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Dodgers Legend Bavasi Dies

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The Associated Press

The Tampa Tribune

Published: 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, outside San Diego. 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's Dodgers teams included future Hall of Famers Jackie Robinson, Duke Snider, Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale. With the Dodgers, he helped assist players breaking the major league color barrier. Bavasi later was part owner and president of the San Diego Padres, then became executive vice president of the California Angels.

Bavasi 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 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.

Former manager and coach Don Zimmer said Bavasi "was like a father to me, from the time I was 19 years old. All my life, really. I can't describe how much he meant to me."

BRAVES: Facing the prospect of trying to make it through the season with an aching shoulder, John Smoltz is pondering another dramatic career change.

The 40-year-old right-hander, who already went from starter to closer to starter again, is planning to go back to the bullpen once he comes off the 15-day disabled list.

Smoltz had shoulder problems last season and he has already been on the DL twice this season.

ROCKIES: Star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki tore a tendon in his left quadriceps and could be out until the All-Star break, if not longer.

"Best-case scenario is six weeks. The realistic one is a few months," agent Paul Cohen told The Associated Press on Thursday. "We're hoping it's a couple months, but we won't know until they do further medical tests."

YANKEES: Phil Hughes has a stress fracture in one of his ribs, and the New York pitcher is expected to be sidelined for at least two months.

Hughes, placed on the 15-day disabled list Thursday, had tests that revealed a stress fracture in the ninth rib on his right side.

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