Here's the obit on former Met skipper Joe Frazier:
Joe Frazier, the manager of the Mets in the turbulent period between the tenures of
Yogi Berra
and Joe Torre,
died Tuesday in Broken Arrow, Okla. He was 88 and a longtime Broken
Arrow resident.
His death was confirmed by the Christian-Gavlik Funeral Home in Broken
Arrow.
Frazier, who spent almost a half-century in organized baseball,
primarily as a right fielder, was chosen to manage the Mets for the 1976
season after successfully leading the Tidewater Tides, the team's Class
AAA affiliate. The Mets were in decline after World Series appearances
in 1969 and 1973. Berra, their popular manager, had been dismissed
during the 1975 season.
In Frazier's only full year as manager, the Mets won 86 games and
finished third in the East Division of the National League. With a
rotation that included Tom Seaver,
Jerry Koosman and Jon Matlack, the team had excellent pitchers but few
good hitters.
Frazier's ship listed in 1977. The Mets' owners were unwilling to bid
for newly minted free agents, prompting Seaver, Matlack and the slugging
outfielder-first baseman Dave Kingman to criticize management.
Frazier was fired at the end of May after the Mets won only 15 of
their first 45 games. A few weeks later, Seaver and Kingman were traded.
Matlack was traded after the season. The Mets finished in last place in
1977 and in the next two years. Attendance fell sharply just as the Yankees turned into a powerhouse.
Frazier was succeeded as manager by Torre and never managed in the
majors again.
Joseph Filmore Frazier was born Oct. 6, 1922, in Liberty, N.C. He
played 17 years in the minor and major leagues, including parts of four
seasons with the Indians, the Cardinals, the Reds and the Orioles. He batted .241 with 10 home runs as a
major leaguer.He is survived by his wife, Jean; two sons, Joe Jr. and
Marty; a daughter, Cindy Means; a sister, Marie Jordan; and six
grandchildren.
