from 1981 to 1994.
“Ron Perranoski played a major role in the success of the Dodgers as a great reliever and a mentor to many great young pitchers over his 30-year career in the organization,” Stan Kasten, team president and chief executive, said in a statement.
“He was a ballplayer and he loved that life,” Zailo said. “He thrived on it.”
Perranoski is survived by Zailo, sons Ron, Brad and Michael, and four grandchildren. Funeral services are pending.