Congratulations Pat Gillick

Believe it or not, gang, it wasn’t the Derek Jeter and Jayson Werth signings that signal the start of the Winter Meetings in Orlando.

Heck, it wasn’t even the Adrian Gonzalez-to-the-Red Sox deal.

This morning, three-time World Series winning executive Pat Gillick was elected to the Hall of Fame by the Expansion Era Committee.

Here’s part of their press release:

Gillick was the lone candidate to garner the necessary 75% of votes cast by the 16-member Expansion Era Committee, which considered a ballot of eight former players, three executives and one manager whose contributions to the game were most significant from 1973 through the present. The Expansion Era Committee held meetings on Sunday in Orlando, site of the baseball winter meetings

“We are thrilled to have Pat as the newest member of the Baseball Hall of Fame, and we welcome him into the Hall of Fame family,” said Hall of Fame Chairman of the Board Jane Forbes Clark. “Pat’s consistent excellence as a talent evaluator and team builder has been evident at every step throughout his brilliant career, constructing three World Series champions with his teams making 11 postseason appearances.”

Pat Gillick, who built playoff teams with the Blue Jays, Orioles, Mariners and Phillies, received 13 votes (81.25%)…former head of the players association Marvin Miller fell one vote short with 11. 

Reds great Dave Concepcion appeared on half the ballots, whereas players Ted Simmons, Vida Blue, Steve Garvey, Ron Guidry, Tommy John, Al Oliver and Rusty Staub each received less than eight votes.  Fiery manager Billy Martin and the late Yankees owner George Steinbrenner also were on the ballot…receiving less than eight votes. 

Official vote totals should be released soon.

The 16-member Expansion Era Committee was comprised of Hall of Fame members Johnny Bench, Whitey Herzog, Eddie Murray, Jim Palmer, Tony Perez, Frank Robinson, Ryne Sandberg and Ozzie Smith. 

Also part of the committe are Major League executives Bill Giles (Phillies), David Glass (Royals), Andy MacPhail (Orioles) and Jerry Reinsdorf (White Sox) and veteran media members Bob Elliott (Toronto Sun), Tim Kurkjian (ESPN), Ross Newhan (retired, Los Angeles Times) and Tom Verducci (Sports Illustrated).

Next year, Golden Era Committee will meet for the first time to consider managers, umpires, executives and long-retired players whose most impactful contributions came between 1947 and 1972.  Gillick will be officially enshrined during Hall of Fame Weekend July 24.