Former Kansas City Royals and Chicago Cubs manager Jim Frey died Sunday at age 88.
“We join the baseball community in mourning Jim’s passing and send our condolences to his family and friends,” the Cubs said in a statement Tuesday.
No cause of death was given.
Frey managed in the big leagues for five seasons, compiling a 323-287 record.
In his first season as Royals manager, Frey led the team to the 1980 American League pennant before losing to the Philadelphia Phillies in the World Series.
Frey was fired the following season after the Royals got off to a 10-10 start during the second half of the strike-marred season. Dick Howser replaced him.
The Chicago Cubs are saddened to learn of the passing of Jim Frey, former manager and GM.
Jim was a central figure in our club’s most memorable moments of the 1980s. pic.twitter.com/gIRBAhxVd9
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) April 14, 2020
In 1984, Frey was named the National League manager of the year after guiding Cubs to first place in the NL East, their first postseason appearance in 39 years. Chicago lost in five games to the San Diego Padres in the NL Championship Series, blowing a 2-0 series lead.
He was fired during the 1986 season after a 23-33 start.
From November 1987 through the end of the 1991 season, Frey was the Cubs’ general manager.
In 1989, the Cubs won the NL East again before losing to the San Francisco Giants in the NLCS.