Fred Claire, a former executive for the Dodgers who guided the team to a World Series title in 1988, died Monday night at his home. The team announced his passing on Tuesday, his 91st birthday. No cause of death was provided.
Dodgers President and CEO Stan Kasten stated that the team is "grieving the passing of Fred Claire, a longtime key fixture of our organization." Kasten credited Claire with "many victories and Dodger legends," alongside the significant 1988 World Series title, adding that the team is "forever grateful for his leadership during such a memorable era."
Claire’s connection to Southern California began when his family moved to Torrance when he was 15 years old. He went on to graduate from Torrance High School before earning his bachelor’s degree from San Jose State University.
His career in baseball began outside the front office, as a sportswriter in the late 1950s and 1960s. Claire first covered the Dodgers in 1969, reporting on spring training in Vero Beach, Florida, for the Long Beach Press-Telegram. That same summer, he joined the Dodgers’ public relations team, steadily working his way up through the department. By 1975, Claire was named vice president of public relations.
Claire took on the role of general manager for the Dodgers in 1987 under unexpected circumstances. He stepped into the position after General Manager Al Campanis was fired following comments made on ABC’s “Nightline,” during a discussion marking the 40th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking Major League Baseball’s color barrier.
In his second year as general manager, Claire proved instrumental in shaping the team that achieved a major upset. He was critical in acquiring veteran players like Kirk Gibson in the 1988 offseason, leading to the Dodgers’ celebrated victory over the Oakland Athletics in the 1988 World Series. Former Dodger owner Peter O’Malley acknowledged Claire’s unconventional path to the role. O’Malley once told the Los Angeles Times that while some might question what a former sportswriter knew about baseball, he believed Claire could handle the job. O'Malley stated, "I knew Fred could take it... And he did it. He deserves a lot of credit for stepping in quickly, without any advance notice, and doing a great job.”
Claire’s tenure, however, was not without its challenges. Not all his high-profile acquisitions delivered as hoped; stars such as Darryl Strawberry and Eric Davis struggled in the early 1990s. In 1994, Claire orchestrated a trade widely considered by many to be one of the sport’s most regrettable: he sent a young pitcher named Pedro Martínez to the Montreal Expos in exchange for infielder Delino DeShields. Martínez would go on to have a Hall of Fame career.
Claire was relieved of his duties as general manager during the 1998 season, a year after the Fox Group, led by Rupert Murdoch, purchased the team.
Fred Claire is survived by his wife, Sheryl, and their three children, Jeff, Jennifer, and Kim. Funeral services for Claire are pending.
