Greg Booker

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Greg Booker
Pitcher
Born: (1960-06-22)June 22, 1960
Lynchburg, Virginia, U.S.
Died: March 30, 2019(2019-03-30) (aged 58)
Elon, North Carolina, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
September 11, 1983, for the San Diego Padres
Last MLB appearance
May 26, 1990, for the San Francisco Giants
MLB statistics
Win–loss record5–7
Earned run average3.89
Strikeouts119
Teams

Gregory Scott Booker (June 22, 1960 – March 30, 2019) was an American professional baseball pitcher. He pitched in all or part of eight seasons in Major League Baseball, from 1983 until 1990. Booker's best season was in 1987. He made 44 relief appearances relief, posting a 3.16 ERA, winning 1 game and picking up his only career save on May 10, 1987, against the Cubs. Unusually, it came in a game that the Padres won by the lopsided score of 14–2. Booker pitched the final 3 innings to preserve the win for starting pitcher Ed Whitson.[1] He also served as a coach for the San Diego Padres from 1997 until 2003, the first four years as bullpen coach, then a season-plus as pitching coach.[2] He was a scout for the Los Angeles Dodgers.[3]

Booker's widow, Kristi, is the daughter of long-time major league manager Jack McKeon.[4] His son Zach Booker was a catcher in the minor leagues from 2007 until 2011. In 2022 he was hired on as head baseball coach for the D3 Guilford Quakers. [5] His son Avery was the head baseball coach for Greensboro College in Greensboro, North Carolina.

On June 29, 1989, McKeon, often called "Trader Jack", traded his own son-in-law to the Minnesota Twins for pitcher Freddie Toliver.[6]

He died of melanoma on March 30, 2019.[7]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Chicago Cubs at San Diego Padres Box Score, May 10, 1987". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  2. ^ Associated Press (18 May 2003). "Padres fire pitching coach Booker". Deseret News. Archived from the original on 30 June 2022. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  3. ^ Gurnick, Ken (17 December 2013). "Dodgers continue to expand scouting department". MLB.com. Archived from the original on 19 December 2013. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  4. ^ Hermoso, Rafael (21 October 2003). "Baseball: Still Open for Business, at 72". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  5. ^ "Zach Booker". Minor League Baseball. Archived from the original on 1 April 2019. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  6. ^ "Greg Booker". Baseballbiography.com. 2006. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  7. ^ "Obituary and Services: Gregory Scott Booker". Rich and Thompson Funeral and Cremation Service. 2019. Archived from the original on 10 June 2021. Retrieved 30 June 2022.

External links[edit]