Johnny Goryl was a professional baseball player and coach who spent over 50 years in the sport. He began his career as a second baseman in the minor leagues in the 1950s and eventually made it to the major leagues with the Minnesota Twins in 1963. Goryl played for the Twins for three seasons before being traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1966. He played for the Dodgers for one season before being traded again, this time to the Cleveland Indians.
Goryl played for the Indians for two seasons before retiring as a player in 1969. He then began his coaching career, starting as a minor league coach for the Indians before being promoted to the major league coaching staff in 1973. Goryl spent several years as a coach for the Indians before moving on to coach for the Toronto Blue Jays and the Minnesota Twins.
In 1980, Goryl was named the manager of the Twins, a position he held for two seasons. He then returned to coaching, working for the Blue Jays and the New York Yankees before retiring from coaching in 1999. Goryl was known for his dedication to the game and his ability to connect with players. He was respected by his peers and players alike and was known for his positive attitude and work ethic.
Throughout his career, Goryl was involved in many memorable moments in baseball history. He played in the World Series with the Twins in 1965 and was a part of the Indians team that set a record for the most double plays turned in a season in 1968. As a coach, he was a part of the Blue Jays team that won the American League East division in 1985 and the Twins team that won the World Series in 1987.
After retiring from coaching, Goryl remained involved in baseball as a scout and consultant. He was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 2007 and the Minnesota Twins Hall of Fame in 2010. Goryl passed away in 2020 at the age of 88, leaving behind a legacy of dedication and passion for the game of baseball.
⚾