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Fred Claire, who transformed a sports writing and editing career into a 30-year association with the Los Angeles Dodgers, including a stint as the general manager of a World Series-winning club, has passed away. He was 91.
Claire died Monday in Pasadena on his 91st birthday, the team confirmed Tuesday. He had recently entered hospice care.
In January 2015, at the age of 80, Claire was diagnosed with squamous cell skin cancer on his lip. The cancer was initially removed, but it returned in his jaw and later in his neck. He underwent surgery to remove a nerve on the left side of his face and several lymph nodes. Over an 11-year battle with cancer, he received radiation, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy treatments. During his years as the Dodgers' general manager, Claire jogged regularly on the road and was diligent about applying sunscreen, except to his lips.
"Fred brought many victories and Dodger legends to our franchise, as well as the 1988 World Series title," team president and CEO Stan Kasten said in a statement. "We are forever grateful for his leadership during such a memorable era."
From Sports Writer to Dodgers Executive
Claire's journey with the Dodgers began in 1969 when he was covering the team during spring training in Florida for the Long Beach Press-Telegram. When one of the team's public relations assistants was fired, Claire expressed interest in the position and was hired that July. By 1975, he had been promoted to vice president of public relations and promotions.
During his tenure, Claire played a key role in creating the Dodgers' "Dodger Blue" branding and the "Think Blue" campaign. In 1978, the club drew 3.3 million fans, becoming the first MLB team to surpass 3 million in attendance. He also hired announcer Ross Porter, who worked for the team from 1977 until 2004.
In 1976, when Chicago Cubs outfielder Rick Monday rescued an American flag from being burned on the Dodger Stadium field by two spectators, Claire directed the message board operator to display: "Rick Monday...You Made a Great Play."
Taking Over as GM Amid Scandal
In April 1987, a public relations crisis erupted over comments made by 70-year-old general manager Al Campanis on ABC's Nightline. Campanis, who was white, was asked by host Ted Koppel about the lack of Black people in significant baseball authority positions. Campanis said he believed they might not have "some of the necessities to be, let's say, a field manager, or perhaps, a general manager," and added, "Why are Black people not good swimmers? Because they don't have buoyancy."
Campanis had agreed to the interview without informing anyone in the Dodgers organization. Claire woke up the next day to a newspaper story about the comments. "I couldn't believe what I was reading," he wrote in his 2004 memoir. Campanis had been Jackie Robinson's roommate in the minor leagues in 1946 and had tutored Robinson in transitioning from shortstop to second base. Robinson broke baseball's color barrier with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947.
"There had never been a hint of bigotry in anything he had ever said or done," Claire wrote. "In my view, what Al had attempted to do that night was to defend his beloved game of baseball in an area where there was no defense."
Campanis was fired after two decades as GM, and team owner Peter O'Malley handed control of the storied franchise to Claire. Claire accepted on the condition that he would have total and complete responsibility for baseball operations. He was not intimidated, having been involved in discussions regarding free agents, arbitration, and team payroll since becoming a team vice president in 1975.
In Claire's first full season as GM, the Dodgers finished with a 73-89 record in 1987. O'Malley informed Claire he was considering bringing in a more experienced person for the job. He called the New York Mets and asked for permission to speak to Joe McIlvaine, but was denied. O'Malley decided to stick with Claire.
"Fred was a talented team player and everyone in the organization enjoyed working with him," O'Malley said in a statement.
Claire is survived by his wife Sheryl and children Jeff, Jennifer, and Kim.
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FILE - Los Angeles Dodgers executive vice-president Fred Claire, left, and manager Tommy Lasorda celebrate after the Dodgers won the National League West against the San Diego Padres, Sept. 30, 1995, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Mike Poche, File)
FILE - Los Angeles Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda, right, and Fred Claire, Dodgers' vice president, hoist the World Series Trophy following their team's decisive 5-2 win over the Oakland A's in Oakland, Oct. 20, 1987. (AP Photo/Bill Beattie, File)
Originally reported by durangoherald.