Gregory Scott Booker was born in Burlington, North Carolina on June 22, 1960 and after a courageous fight with melanoma passed away at the age of 58 on March 30, 2019. Greg Booker was a 10th round pick in the 1981 amateur draft by the San Diego Padres and signed by Kelly McKeon. Booker is the son-in-law of “Trader Jack” McKeon and brother-in-law of Kasey McKeon and Kelly McKeon.
Greg Booker, a 6’6″ right-handed pitcher started his big league career in 1981 in the San Diego Padres organization and made his major league debut on September 11, 1983 after putting up relatively mediocre minor league pitching numbers. Booker spent all or parts of seven seasons (1983-1989) with the San Diego Padres and made an appearance in the 1984 NLCS and the 1984 World Series before being traded by his father-in-law Jack McKeon to the Minnesota Twins on June 29, 1989 for pitcher Freddie Toliver.
The 30-year-old Booker was sent to AAA Portland after being acquired by Minnesota and then in September the Twins called him up and he appeared in six games pitching a total 8.2 innings with no decisions and a 4.15 ERA. After the 1989 season ended Booker became a free agent and signed with the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs released Booker prior to the 1990 season and the San Francisco Giants signed him a few days later and he appeared in just two games as a Giant and pitched in his final big league game on May 26, 1990.
After his playing career, Booker was the pitching coach for the Kinston Indians in 1993 and 1994 and the Canton-Akron Indians in 1995. He was a San Diego Padres bullpen coach from 1997 to 2001 and pitching coach from 2001 to 2003. He later served as pitching coach for the Asheville Tourists in 2004 and 2005. After serving as a scout for the Colorado Rockies, Booker returned to the diamond as pitching coach of the Syracuse Chiefs in 2010-2013.
On December 19, 1981 Greg married the love of his life, Kristi Ann McKeon of Elon and together they raised four children Braylee Moore (Will) and Mallory Tillotson (Joshua) of Burlington; Zach (fiancé Samantha) and Avery Booker of Elon. Greg was a beloved “Paw” to four grandchildren, Maddox and Miller Moore and Drake and Islee Tillotson and several nieces and nephews. He was a much-loved brother and son-in-law and considered a true and honest friend. Greg is survived in life by two sisters Nancy Wilkie (Mike) and Pam Montgomery (Marc) of Alamance County and preceded in death by his mother (Gail), father (Harold) and brother (Keith) Booker.
We would like to express our condolences to Greg Booker’s family and friends and for all the memories.