Fred Claire

Fred Claire began as a sportswriter and joined the Los Angeles Dodgers public relations department in 1969, becoming vice president of public relations in 1975. He was named general manager in 1987 and held the post until 1998. His acquisitions, including Kirk Gibson, Jay Howell and Jesse Orosco, helped the Dodgers win the 1988 World Series. He is credited with popularising the team's 'Think Blue' campaign and later worked as a columnist and author. The Los Angeles Dodgers announced that he died at his home on October 5, his 91st birthday; no official cause of death was released.