Jim Fregosi obit

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Former manager, All-Star Jim Fregosi dies at 71

Jim Fregosi, a former All-Star who won more than 1,000 games as a manager for four teams, died Friday after an apparent stroke. He was 71.

The Atlanta Braves said they were notified by a family member that Fregosi died early Friday in Miami, where he was hospitalized after the apparent stroke while on a cruise with baseball alumni.

Fregosi ended more than 50 years in baseball as a special assistant to Braves general manager Frank Wren.

"Jim played a vital role in our club over the last 13 years," Wren said Friday. "As a senior adviser he was someone you could always pick up the phone and get a feel for the players in the game. He covered all 30 teams for us and was such a positive, knowledgeable resource. He lit up a room and had just great relationships throughout the game.

"When I first became GM, one of the things that made the transition so easy was having Jim as close as a phone call for advice and help or encouragement."

Fregosi managed the Philadelphia Phillies to the 1993 National League pennant and the 1979 California Angels to their first American League Western Division title. He also managed the Chicago White Sox and Toronto Blue Jays.

Phillies president David Montgomery said the team and others in baseball "lost a dear friend."

"He'll be remembered for his vibrant personality, wisdom and love of the game," Montgomery said in a statement. "Our deepest sympathy is extended to his widow, Joni, daughters Nikki, Lexy and Jennifer and sons Robert and Jim."

Fregosi was an infielder in the majors from 1961 to 1978, hitting .265 with 151 homers and 706 RBIs. His best seasons came with the Angels, where he was six-time All-Star as a shortstop.

The Angels, who retired Fregosi's No. 11 in 1988, said in a statement Fregosi was a personal favorite of former owner Gene Autry.

"His contributions and passion for the Angels, both as a player and manager, have served as the standard for others within our organization through the years," the Angels said.

"Jim's induction into the Angels Hall of Fame and the retiring of his uniform No. 11, were among the prouder moments in club history. His personality was infectious, his love of the game legendary, and his knowledge endless."

Fregosi later played for the Texas Rangers and Pittsburgh Pirates. He began his managing career at 36 with the Angels in April 1978 — two days after his final game as a player with the Pirates.

In 15 seasons as a manager, he posted a 1,028-1,094 record.

James Louis Fregosi was born in 1942 in San Francisco and starred in baseball, football basketball and track and field at Serra High School. He signed with the Boston Red Sox out of high school and went to the Angels in the 1960 expansion draft.

After hitting .291 as a reserve in 1962, he batted .287 – ninth in the AL – in his first full season in 1963, and was second in the league in triples and fifth in hits. He made his first All-Star squad in 1964, batting .277. From 1964 to mid-1969, he teamed with second baseman Bobby Knoop to form one of the game's top double play combinations; with Knoop winning Gold Gloves from 1966 to 1968, the two became only the third middle infield combination to win the honor in the same season (1967). On July 28, 1964, he became the first Angel to hit for the cycle (and the only man to do so at Dodger Stadium until Orlando Hudson accomplished the feat in 2009), and he did so again on May 20, 1968 but this one was an unnatural cycle. Fregosi continued to turn out solid years, particularly in 1967 when he batted .290 (seventh in the AL) and won his only Gold Glove, finishing seventh in the MVP voting. He became regarded as the league's top-hitting shortstop, leading the AL in triples (13) in 1968, and was named an All-Star every season from 1966 to 1970. But he was sidelined in 1971 when a tumor was discovered in his foot. The Angels became uncertain of Fregosi's future, and on December 10 traded him to the New York Mets in the same deal that brought pitcher Nolan Ryan to California. (Fregosi would later manage Ryan in 1978 and 1979, Ryan's last two years as an Angel.)

Sidelined by several injuries including a broken thumb in 1972, Fregosi struggled with the Mets, where he played mainly at third base, and was sold to the Texas Rangers in the 1973 mid-season. After five years as a backup for the Rangers (1973–77), during which he played primarily as a first baseman, he was sent to the Pittsburgh Pirates in June 1977. When the Angels expressed interest in naming him as their manager in 1978, the Pirates released him to pursue the opportunity.

In his 18-year career, Fregosi batted .265 with 1726 hits, 151 home runs, 844 runs, 706 RBI, 264 doubles, 78 triples, and 76 stolen bases in 1902 games played. In addition to the Angels records previously noted, Brian Downing also broke his club marks for career at bats (5244), total bases (2112) and extra base hits (404). Don Baylor broke his team record of 115 home runs in 1981.

Fregosi was the last player to retire who was a member of the "original" Los Angeles Angels.

Some of his players, coaches, club owners and commentators include: Carlton Fisk, Ron Fisk, Bobby Thigpen, Tom Seaver, Gord Ash, Tom Cheek, Esteban Loaiza, Vernon Wells, José Cruz, Jr., Carlos Delgado, Roy Halladay, Raúl Mondesí, Homer Bush, Alex Gonzalez, Tony Batista, David Wells, Steve Trachsel, Frank Castillo, Cito Gaston, Paul Quantrill, Ozzie Guillen, Tony Fernández, Shawn Green, Mike Matheny, Chris Carpenter, Dan Plesac, David Segui, Shannon Stewart, Gary Matthews, Lloyd Moseby, Brian McRae, Pay Hentgen, Bill Giles, Harry Kalas, Richie Ashburn, Curt Schilling, Todd Zeile, Benito Santiago, Terry Mulholland, Lenny Dykstra, Darren Daulton, Scott Rolen, Sid Fernandez, Ricky Bottalico, Heathcliff Slocumb, Andy Van Slyke, Dave Hollins, Charlie Hayes, Larry Bowa,
Mike Lieberthal, Dave Gallagher, Garry Maddox, Doug Jones, Fernando Valenzuela, John Kruk, Pete Incaviglia, Todd Kalas, Mitch Williams, Mickey Morandini, Ruben Amaro, Jr., Tommy Greene,
José DeLeón, Kent Tekulve, Lee Thomas, Dale Murphy, Von Hayes, Dickie Thon, Jerry Reinsdorf, Harold Baines, Lance Johnson, Iván Calderón, Jack McDowell, Dan Pasqua, Jerry Reuss, Del Crandall,
Ron Karkovice, Daryl Boston, Floyd Bannister, José DeLeón, Richard Dotson, Frank Messer, Buzzie Bavasi, Don Drysdale, Ron Fairly, Bob Starr, Dick Enberg, Mike Witt, Geoff Zahn, Rod Carew, Tom Brunansky, Fred Lynn, Carney Lansford, Jason Thompson, Don Aase, Bert Campaneris, Brian Downing, Bobby Grich, Frank Tanana, Willie Aikens, Dave Frost and Mark Clear. 

As a player, some of his notable teammates, coaches, managers, club owners, and commentators were:

Fred Haney, Bill Rigney, Bob Kelley, Eddie Yost, Bob Cerv, Buck Rogers, Tex Clevenger, Earl Averill, Ken Hunt, Steve Bilko, Leon Wagner, Ted Kluszewski, Dean Chance, Lee Thomas, Billy Horan, Albie Pearson, Ken McBride, Jimmy Piersall, Joe Adcock, Buddy Blattner, José Cardenal, Rudy May, Norm Siebern, George Brunet, Bob Lee, Minnie Rojas, Jay Johnstone, Rick Reichardt, Don Mincher, Bill “Moose” Skowron, Jimmy Hall, Paul Schaal, Jim McGlothlin, Lew Burdette, Rick Reichardt, Lefty Phillips, Sandy Alomar, Andy Messersmith, Ken Tatum, Hoyt Wilhelm, Roger Repoz, Alex Johnson, Tom Murphy, Clyde Wright, Jerry Coleman, Tony Conigliaro, Ken McMullen, Dave Niehaus, Yogi Berra, Joan Whitney Payson, Rusty Staub, John Milner, Tommie Agee, Willie Mays, Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman, Jon Matlack, Tug McGraw, Ralph Kiner, Bob Scheffing, Lindsey Nelson, Bob Murphy, Félix Millán, Wayne Garrett, Whitey Herzog, Del Wilber, Billy Martin, Bob Short, Joe Burke, Dan O'Brien, Sr., Jeff Burroughs, Toby Harrah, Dave Nelson, Lenny Randle, Jim Bibby, Ferguson Jenkins, César Tovar, Mike Hargrove, Frank Lucchesi, Gaylord Perry, Bert Blyleven, Tom Grieve, Bradford G. Corbett, Dave May, Willie Horton, Jim Sundberg, Bump Willis, Dave May, Claudell Washington, Mike Marshall, Doyle Alexander, Adrian Devine, Juan Beníquez, Eddie Stanky, Connie Ryan, Billy Hunter, Dan O'Brien, Sr., Eddie Robinson, Harding "Pete" Peterson, Chuck Tanner, Dave Parker, Willie Stargell, Phil Garner, Al Oliver, Bill Robinson, John Candelaria, Jim Rooker, Rich Goose Gossage, Ed Whitson, Milo Hamilton, Don Robinson, Cito Gaston and Omar Moreno.