Bear
05-02-2008, 07:58 AM
Ken Peters, Associated Press
Friday, May 2, 2008
Los Angeles --
Buzzie Bavasi, who built Dodgers teams that won four World Series titles in Brooklyn and Los Angeles, died Thursday at his home in La Jolla (San Diego County). He was 93.
His death was announced by the Seattle Mariners, whose general manager is Bill Bavasi, a son of the former Dodgers GM.
"Buzzie was one of the game's greatest front office executives during a period that spanned parts of six different decades," baseball commissioner Bud Selig said. "He loved the game, and he loved talking about it."
Emil Joseph Bavasi - nicknamed Buzzie by his family for the way he buzzed around as a kid - helped put together Dodgers teams that included future Hall of Famers Jackie Robinson, Duke Snider, Pee Wee Reese, Roy Campanella, Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale.
As an executive in the Dodgers' minor-league system, he helped Robinson, Campanella and Don Newcombe through their often difficult integration into professional baseball. Robinson went on to break the major-league color barrier.
"I don't know where Roy Campanella and I would have been if Buzzie didn't give us a chance at Nashua (N.H.) in 1946," said Newcombe, now the Dodgers' community relations director. "I didn't always do the right thing as a player, but Buzzie always gave me a chance to straighten myself out and get back on track."
Bavasi later was part owner and president of the San Diego Padres, then became executive vice president of the California Angels.
He spent 44 years working in baseball, including 34 in the major leagues. He began as a traveling secretary and publicity director for the Dodgers in Brooklyn in 1939.
After serving in various posts for the team, he was promoted to GM - replacing the famed Branch Rickey - before the 1951 season.
During his tenure as GM from 1951-68, first in Brooklyn and then Los Angeles, the Dodgers won eight National League pennants. They won their only World Series in Brooklyn in 1955. After the move West, the Dodgers won the World Series in 1959, 1963 and 1965 with Bavasi as GM.
A great GM, but I hated his teams!
Friday, May 2, 2008
Los Angeles --
Buzzie Bavasi, who built Dodgers teams that won four World Series titles in Brooklyn and Los Angeles, died Thursday at his home in La Jolla (San Diego County). He was 93.
His death was announced by the Seattle Mariners, whose general manager is Bill Bavasi, a son of the former Dodgers GM.
"Buzzie was one of the game's greatest front office executives during a period that spanned parts of six different decades," baseball commissioner Bud Selig said. "He loved the game, and he loved talking about it."
Emil Joseph Bavasi - nicknamed Buzzie by his family for the way he buzzed around as a kid - helped put together Dodgers teams that included future Hall of Famers Jackie Robinson, Duke Snider, Pee Wee Reese, Roy Campanella, Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale.
As an executive in the Dodgers' minor-league system, he helped Robinson, Campanella and Don Newcombe through their often difficult integration into professional baseball. Robinson went on to break the major-league color barrier.
"I don't know where Roy Campanella and I would have been if Buzzie didn't give us a chance at Nashua (N.H.) in 1946," said Newcombe, now the Dodgers' community relations director. "I didn't always do the right thing as a player, but Buzzie always gave me a chance to straighten myself out and get back on track."
Bavasi later was part owner and president of the San Diego Padres, then became executive vice president of the California Angels.
He spent 44 years working in baseball, including 34 in the major leagues. He began as a traveling secretary and publicity director for the Dodgers in Brooklyn in 1939.
After serving in various posts for the team, he was promoted to GM - replacing the famed Branch Rickey - before the 1951 season.
During his tenure as GM from 1951-68, first in Brooklyn and then Los Angeles, the Dodgers won eight National League pennants. They won their only World Series in Brooklyn in 1955. After the move West, the Dodgers won the World Series in 1959, 1963 and 1965 with Bavasi as GM.
A great GM, but I hated his teams!