Greg Booker, a reliever on the Padres’ 1984 World Series team and a coach with the team from 1997 to 2003, died Saturday in Burlington, N.C., after a long fight with melanoma, according to a funeral home obituary. He was 58.

The Padres’ 10th-round pick out of Elon University in 1981, Booker debuted with the big league club in 1983 and posted a 3.30 ERA in 57 1/3 innings the next year as the Padres advanced to the postseason and the World Series for the first time in franchise history.

The son in law of manager/general manager Jack McKeon, Booker pitched for the Padres until he was traded in June 1989 to the Twins for Freddie Toliver. He played his last season in 1990, throwing two innings for the Giants.

His coaching career began in the Indians organization in 1992.


In San Diego, he was Darren Balsley’s predecessor as the Padres’ pitching coach and most recently a scout with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Booker is survived by his wife of 37 years, Kristi, as well as four children and four grandchildren. A celebration of life is scheduled for Wednesday in Burlington.