Fred Claire: My 30 Years in Dodger Blue
Reviews (60)
Dodger blue...
I have been a Dodger fan since I came out of the womb. I bleed Dodger blue, and growing up I had only one dream: to be the starting catcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Naturally, as a kid, my favorite Dodger was Mike Piazza. Piazza was larger than life. He was a decent catcher with a powerful bat. My first and only Dodger uniform was a crisp, blue #31 Piazza jersey. When I wore that jersey, I could faintly hear Vin Scully calling my name over the radio. So you can imagine my confusion when the Dodgers traded the Piazza and his glorious mullet to the teal-toting Florida Marlins. Back then I didn’t understand contract negotiations, free agency, salary obligations, and so forth. All I knew was that the best hitting catcher in baseball was now in Florida and not a Dodger. (I later fell in love with Pal LoDuca). Fred Claire was the Dodger general manager from 1987 to 1998, but fortunately, he was not responsible for the ill-conceived Piazza/Zeile to Florida trade. That honor goes to the executives at the Fox Entertainment Group. And from 1998 to 2012 (the end of the McCourt era) it wasn’t a fun time to be a Dodger fan. If you’re an avid Dodger fan, none of these stories will be new or shocking, however, it is fun to hear it straight from the general manager’s mouth.
Later years with the Dodgers
I heard about this book from a Dodgers blog I get and decided to buy it. I am a lifelong Dodgers fan and wanted to learn more about the transition from the O'malley family to Fox. Man did I learn alot about that. And so much more! Mr. Claire was there since before I was old enough to be a fan right up until his unfortunate departure. I loved this book and came away both angry and very happy, but remain a Dodgers fan. Thank you Mr. Claire for sharing your baseball and Dodgers experience with us! Jay Pezoldt
This book really brings the memories back!
Being an Dodgers draft pick and player in their minor league system for 5 years, this was an interesting look into how things really work in the front office of an MLB organization. Mr. Claire does an unbelievable job of telling it just like it was without trying to make himself look good or bashing people along the way. The most interesting thing about this book was how he was able to capture the exact feeling around the organization as soon as the idiots from FOX took over. I was drafted and signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers in June of 1998, just days before Mr. Claire was fired. I spent my 1st Summer in Professional Baseball in an organization that still had the feel of a family. All the old-school Dodgers were still coaching, including Mike Scioscia, Mickey Hatcher "Hatch", John "T-Bone" Shelby and many others. It was the most fun I ever had as a Baseball Player in my entire life. Then in 1999 the whole thing came unraveled with FOX and the arrogant attitude and people they brought into the organization & for me, the Minor League system. Every Veteran I spoke with during my 1st Spring Training in 1999 told me that Fred Claire and the "old school" Dodgers front office and coaches were the best people a player could ever hope to play for. The new regime was totally classless & clueless, treating no one with the respect they deserved. This book brought me back to some great memories as a kid who grew up a Dodgers fan in the mid-to late 80's when Mr. Claire had taken the job as GM. It also brought me back to my playing days for an organization that once was great and was now being totally mismanaged by FOX and the arrogant people they hired to run things on the field and off. A Great book, I recommend for anyone who loves the Dodgers or the game of Baseball....
An Excellent Read for Any Sports Fan
My 30 Years in Dodger Blue is not only a great read for baseball fans, but sports fans in general that have an interest about what goes on in sports from the perspective of management. Although Fred's book has a focus on the Dodgers, anybody that appreciates the game and history of baseball will enjoy this book. The reader will be exposed to the ins and outs of how trades occur in baseball, with the addition of many other captivating stories dealing with some of the biggest names of the time. The O'Malley family has been one of the most influential owners in the history of all sports in America and I have no doubt that much of their acknowledgment is due to Fred. I most enjoyed Fred's story for the fact that he got to where he is today through hard work and passion. Starting as a young boy in Ohio to becoming a beat writer covering the Dodgers, Fred did things the right way by starting at the bottom and working his way up to the top. Aside from great baseball stories, this book covers valuable life lessons, such as hard work, friendship and passion.
Dodger Blues
I had the unique opportunity to know Fred Claire professionally during my most gratifying employment with the Dodgers as part of the medical team and assistant trainer. I eagerly read "My 30 Years In Dodger Blue" finding that it was incredibly accurate as it overlapped my all too brief relationship with the storied franchise as "Mr. Potato Head." Fred took me on a 30 year "behind the scenes" journey through the eyes of a GM. He was candid in his revelation regarding his relationships with scouts, coaches and managers and players. It is also very clear of his close, trusting friendship to Peter O'Malley. Their "kindred spirit" like relationship worked well as they moved in sync with one another in the day-to-day baseball operations. No one can doubt Fred's love of baseball but especially of the Dodgers and their incredible tradition that was placed in jeopardy in 1998 when Peter sold to Fox. It was a fateful day, as it turned out, and the Dodgers have yet to recover. I'm wondering if Fred has recovered, as the result was something he didn't deserve as one of the most respected men in baseball at the time. He reveals every detail and emotion as he embarked the ride of his life. If anyone is interested in understanding what it takes to be a baseball GM while maintaining honest integrity, then this is a must read especially if you bleed Dodger Blue!
A must read for Dodger fans and general baseball fans alike.
Memoirs of a classy man who dealt for decades in the upper echelons of the baseball world. Told with clarity and heart.
You won't be disappointed!
This book is a must read for any Dodger fan, especially those who followed the team through the 80s and 90s. Mr. Claire was involved with so many aspects of the organization and explains in detail many of the moves the team made during that time. Ever wonder how and why Pedro Martinez got traded out of Dodger Blue? It's chronicled here! Ever wonder how and why Mike Piazza got traded too? That's explained too! You won't be disappointed!
Great Gift Idea
This book is a must for any Dodger fan that wants to feel like they were there when the Dodgers were a class organization. I worked in the Dodger ticket office in the mid 70s and Fred wrote about things I never knew. This is a class book from a class guy. I started the book with a plan of reading it over my week vacation, I finished it that same evening wanting to read more.
a very enjoyable book because i have a special connection ...
a very enjoyable book because i have a special connection to Fred and the Dodgers. His story brought back a lot of memories to me.
Must read for a baseball fan.
I loved Fred's book. Must read for a baseball fan. Read it in one day.
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