Fred Claire, Dodgers GM who signed Park Chan-ho and Nomo, dies at 91
In short
Fred Claire, the former Los Angeles Dodgers general manager who signed Park Chan-ho and helped bring Hideo Nomo to MLB, died on Oct 5 in Pasadena, California, at the age of 91 — his 91st birthday, AP reported, citing the team. Claire signed Park out of Hanyang University in 1994 for a $1.2 million bonus, and Park went on to win 124 MLB games, still the most by an Asian-born pitcher. Claire ran the Dodgers from 1987 until his dismissal in June 1998 and led the club to the 1988 World Series title.
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Fred Claire, the former Los Angeles Dodgers general manager who signed Park Chan-ho and helped bring Hideo Nomo to the major leagues, has died at 91. AP, citing an announcement by the Dodgers, reported that Claire died on Oct 5 — his 91st birthday — in Pasadena, California. [ 1 , 2 , 6 ]
Claire is best known in Korea for signing Park in 1994, when Park was a sophomore at Hanyang University, for a $1.2 million signing bonus, according to the reports. Park played 17 MLB seasons from 1994 to 2010, recording 124 wins against 98 losses and a 4.36 ERA; his 124 wins remain the most by an Asian-born pitcher in MLB. [ 1 , 2 , 6 ]
Claire also helped Nomo join the Dodgers in 1995. Nomo went 13-6 with a 2.54 ERA in his debut season, led the league with 236 strikeouts and was named National League Rookie of the Year, the reports said. Yonhap said his success opened the way for more Japanese players to move to MLB, and noted the Dodgers still field Asian players including Ohtani, Yamamoto, Sasaki and Kim Hye-seong. [ 1 , 2 , 6 ]
A former sports journalist, Claire joined the Dodgers' public relations department in 1969 and was promoted to vice president for public relations and promotions in 1975, according to Yonhap and Maeil Business. He became general manager in 1987 after his predecessor was dismissed over a racist remark controversy, and the following year led the Dodgers to their first World Series title in seven years — the franchise's sixth — winning the series 4-1. He was named Sporting News executive of the year that season. [ 1 , 6 ]
The club passed from the O'Malley family to Fox Entertainment Group in 1998, and Claire was dismissed that June. Yonhap reported that Claire objected after the new ownership traded catcher Mike Piazza without his knowledge; Maeil Business reported only that he was dismissed as the club changed hands. He later worked as an MLB.com columnist, a radio host and an adviser to sports-related companies. [ 1 , 6 ]
Claire was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of the lip in 2015, and the cancer later recurred in his jaw and neck; he underwent surgery, radiation, chemotherapy and immunotherapy and had recently been receiving hospice care, the reports said. Dodgers president and CEO Stan Kasten said Claire “gave the franchise countless wins and legendary players, and the 1988 World Series championship”, adding the club would forever be grateful for his leadership. [ 1 , 6 ]
Why it matters
The documents credit Claire's signings with opening MLB to Asian players, a tradition the Dodgers continue with Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Roki Sasaki and Kim Hye-seong. For Korean readers, his death marks the passing of the executive behind Park Chan-ho's move to the majors.
Key facts
- Fred Claire, former general manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, died at 91. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 ]
- AP, citing a Dodgers announcement, reported he died on Oct 5 in Pasadena, California, on his 91st birthday. [ 1 , 2 , 6 ]
- As Dodgers GM he signed Park Chan-ho, then a Hanyang University sophomore, in 1994 for a $1.2 million signing bonus. [ 1 , 2 , 6 ]
- He also helped bring Japanese pitcher Hideo Nomo to the Dodgers in 1995. [ 1 , 2 , 6 ]
- Claire joined the Dodgers' public relations department in 1969, became a vice president in 1975 and general manager in 1987, and led the club to the 1988 World Series title. [ 1 , 6 ]
- He was dismissed in June 1998 after Fox Entertainment Group took over the club. [ 1 , 6 ]
- He was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of the lip in 2015, fought cancer for 11 years and had recently received hospice care. [ 1 , 6 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Fred Claire, the former Los Angeles Dodgers general manager, died at 91. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 ]
- AP, citing a Dodgers announcement, reported he died on Oct 5, his 91st birthday, in Pasadena, California. [ 1 , 2 , 6 ]
- Claire signed Park Chan-ho in 1994, when Park was a Hanyang University sophomore, for a $1.2 million signing bonus. [ 1 , 2 , 6 ]
- Claire helped bring Hideo Nomo to the Dodgers in 1995. [ 1 , 2 , 6 ]
- Claire led the Dodgers as general manager from 1987 and guided the club to the 1988 World Series championship. [ 1 , 6 ]
Still unclear
- The documents do not give a cause of death. They say only that Claire had been treated for cancer for 11 years and had recently received hospice care, without stating what caused his death.
- The circumstances of Claire's 1998 dismissal are described differently across outlets. Yonhap reports he objected after the new ownership traded catcher Mike Piazza without his knowledge; Maeil Business reports only that he was dismissed after the club passed to Fox Entertainment Group.
- Dodgers president and CEO Stan Kasten's tribute appears in only one document. The quotation is carried by Yonhap alone and is not repeated by the other outlets.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Fred Claire dies in Pasadena, California, on his 91st birthday. [ 1 , 2 , 6 ]
- The Dodgers announce his death and AP reports it, citing the club. [ 1 , 2 , 6 ]
- Yonhap publishes its obituary. [ 1 ]
- CBS NoCut News and Newsis publish reports on his death. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Seoul Shinmun publishes a report on his death. [ 4 ]
- Chosun Ilbo publishes a report on his death. [ 5 ]
- Maeil Business publishes a detailed obituary, saying he spotted Park Chan-ho as a Hanyang University sophomore. [ 6 ]