He left baseball in 1992, citing a feeling of being worn out after 43 years in the game. Frey would ask Aaron where certain pitches had been. Frey said that he told Sandberg that he needed to stop being the guy who set up someone else to have a big inning. Zimmer made the best of home-grown talent like Sandberg, Mark Grace and Rookie of the Year Jerome Walton. 14, 2020. He was 88 years old. James is survived by his wife Zella, children James Frey Jr and wife Donna Karen, Will Frey, Clint Frey and Courtney Kieke and husband David, grandchildren Hannah, Jack, Madelyn, Cody, Gibson, Kiptyn, Peter, Bobby, and Grant, and great grandson Aiden. James often reflected that he knew he had to marry her if he was going to get her to Austin. I knew Jim from old CEI days at east 24 service ctr. Later on, Frey became Vice Chairman of the Independent Somerset Patriots of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, being a key figure in the team's early years. In 1980, Frey led the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball (MLB) to their first American League (AL) championship, in his first year with the team. My thought and prayers are with you all. Frey had the winning hit in the 1947 championship game. From November 1987 through the end of the 1991 season, Frey was the Cubs' general manager. View all posts by Sam Gazdziak. Chicago lost in five games to the San Diego Padres in the NL Championship Series, blowing a 2-0 series lead. He enjoyed great professional success, working all over Canadas North, as well as in various places throughout the world. Ryne Sandberg cited Frey as "the one guy who was extremely instrumental in my career. Growing up in Cincinnati, he played for the American Legion Bentley post, which was the American Legion runner-up in 1946 and the national champion in 1947. The trade appeared to pay off for the Cubs with respect to the 1989 season as Williams saved 36 games, the Cubs won a division title and Moyer and Palmeiro struggled in Texas. [5] This served as some sort of revenge for the Yankees having defeated Herzog's Royals for three consecutive seasons (197678) in the ALCS. Jim Frey was the former manager of the Chicago Cubs and Kansas City Royals. With the new acquisitions and good performances from the existing players, the Cubs marched to the top of the division with a 96-65 record. Green made a few shrewd deals before and during the 1984 season, like acquiring Rick Sutcliffe, Gary Matthews and Scott Sanderson. In 1996, Jim married Della Vance, also of Yellowknife, NT. James was an excellent shrimp boat captain when he listened to Zella. James Frey Obituary. After a trying 1985 season in which the entire five-man starting rotation simultaneously spent time on the disabled list, the Cubs sputtered in 1986. Change). Frey was reassigned within the organization after the 1991 season, replaced by former Chicago White Sox general manager Larry Himes. But a way to realistically get us there faster is to have a plan where everyone is on the same page. Get them together and, oh, man.. Frey, for his efforts, won the NL Manager of the Year Award, becoming the first Cubs skipper to receive the honor. Jim was born November 3, 1939 in Sand Lake, MI the son of Harry and Blanche (Verburg) Frey.. They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel. Free agent signee George Bell hit 25 homers in 1991, but new pitchers Danny Jackson and Dave Smith were awful. Those things are OK with a lot of players. If there were complaints over playing time, he handled things before they became problems. In parts of five seasons as a manager in the majors, Frey compiled a 323-287 win-loss record for a .530 winning percentage. Its important to have a goal. He enjoyed his time on his farm in the hill country with bird feeders and wildlife. But seriously. Survived by three sons, Steven J. Frey, Michael W. Frey (Charlotte Hertler), and Eric A Frey (Susan Frey). They were married for 15 years, and together raised Dellas daughter, Mackenzie. The Cubs pitching staff was hammered by injuries in 1985, and the team fell to a 77-84 record. According to a rumor, Some of the Royals players delighted in the mistake. Carol and family, you are in our thoughts and prayers. He was 86. JIM FREY OBITUARY. So sorry for your loss. As our general manager, he constructed a playoff club in 1989 to again land the Cubs in the postseason five years later. Wow I am so saddened to hear the passing of jim he was not only a great neighbor but a super nice guy who never minded telling u how he felt. He should be the guy that makes big things happen. Frey turned down the choice of manager or general manager of the Minnesota Twins in favor of working as a radio commentator with the Cubs. Expand the Memories and Condolences form. Online donations can be made by selecting church rebuilding using following link: https://abundant.co/cofvwestphalia/give. May the God of tender mercies comfort each of you during this difficult time. I will miss my dear Buckeye friend and our driveway talks about life, work, current affairs, and the Buckeyes. Every player needs to respect the other players and the idea of the entire group of 25 trying to win together, he said. Published by Chicago Sun-Times on Apr. Add a Photo Submit Your Message 22 Entries Thats the way it is with those great natural hitters like Aaron. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Truly liked Jim. He was born in San Francisco, CA on October 21, 1940. I can just sit here like the 35,000 Cub fans here at Wrigley Field hoping that the result will be good. Published by The Advocate on Apr. James Paul Frey, also known as "Coach Frey" or "Large Frey," born April 7, 1947, passed away due to complications associated with COVID-19 on September 19, 2021 at the age of 74, in Tampa, Florida. Jim attended NAIT, where he completed his training as a Journeyman Carpenter. He was a very, very funny guy, and a lot of people didnt see that side of him., Frey was born in Cleveland and grew up in Cincinnati, where he played American Legion and high school ball with Zimmer. Funeral arrangement under the care ofKendall Funeral Services. Feb. 18, 2023 1:00 p.m. Emmanuel Baptist Church Send Flowers JAMES FREY OBITUARY Mount Vernon - James (Jim) L. Frey, 83, a long-time resident of the Skagit Valley passed away in Mount. With heavy hearts, we announce the death of James E. Frey of Alden, New York, who passed away on September 30, 2022 at the age of 69. He worked for Frey Thriftway, and owned and operated five Thriftway stores until 1997. I remember as a neighbor, we could always count on Jim for always being there. Family and friends must say goodbye to their beloved James Frey in Maplewood, Wisconsin, who passed away on October 15, 2022. MEMORIES & CONDOLENCES. You can send your sympathy in the guestbook provided and share it with the family. He saw potential in me, and he asked more of me.. James Allen Frey passed away on Friday, January 31, 2020 at the age of 87. At the end of the season, the entire Cubs front office was cleaned out, as Grenesko moved to a position in the Tribune Co., Larry Himes was named VP of baseball operations, and Frey was moved to senior vice president, under Himes, until his contract expired at the end of 1992. As Sutcliffe shared this story Tuesday, he couldnt help but laugh. Would you like to offer James A. Freys loved ones a condolence message? Frey spent 1982 and 1983 working as the hitting coach of the New York Mets. He was hired by the Chicago Cubs for the 1984 season, and again struck paydirt as the Cubs won the division title, earning their first post-season appearance since 1945. He offered to help if we needed anything at all. Frey, Jim R. Age 80 of Sand Lake died Tuesday, December 31, 2019 at his home. He trained me when I was in line school learning to climb poles.Jim was a great guy,he was also a great foreman at E24th& Solon service centers. After Jims retirement he resided full time in Grande Prairie, Alberta to be near to his family. CANDLE HAS BEEN LIT CANDLES HAVE BEEN LIT, We are reviewing your submission. However, the Royals dropped the World Series to the Philadelphia Phillies in six games. Frey spent the 1987 season in the WGN Radio booth as an analyst on Cubs broadcasts and was the Cubs general manager from November 1987 through the 1991 season. Two things that can never be taken in the love in your heart and the memories you have share with your Father. FAREWELL , TO A LONG-TIME LEGENDARY CHICAGO CUBS MANAGER BROTHER !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Always the builder, James spent his retirement building homes for his children, restoring antique tractors, and tackling the most complicated puzzles that his grandchildren could find for him. Frey died Sunday at his home in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, according to the Atlantic League's Somerset Patriots, the minor league team he had been affiliated with since its launch in 1998. I knew he was in and out of bad health the last four or five years, but he always managed to come through., In a statement, the Cubs called Frey a central figure in our clubs most memorable moments of the 1980s.. Frey's use of seven pitchers for the whole Series led to short runs for their starters that meant they could not pitch efficiently despite batting .290 in the Series. We invite you to share condolences for Jim Frey in our Guest Book. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. He was a wonderful father, grandfather and great grandfather. Copyright 2023 Echovita Inc. All rights reserved. There are no events at this time. The team did even better in 1989, winning 93 games and finishing in first place for the second time in the 80s. The Phillies were led by manager Dallas Green, whose career would also intersect with Freys in Chicago a few years down the road. Per the Chicago Tribune, Frey devised a drill that Sandberg used to work on his power during the second half of spring training. 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You may make donations via etransfer to everybodyeatsingp@gmail.com, Question: Jim Fraser, Password: Everybodyeats, Care entrusted to Bear Creek Funeral Home 780-830-7742 bearcreekfuneral.com, I was hoping to meet you one day properly but it looks like I get to meet you with mom and grandma and auntie in heaven miss you uncle love you lots my condolences to the family. JAMES FREY OBITUARY James A. Frey Crown Point, IN James A. Frey, age 73, of Crown Point, IN, passed away Friday, May 4, 2007. RIP to Jim Frey, a manager who led two teams into the postseason and was named Manager of the Year for breaking the Cubs long postseason dry spell. He inquired about who we were and where we came from. Frey was born in Cleveland, Ohio. White Sox broadcaster Steve Stone played for Baltimore when Frey was an Orioles hitting coach in the late 1970s and was a Cubs broadcaster when Frey was with the Cubs. Under Freys guidance, the Royals won 97 games to win the AL West. 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