Perranoski, former Giants coach, Dodgers standout reliever, dies

Ron Perranoski, a former Giants coach and the lefthanded ace of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ bullpen in the 1960s, has died. He was 84.

He died Friday night at his home in Vero Beach, Florida, of complications from a long illness, his sister Pat Zailo told The Associated Press on Saturday.

Perranoski joined the Giants as minor league pitching coordinator in 1995, was promoted to bench coach in 1997 and then to pitching coach from 199899. The following year he became a special assistant to then- general manager Brian Sabean.

Perranoski is the third former Dodgers player to die in a week, along with outfielders Jay Johnstone and “Sweet” Lou Johnson, a teammate of Perranoski’s from 1965- 67.

Perranoski played in the major leagues from 1961-73 for the Dodgers, Minnesota Twins, Detroit Tigers and California Angels. He had a career record of 79-74 with 178 saves and a 2.79 ERA.

He signed with the Chicago Cubs out of Michigan State in June 1958 and was traded to the Dodgers on April 8, 1960, for Don Zimmer. He was the Dodgers’ bullpen ace from 1963- 66.

Perranoski’s best year with the Dodgers came in 1963, when he was 16-3 as a full-time reliever and earned a save in relief of Johnny Podres in Game 2 of the World Series against the New York Yankees. He had 21 saves to go with a 1.67 ERA. The Dodgers swept the Yankees in four games.

In the 1965 World Series, Perranoski made two relief appearances and the Dodgers won the championship over the Minnesota Twins.

Perranoski led the National League in appearances in 1962 with 70, 1963 with 69 and 1967 with 70. He also led the American League in saves with Minnesota with 31 in 1969 and 34 in 1970.

Perranoski served as the Dodgers’ minor league pitching coordinator from 1973-80. He was their pitching coach from 1981-94 and was instrumental in the success of Orel Hershiser and Fernando Valenzuela. KLENTAK OUT AS PHILLIES GM >> Matt Klentak has stepped down as general manager of the Philadelphia Phillies after a third straight September collapse left the team out of the postseason for the ninth consecutive season.

Klentak will be reassigned to another position in the organization.

He was hired in October 2015. The Phillies were 326-382 in five seasons under Klentak.