Former Major League Baseball manager Jim Frey passes away at age 88

Jim Frey (Wikimedia Commons)

Former Major League Baseball manager Jim Frey of Cleveland, Ohio passed away on Easter Sunday at the age of 88 years old according to Paul Digiacomo of The Sporting News. Frey was the manager of the Kansas City Royals from 1980 to 1981 and the manager of the Chicago Cubs from 1984 to 1986.

Frey had a record of 127 wins and 105 losses in 232 games with the Royals. He also had a record of 196 wins and 182 losses in 379 games with the Cubs. Frey’s overall record was 323 wins and 287 losses in 611 games.

Twice Frey took his team to the postseason as a manager. In 1980, Frey’s rookie season as a Major League Baseball manager, he guided the Royals to the American League West Division title with a record of 97 wins and 65 losses. The Royals won the division easily, by 14 games over the second place Oakland Athletics. In the playoffs, Kansas City impressively swept the New York Yankees three games to none in the American League Championship Series before losing four games to two to the Philadelphia Phillies in the 1980 World Series.

Then in 1984, Frey managed the Chicago Cubs to a division title. Just like with the Royals, Frey got the Cubs to the postseason in his first year managing the club. The Cubs had a record of 96 wins and 65 losses and beat the New York Mets by six and a half games to win the National League East. Then in the postseason, the Cubs lost three games to two to the San Diego Padres in the National League Championship Series.

Both times that Frey guided his team to the postseason, he had the luxury of managing one of baseball’s most valuable players that same year. In 1980, Frey managed Royals third baseman George Brett, who won the American League MVP award and in 1984, Frey managed Cubs second baseman Ryne Sandberg, who won the National League MVP award.

Frey was also criticized for his managerial skills with the Royals and Cubs. In 1981 he was fired even though Kansas City was leading the American League West at the time. The reason for the firing according to Kerry Dougherty of the Washington Post was because Frey was unable to utilize the Royals speed enough. Then with the Cubs, Frey was criticized for mishandling his pitching staff according to Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune. 

In addition to his managing duties, Frey was also the assistant coach with the Baltimore Orioles from 1970 to 1979 and with the New York Mets in 1982 to 1983. After his managerial career finished, Frey was the general manager of the Cubs from 1987 to 1991.