Fred Claire, ex-Dodgers GM who oversaw 1988 WS team, dies at 91 - ESPN

PASADENA, Calif. — Fred Claire, who parlayed early jobs as a sportswriter and editor into a 30-year career with the Los Angeles Dodgers in public relations and as a World Series-winning general manager, has died. He was 91.

Claire died Monday, on his 91st birthday, in Pasadena, the team announced Tuesday. Claire had entered hospice care recently.

In January 2015, at age 80, Claire was diagnosed with squamous cell skin cancer on his lip. He had the cells removed, but the cancer later returned in his jaw and again in his neck. He had surgery to remove a nerve on the left side of his face along with several lymph nodes. He underwent radiation, chemotherapy and immunotherapy as part of his 11-year journey with cancer.

He would jog regularly during his years on the road as the general manager and said he was diligent about wearing sunscreen except on his lips.

«Fred brought many victories and Dodger legends to our franchise, as well as the 1988 World Series title,» team president and CEO Stan Kasten said in a statement, «and we are forever grateful for his leadership during such a memorable era.»

The Los Angeles Dodgers mourn the passing at age 91 of Fred Claire, whose three decades with the franchise reached their pinnacle as the general manager of the 1988 World Series Champions. We send our deepest condolences to his wife Sheryl and children Jeff, Jennifer and Kim. https://t.co/ekLlPkvM6n

Claire was covering the Dodgers during spring training in Florida for the Long Beach Press-Telegram in 1969 when one of the team's public relations assistants was fired.

He expressed interest in the job and was hired that July. He was promoted to vice president of public relations and promotions in 1975.

During his tenure, Claire was