Former Spartan Pitcher Ron Perranoski Passes Away
10/4/2020 4:40:00 PM | Baseball
East Lansing, Mich. – Former Michigan State baseball player Ron Perranoski, who won a pair of World Series titles as a player with the Los Angeles Dodgers and was their pitching coach for seven years following his career, passed away on Friday after a long illness at the age of 84.
Perranoski, who grew up in New Jersey, played at Michigan State from 1956-58 and set a school record for career strikeouts with 223, a mark that would stand until 2004.
"Ron was a strong supporter of Spartan baseball and always took an interest in how the team was doing," MSU Head Coach Jake Boss said. "We send out condolences to his family. He was a true Spartan and will be missed by all of us."
Perranoski signed with the Chicago Cubs in 1958 and was traded to the Dodgers in 1960. He 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 earned run average.
Known as "Perry," Perranoski was the ace of the Dodgers bullpen from 1963-66. His best year came in 1963, when he went 16-3 with 21 saves and a 1.67 ERA. He was a member of World Series Championship teams in 1963, when the Dodgers swept the New York Yankees, and in 1965, when they beat the Minnesota Twins in seven games
Following his playing career, Perranoski served as Dodgers' minor league pitching coordinator from 1973-80 and was their pitching coach from 1981-94. During that time, he was instrumental in the success of Orel Hershiser and Fernando Valenzuela.
He joined the San Francisco Giants as minor league pitching coordinator in 1995, was promoted to bench coach in 1997, then to pitching coach from 1998-99 and the following year became a special assistant to the general manager.
Perranoski, who grew up in New Jersey, played at Michigan State from 1956-58 and set a school record for career strikeouts with 223, a mark that would stand until 2004.
"Ron was a strong supporter of Spartan baseball and always took an interest in how the team was doing," MSU Head Coach Jake Boss said. "We send out condolences to his family. He was a true Spartan and will be missed by all of us."
Perranoski signed with the Chicago Cubs in 1958 and was traded to the Dodgers in 1960. He 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 earned run average.
Known as "Perry," Perranoski was the ace of the Dodgers bullpen from 1963-66. His best year came in 1963, when he went 16-3 with 21 saves and a 1.67 ERA. He was a member of World Series Championship teams in 1963, when the Dodgers swept the New York Yankees, and in 1965, when they beat the Minnesota Twins in seven games
Following his playing career, Perranoski served as Dodgers' minor league pitching coordinator from 1973-80 and was their pitching coach from 1981-94. During that time, he was instrumental in the success of Orel Hershiser and Fernando Valenzuela.
He joined the San Francisco Giants as minor league pitching coordinator in 1995, was promoted to bench coach in 1997, then to pitching coach from 1998-99 and the following year became a special assistant to the general manager.
Pursuit to Greatness | Spartans All-Access
Monday, May 19
Jake Boss | Baseball Press Conference | April 17, 2025
Thursday, April 17
Jake Boss | Baseball Press Conference | Mar. 25 2025
Tuesday, March 25
Jake Boss | Baseball Press Conference | Mar. 11 2025
Tuesday, March 11