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Fred Claire, former Dodgers GM whose team won the '88 World Series, dies

Fred Claire, the unconventional former general manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, has passed away at age 91. Though he lacked a professional baseball playing background—having only reached junior varsity level in high school—Claire’s 1987 appointment to the Dodgers’ front office initially faced skepticism.

Within a year and a half, his strategic moves transformed the team into World Series champions in 1988, earning him *The Sporting News*’ Executive of the Year honor. Claire spent three decades with the Dodgers organization, beginning his career in journalism after graduating from San José State in 1957 and quickly landing a job at the *Whittier Daily News*.

Diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma in 2015, Claire underwent multiple treatments, including surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, after the cancer spread to his face. An immunotherapy trial ultimately saved his life, though he later required extensive facial reconstruction surgery.

His resilience inspired him to co-author *Extra Innings* (2021) with Tim Madigan, a book that detailed his career and the history of City of Hope, where he received treatment. Claire and his wife, Sheryl, also established a scholarship fund at USC Keck School of Medicine to support head and neck cancer research.

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