Fred Claire, the former Los Angeles Dodgers general manager whose club won the 1988 World Series, died Monday on his 91st birthday, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Claire took an unusual path to a front office. According to the Los Angeles Times, he had worked as a sportswriter and in public relations, and his playing career ended in high school.
As GM, he made smart roster moves that helped turn a losing Dodgers team into champions. The 1988 club beat the Oakland Athletics in the World Series.
Orel Hershiser led that team, and Kirk Gibson's famous home run in Game 1 is still one of the best-remembered moments in franchise history.
The Los Angeles Times story includes a photo of Claire celebrating the 1988 title with manager Tommy Lasorda.