Jimmy Scott's High & Tight: The Fred Claire Interview

Something happened while Fred Claire and I were talking.  I realized that with every trade between two teams, two GMs need to be involved.  Which led to a question and a very surprising answer. 

Let me back-track. 

Fred Claire was a part of the Los Angeles Dodgers organization for 30 years.  Two things led to his dismissal as General Manager in 1998: 1) FOX and its desire for television rights and 2) Fred's character.  You see, the Dodgers wanted Fred to trade Mike Piazza, their star player at the time, to the Florida Marlins.  Not to save money.  Not for certain players.  They wanted Mike in Florida because of television.  You've heard of Fox Sports Net (FSN)?  There's bigger money in regional sports networks than there is with one player.  FOX knew Piazza in Florida would boost their Florida interests big time. 

Fred did his due diligence.  His superiors gave him mixed signals and he did as he was told, speaking with his counterpart in Florida, Dave Dombrowski.  Then something happened one evening in May.  Fred received a call.  The Dodgers had made a trade, a big one.  Piazza was a Marlin.  There was one problem.  Fred didn't make the trade.  He threatened to quit on the spot.  His bosses said don't.  Stay.  We can't finalize everything because only you know how to do this stuff.  So Fred stayed.  But he stayed under one condition: The world was going to know he had nothing to do with this trade.  He told the world.  FOX was mad.  A few weeks later, Fred was fired. 

In the Jimmy Scott's High & Tight Fred Claire Interview, you get to hear Fred go into detail about the trade, the circumstances, and how he felt when let go.  You'll also hear the very important question mentioned earlier: If he'd been working with Dave Dombrowski on the trade, yet he didn't make the trade with Dave, how did Dombrowski feel making the deal with somebody else?  Fred's answer:  "I don't think Dave was involved on his side either."  So who made the deal on the Florida side?  Fred didn't know.  I reached out to the Detroit Tigers, where Dombrowski is currently GM, and asked the same question.  Who made the trade if Dave wasn't involved.  I got a two word answer:

No comment.

Hmm.  This is one reason why the Fred Claire interview is so interesting.  He captivates you, just like his book, My 30 Years In Dodger Blue.  You've got to hear this interview and you've got to read his book.  So much of what goes on today, 11 years later, is tied to the words Fred has to say.  He is extremely intelligent.  He's brutally honest.  And he wants people to understand the game. 

So grab a sandwich, throw a straw into your chocolate milk, and dab the corners of your mouth with a paper napkin while you listen to Jimmy Scott's High & Tight: The Fred Claire Interview.  It will be time well spent.  Well spent.

THE MUSIC

Alan Parsons Project - Games People Play

Huey Lewis & The News - Finally Found A Home

The Who - Won't Get Fooled Again

Tom Petty - Free Fallin'

The Traveling Wilburys -  Heading For The Light

The Eagles - I Dreamed There Was No War

Selections From the Following Soundtracks:

Lethal Weapon II

Jerry Maguire

Risky Business