Fred Claire, the legendary Dodgers GM who built that incredible 1988 World Series champion squad, passed away Monday at 91 years old in Pasadena, the team announced Tuesday. Claire, who had recently entered hospice care, leaves behind an incredible legacy that stretched three decades with the organization, all while fighting a brutal, drawn-out battle with cancer.
More Than Just a GM: A Branding Visionary
Can you believe this guy *started* as a sportswriter? Claire was covering the Dodgers for the Long Beach Press-Telegram back in 1969 when a PR assistant got fired. He jumped on it and was hired that July, eventually climbing all the way to vice president of public relations and promotions by ’75. This wasn’t just some desk job either. Claire was the brains behind some iconic stuff, like creating the “Dodger Blue” branding and the “Think Blue” campaign. He helped that club hit 3.3 million fans in ’78, making them the first MLB team *ever* to break the 3 million mark. Seriously, that’s insane for its time! He even brought on announcer Ross Porter, who was with the team for almost 30 years. And remember Rick Monday saving the American flag from being burned on the field in ’76? That famous message on the scoreboard, “Rick Monday……You Made a Great Play,” that was Claire’s call. The man just *knew* what to do.
Stepping Up After a Scandal That Rocked Baseball
Claire’s journey to general manager wasn’t exactly smooth, but it showed his character. In April 1987, the then 70-year-old GM, Al Campanis, got himself into a firestorm of public relations trouble with some truly jaw-dropping comments on ABC’s “Nightline.” When asked about the lack of Black people in leadership roles in baseball, Campanis, who was white, said things like, “I truly believe they may not have some of the necessities to be, let’s say, a field manager, or perhaps, a general manager,” and even, “Why are Black people not good swimmers? Because they don’t have buoyancy.” Claire wrote in his 2004 memoir that he woke up the next day and “couldn’t believe what I was reading.” Campanis, who had been Jackie Robinson’s minor league roommate and even tutored him, was fired after two decades as GM. Claire wrote, “Those who knew Al expressed shock. There had never been a hint of bigotry in anything he had ever said or done.” He felt Campanis had tried to “defend his beloved game” in an area where “there was no defense.” That whole mess paved the way for Claire to step into the GM role, showing his leadership in a crisis.
An Unyielding Spirit: The Fight Beyond Baseball
Beyond his Hall of Fame-worthy career in baseball, Claire fought an incredibly long and courageous battle against cancer. In January 2015, at 80 years old, he was diagnosed with squamous cell skin cancer on his lip. Even after having the cells removed, the cancer returned, first in his jaw and then in his neck. He underwent surgery to remove a nerve on the left side of his face and several lymph nodes. For 11 years, he went through radiation, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy. He was known for jogging regularly during his GM years and was diligent about sunscreen, except for his lips. It’s a tough reminder of how relentless that disease can be. As team president and CEO Stan Kasten said, “Fred brought many victories and Dodger legends to our franchise, as well as the 1988 World Series title, and we are forever grateful for his leadership during such a memorable era.” What an incredible life and legacy. Rest in peace, Fred.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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