2014 ATLANTA BRAVES BRAVES.COM 2014 ATLANTA BRAVES BRAVES.

COM 29

t/./ u, ,u2~;:|.g u, 2cu)
By Adam DeCock
A
ith the news of Jim Fregosis unexpected passing in the middle
of February, remembrance stories started to spread across
Major League Baseball. During his 53 years as a player, manager,
or scout, this baseball lifer certainly left his mark on the game and those
he met along the way.
He was a guy who would come in the room, and it would turn bright,
said Braves President John Schuerholz. It would turn fun, louder. He had
great memories of baseball that he was willing to share with everyone in
great detail, in a funny way. The laughter quotient went up when he was
around.
Originally signed by the Boston Red Sox in 1960, Fregosi was next
selected by the Los Angeles Angels in the MLB Expansion Draft that same
year. He played 18 seasons in Major League Baseball for the Angels, Mets,
Rangers and Pirates organizations, the majority of which was spent with
the Angels organization.
As an Angel, Fregosi made the American League All-Star Team six times,
including ve straight seasons, from 1966-1970. He was the rst Angel to
hit for the cycle on July 28, 1964 and the rst player ever to do
so in Dodger Stadium, a feat that would not be repeated
until 2009. Fregosi later hit for the cycle again on May
20, 1968. His defense was rewarded as well, with a
Gold Glove Award in 1967. After injury concerns
in 1971, he was traded to the Mets in a deal that
brought Nolan Ryan to California.
His playing days ended in 1978, at which time
he seamlessly transitioned into the next chapter
of his baseball career, managing. The Angels had
expressed interest in naming Fregosi their next
manager while he was still playing with the Pirates.
His managing tenure began for them in 1978 and in
1979 he led the Club to its rst division title with future
rst ballot Hall of Famers Nolan Ryan and Rod Carew. As
a manager he also spent time with the White Sox, Phillies and
Blue Jays. In 1993, Jims Phillies defeated the Atlanta Braves in the NLCS,
on their way to the World Series.
The Angels retired Fregosis number 11 in 1998. Today, it is one of ve
numbers retired by the club, along with Nolan Ryan, whom he was once
traded for in 1971.
His managing days came to an end but his passion for baseball never
waned. In 2001 Fregosi joined the Atlanta Braves scouting department
and played a vital role in the long-standing success of the organization.
He was a guy I leaned on heavily because he covered all 30 Major
League clubs, said Braves General Manager Frank Wren. He had a feel of
not only scouting and talent, but he also had a great feel for putting teams
together, from a managers perspective. I think thats one of the things,
sometimes, that we miss. We put together a team, a conglomeration
of players. But youve also got to be really careful that youre putting
together a working roster for a manager to ll the holes he needs to ll.
Wren said he would call Fregosi during his morning commutes,
sometimes two or three times. And it was Fregosis personality that
made him such an easy individual to work with, in the high demands of a
baseball front ofce.
Jim was one of the great ambassadors of the game, said Wren. The
fans loved him, wherever he went. Baseball people loved him. He had an
infectious personality that literally lled up a room.
But for the funny side of Jim Fregosi the storyteller, a serious and rm
personality led him to his great successes in what he did for a living.
He was very willing to offer his opinion when asked about a deal or
a proposal, recalls Schuerholz. If he had a different perspective than
the group in the room, hed say it. He didnt care if everyone agreed or
disagreed with him, because he felt strongly about it. But when he had an
opinion, he shared it.
Anyone who had contact with Jim, both funny and serious, knew his
personality was easily contagious, and his intelligence made him
well-respected.
He was a very intelligent guy, said Schuerholz. Not
many people talk about that, but Jim was a very smart
man. He was baseball savvy and very outspoken. He
communicated very well, because he was very smart
and very condent in what he was thinking and what
he was saying. He brought that to us every day. Very
seldom was he ever in a bad mood, if ever. He lifted
everybody up in a positive, spirited, passionate and
joyful way.
He just loved people, claimed Wren. The
commonality is he loved people and he loved baseball.
That combination made him so much fun to be around.
The combination of baseball savvy, intelligence, and one-
of-a-kind personality made Fregosi who he was, and his loss is
profound.
He meant a lot to us. Its a big void for us, said Schuerholz. You dont
replace Jim Fregosi. That doesnt happen. You try to ll the space and the
job and the responsibilities that he had, but you dont replace Jim Fregosi.
Thats impossible to do. What well try to do is nd ways to close the hole
thats been created, as best we can, knowing that we wont have this guy
around us anymore.
And while the Braves can never replace the larger-than-life personality
of Fregosi, theres no doubt that his memories will live on. Stories that
he once shared will be passed on to the next generation of people in the
seats, press boxes, around the batting cages, or anywhere else one has a
genuine passion for the game of baseball. That is merely one of the many
ways the Braves will continue the legacy of Jim Fregosi.
Photos courtesy of Getty Images
.- ;:c,..
J- |:-c.-