P. Patrick McKernan
Encyclopedia
P. Patrick McKernan is one of the pioneers of minor league baseball
. He was President of the Eastern League (AA) from 1974-1982. He was president and general manager of the highly successful Albuquerque Dukes
baseball club. "Pat" McKernan is often credited along with Joe Buzas
, as keeping the sport of minor league baseball viable pre-Stadium Boom years. He won the John P. McPhail Trophy twice for best minor league executive, making him the only two-time winner. He also won The Sporting News
minor league executive of the year on two occasions. He was the head of the AAA expansion committee, placing teams in larger, more populated markets such as Memphis
, Sacramento
, and Nashville
.
Pat garnered national publicity for trying out a female baseball player
during the early 1970s, and Bill Veeck
once stated that if he were to have another major league team
, that Mr. McKernan would be the man he would hire to run the team due to his promotional abilities.
McKernan was immortalized in Roger Kahn's best-selling baseball
book, "Seasons in the Sun." An entire chapter featured Pat discussing the future of minor league ball.
In 1979, Pat became president and general manager of the Albuquerque Dukes, the AAA farm club of the Los Angeles Dodgers
and thus began a 21-year success streak, both at the gate and on the field.
Pat was known for his early adapation to different styles of promotions. He is credited with giving Myron Noodleman
his first break, as he was allowed to perform at 8 consecutive Dukes games in the early nineties to practice his craft, after being denied the request to do so at other ballparks. He is also credited with creating the "Cool Yule" party along with Sen. Pete Domenici
to help Albuquerque's
disadvantaged youth celebrate Christmas
.
Pat was entered in the Congressional Record
after his death.
He is a member of the Albuquerque Sports Hall of Fame, The Albuquerque Baseball Hall of Fame, and the Unico Pittsfield Athletic Hall of Fame. He was named the King of Baseball
in 2000.
Pat McKernan died on July 10, 2001.
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
. He was President of the Eastern League (AA) from 1974-1982. He was president and general manager of the highly successful Albuquerque Dukes
Albuquerque Dukes
The Albuquerque Dukes were a minor league baseball team based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.-History:The first Dukes team was formed in 1915 as part of the Class-D Rio Grande Association. The team finished in third place with a 32-25 record. Frank Huelman was the league leader in home runs,...
baseball club. "Pat" McKernan is often credited along with Joe Buzas
Joe Buzas
Joseph John "Joe" Buzas was a Major League Baseball shortstop. Buzas played for the New York Yankees in the baseball season. In 30 career games, he had 17 hits, 6 RBIs and a .262 batting average. He batted and threw right-handed.He was the owner of the Salt Lake Stingers and the team's president...
, as keeping the sport of minor league baseball viable pre-Stadium Boom years. He won the John P. McPhail Trophy twice for best minor league executive, making him the only two-time winner. He also won The Sporting News
The Sporting News
Sporting News is an American-based sports magazine. It was established in 1886, and it became the dominant American publication covering baseball — so much so that it acquired the nickname "The Bible of Baseball"...
minor league executive of the year on two occasions. He was the head of the AAA expansion committee, placing teams in larger, more populated markets such as Memphis
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
, Sacramento
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
, and Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
.
Pat garnered national publicity for trying out a female baseball player
Women in baseball
Women have a long history in American baseball and many women's teams have existed over the years. Baseball was played at women's colleges in New York and New England as early as the mid-nineteenth century; teams were formed at Vassar College, Smith College, Wellesley College, and Mount Holyoke...
during the early 1970s, and Bill Veeck
Bill Veeck
William Louis Veeck, Jr. , also known as "Sport Shirt Bill", was a native of Chicago, Illinois, and a franchise owner and promoter in Major League Baseball. He was best known for his publicity stunts to raise attendance. Veeck was at various times the owner of the Cleveland Indians, St. Louis...
once stated that if he were to have another major league team
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
, that Mr. McKernan would be the man he would hire to run the team due to his promotional abilities.
McKernan was immortalized in Roger Kahn's best-selling baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
book, "Seasons in the Sun." An entire chapter featured Pat discussing the future of minor league ball.
In 1979, Pat became president and general manager of the Albuquerque Dukes, the AAA farm club of the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
and thus began a 21-year success streak, both at the gate and on the field.
Pat was known for his early adapation to different styles of promotions. He is credited with giving Myron Noodleman
Myron Noodleman
Myron Noodleman is the stage name of Rick Hader, an American clown best known for his appearances at minor league baseball games and other public events. Since 2004, he has been billed as the fifth "Clown Prince of Baseball", following Arlie Latham, Al Schacht, Jackie Price, and Max Patkin...
his first break, as he was allowed to perform at 8 consecutive Dukes games in the early nineties to practice his craft, after being denied the request to do so at other ballparks. He is also credited with creating the "Cool Yule" party along with Sen. Pete Domenici
Pete Domenici
Pietro Vichi "Pete" Domenici is an American Republican politician, who served six terms as a United States Senator from New Mexico, from 1973 to 2009, the longest tenure in the state's history....
to help Albuquerque's
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque is the largest city in the state of New Mexico, United States. It is the county seat of Bernalillo County and is situated in the central part of the state, straddling the Rio Grande. The city population was 545,852 as of the 2010 Census and ranks as the 32nd-largest city in the U.S. As...
disadvantaged youth celebrate Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
.
Pat was entered in the Congressional Record
Congressional Record
The Congressional Record is the official record of the proceedings and debates of the United States Congress. It is published by the United States Government Printing Office, and is issued daily when the United States Congress is in session. Indexes are issued approximately every two weeks...
after his death.
He is a member of the Albuquerque Sports Hall of Fame, The Albuquerque Baseball Hall of Fame, and the Unico Pittsfield Athletic Hall of Fame. He was named the King of Baseball
King of Baseball
King of Baseball is a ceremonial title awarded by Minor League Baseball to one person each year in recognition of longtime dedication and service to professional baseball.- Background :The title was first awarded in 1951...
in 2000.
Pat McKernan died on July 10, 2001.
External links
- http://business.highbeam.com/2872/article-1G1-76660841/pat-mckernan-built-albuquerque-baseball
- http://business.highbeam.com/2872/article-1G1-78063958/screen-doors-and-baseball
- http://business.highbeam.com/2872/article-1G1-107011308/we-miss-noodlemans
- http://business.highbeam.com/138798/article-1P3-1379964381/sen-domenici-welcomes-albuquerque-journal-character
- http://books.google.com/books?id=qpoBclbmhZ4C&pg=PA14234&lpg=PA14234&dq=Pat+McKernan+baseball&source=bl&ots=s8wqVPXRsH&sig=i1EsEIRQ1FZtvhAChnotBdyi6KQ&hl=en&ei=JzTCTaGAJ6bZiAL01KSDAw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6&ved=0CDkQ6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q=Pat%20McKernan%20baseball&f=false
- http://505life.com/mckernansports/mba
- http://articles.latimes.com/2001/jul/11/local/me-20965http://www.abqjournal.com/sports/2011/06/10/myron-noodleman-got-his-big-break-at-dukes-game.html