Fred Claire: My 30 Years in Dodger Blue

I have been a Dodger fan since I came out of the womb. I bleed Dodger blue, and growing up I had only one dream: to be the starting catcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Naturally, as a kid, my favorite Dodger was Mike Piazza. Piazza was larger than life. He was a decent catcher with a powerful bat. My first and only Dodger uniform was a crisp, blue #31 Piazza jersey. When I wore that jersey, I could faintly hear Vin Scully calling my name over the radio. So you can imagine my confusion when the Dodgers traded the Piazza and his glorious mullet to the teal-toting Florida Marlins. Back then I didn’t understand contract negotiations, free agency, salary obligations, and so forth. All I knew was that the best hitting catcher in baseball was now in Florida and not a Dodger. (I later fell in love with Pal LoDuca). Fred Claire was the Dodger general manager from 1987 to 1998, but fortunately, he was not responsible for the ill-conceived Piazza/Zeile to Florida trade. That honor goes to the executives at the Fox Entertainment Group. And from 1998 to 2012 (the end of the McCourt era) it wasn’t a fun time to be a Dodger fan. If you’re an avid Dodger fan, none of these stories will be new or shocking, however, it is fun to hear it straight from the general manager’s mouth.

I heard about this book from a Dodgers blog I get and decided to buy it. I am a lifelong Dodgers fan and wanted to learn more about the transition from the O'malley family to Fox. Man did I learn alot about that. And so much more! Mr. Claire was there since before I was old enough to be a fan right up until his unfortunate departure. I loved this book and came away both angry and very happy, but remain a Dodgers fan. Thank you Mr. Claire for sharing your baseball and Dodgers experience with us! Jay Pezoldt

Being an Dodgers draft pick and player in their minor league system for 5 years, this was an interesting look into how things really work in the front office of an MLB organization. Mr. Claire does an unbelievable job of telling it just like it was without trying to make himself look good or bashing people along the way. The most interesting thing about this book was how he was able to capture the exact feeling around the organization as soon as the idiots from FOX took over. I was drafted and signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers in June of 1998, just days before Mr. Claire was fired. I spent my 1st Summer in Professional Baseball in an organization that still had the feel of a family. All the old-school Dodgers were still coaching, including Mike Scioscia, Mickey Hatcher "Hatch", John "T-Bone" Shelby and many others. It was the most fun I ever had as a Baseball Player in my entire life. Then in 1999 the whole thing came unraveled with FOX and the arrogant attitude and people they brought into the organization & for me, the Minor League system. Every Veteran I spoke with during my 1st Spring Training in 1999 told me that Fred Claire and the "old school" Dodgers front office and coaches were the best people a player could ever hope to play for. The new regime was totally classless & clueless, treating no one with the respect they deserved. This book brought me back to some great memories as a kid who grew up a Dodgers fan in the mid-to late 80's when Mr. Claire had taken the job as GM. It also brought me back to my playing days for an organization that once was great and was now being totally mismanaged by FOX and the arrogant people they hired to run things on the field and off. A Great book, I recommend for anyone who loves the Dodgers or the game of Baseball....

My 30 Years in Dodger Blue is not only a great read for baseball fans, but sports fans in general that have an interest about what goes on in sports from the perspective of management. Although Fred's book has a focus on the Dodgers, anybody that appreciates the game and history of baseball will enjoy this book. The reader will be exposed to the ins and outs of how trades occur in baseball, with the addition of many other captivating stories dealing with some of the biggest names of the time. The O'Malley family has been one of the most influential owners in the history of all sports in America and I have no doubt that much of their acknowledgment is due to Fred. I most enjoyed Fred's story for the fact that he got to where he is today through hard work and passion. Starting as a young boy in Ohio to becoming a beat writer covering the Dodgers, Fred did things the right way by starting at the bottom and working his way up to the top. Aside from great baseball stories, this book covers valuable life lessons, such as hard work, friendship and passion.

I had the unique opportunity to know Fred Claire professionally during my most gratifying employment with the Dodgers as part of the medical team and assistant trainer. I eagerly read "My 30 Years In Dodger Blue" finding that it was incredibly accurate as it overlapped my all too brief relationship with the storied franchise as "Mr. Potato Head." Fred took me on a 30 year "behind the scenes" journey through the eyes of a GM. He was candid in his revelation regarding his relationships with scouts, coaches and managers and players. It is also very clear of his close, trusting friendship to Peter O'Malley. Their "kindred spirit" like relationship worked well as they moved in sync with one another in the day-to-day baseball operations. No one can doubt Fred's love of baseball but especially of the Dodgers and their incredible tradition that was placed in jeopardy in 1998 when Peter sold to Fox. It was a fateful day, as it turned out, and the Dodgers have yet to recover. I'm wondering if Fred has recovered, as the result was something he didn't deserve as one of the most respected men in baseball at the time. He reveals every detail and emotion as he embarked the ride of his life. If anyone is interested in understanding what it takes to be a baseball GM while maintaining honest integrity, then this is a must read especially if you bleed Dodger Blue!

Memoirs of a classy man who dealt for decades in the upper echelons of the baseball world. Told with clarity and heart.

This book is a must read for any Dodger fan, especially those who followed the team through the 80s and 90s. Mr. Claire was involved with so many aspects of the organization and explains in detail many of the moves the team made during that time. Ever wonder how and why Pedro Martinez got traded out of Dodger Blue? It's chronicled here! Ever wonder how and why Mike Piazza got traded too? That's explained too! You won't be disappointed!

This book is a must for any Dodger fan that wants to feel like they were there when the Dodgers were a class organization. I worked in the Dodger ticket office in the mid 70s and Fred wrote about things I never knew. This is a class book from a class guy. I started the book with a plan of reading it over my week vacation, I finished it that same evening wanting to read more.

a very enjoyable book because i have a special connection to Fred and the Dodgers. His story brought back a lot of memories to me.

I loved Fred's book. Must read for a baseball fan. Read it in one day.

I have been a Dodger fan since I came out of the womb. I bleed Dodger blue, and growing up I had only one dream: to be the starting catcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Naturally, as a kid, my favorite Dodger was Mike Piazza. Piazza was larger than life. He was a decent catcher with a powerful bat. My first and only Dodger uniform was a crisp, blue #31 Piazza jersey. When I wore that jersey, I could faintly hear Vin Scully calling my name over the radio. So you can imagine my confusion when the Dodgers traded the Piazza and his glorious mullet to the teal-toting Florida Marlins. Back then I didn’t understand contract negotiations, free agency, salary obligations, and so forth. All I knew was that the best hitting catcher in baseball was now in Florida and not a Dodger. (I later fell in love with Pal LoDuca). Fred Claire was the Dodger general manager from 1987 to 1998, but fortunately, he was not responsible for the ill-conceived Piazza/Zeile to Florida trade. That honor goes to the executives at the Fox Entertainment Group. And from 1998 to 2012 (the end of the McCourt era) it wasn’t a fun time to be a Dodger fan. If you’re an avid Dodger fan, none of these stories will be new or shocking, however, it is fun to hear it straight from the general manager’s mouth.

I heard about this book from a Dodgers blog I get and decided to buy it. I am a lifelong Dodgers fan and wanted to learn more about the transition from the O'malley family to Fox. Man did I learn alot about that. And so much more! Mr. Claire was there since before I was old enough to be a fan right up until his unfortunate departure. I loved this book and came away both angry and very happy, but remain a Dodgers fan. Thank you Mr. Claire for sharing your baseball and Dodgers experience with us! Jay Pezoldt

Being an Dodgers draft pick and player in their minor league system for 5 years, this was an interesting look into how things really work in the front office of an MLB organization. Mr. Claire does an unbelievable job of telling it just like it was without trying to make himself look good or bashing people along the way. The most interesting thing about this book was how he was able to capture the exact feeling around the organization as soon as the idiots from FOX took over. I was drafted and signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers in June of 1998, just days before Mr. Claire was fired. I spent my 1st Summer in Professional Baseball in an organization that still had the feel of a family. All the old-school Dodgers were still coaching, including Mike Scioscia, Mickey Hatcher "Hatch", John "T-Bone" Shelby and many others. It was the most fun I ever had as a Baseball Player in my entire life. Then in 1999 the whole thing came unraveled with FOX and the arrogant attitude and people they brought into the organization & for me, the Minor League system. Every Veteran I spoke with during my 1st Spring Training in 1999 told me that Fred Claire and the "old school" Dodgers front office and coaches were the best people a player could ever hope to play for. The new regime was totally classless & clueless, treating no one with the respect they deserved. This book brought me back to some great memories as a kid who grew up a Dodgers fan in the mid-to late 80's when Mr. Claire had taken the job as GM. It also brought me back to my playing days for an organization that once was great and was now being totally mismanaged by FOX and the arrogant people they hired to run things on the field and off. A Great book, I recommend for anyone who loves the Dodgers or the game of Baseball....

My 30 Years in Dodger Blue is not only a great read for baseball fans, but sports fans in general that have an interest about what goes on in sports from the perspective of management. Although Fred's book has a focus on the Dodgers, anybody that appreciates the game and history of baseball will enjoy this book. The reader will be exposed to the ins and outs of how trades occur in baseball, with the addition of many other captivating stories dealing with some of the biggest names of the time. The O'Malley family has been one of the most influential owners in the history of all sports in America and I have no doubt that much of their acknowledgment is due to Fred. I most enjoyed Fred's story for the fact that he got to where he is today through hard work and passion. Starting as a young boy in Ohio to becoming a beat writer covering the Dodgers, Fred did things the right way by starting at the bottom and working his way up to the top. Aside from great baseball stories, this book covers valuable life lessons, such as hard work, friendship and passion.

I had the unique opportunity to know Fred Claire professionally during my most gratifying employment with the Dodgers as part of the medical team and assistant trainer. I eagerly read "My 30 Years In Dodger Blue" finding that it was incredibly accurate as it overlapped my all too brief relationship with the storied franchise as "Mr. Potato Head." Fred took me on a 30 year "behind the scenes" journey through the eyes of a GM. He was candid in his revelation regarding his relationships with scouts, coaches and managers and players. It is also very clear of his close, trusting friendship to Peter O'Malley. Their "kindred spirit" like relationship worked well as they moved in sync with one another in the day-to-day baseball operations. No one can doubt Fred's love of baseball but especially of the Dodgers and their incredible tradition that was placed in jeopardy in 1998 when Peter sold to Fox. It was a fateful day, as it turned out, and the Dodgers have yet to recover. I'm wondering if Fred has recovered, as the result was something he didn't deserve as one of the most respected men in baseball at the time. He reveals every detail and emotion as he embarked the ride of his life. If anyone is interested in understanding what it takes to be a baseball GM while maintaining honest integrity, then this is a must read especially if you bleed Dodger Blue!

Memoirs of a classy man who dealt for decades in the upper echelons of the baseball world. Told with clarity and heart.

This book is a must read for any Dodger fan, especially those who followed the team through the 80s and 90s. Mr. Claire was involved with so many aspects of the organization and explains in detail many of the moves the team made during that time. Ever wonder how and why Pedro Martinez got traded out of Dodger Blue? It's chronicled here! Ever wonder how and why Mike Piazza got traded too? That's explained too! You won't be disappointed!

This book is a must for any Dodger fan that wants to feel like they were there when the Dodgers were a class organization. I worked in the Dodger ticket office in the mid 70s and Fred wrote about things I never knew. This is a class book from a class guy. I started the book with a plan of reading it over my week vacation, I finished it that same evening wanting to read more.

a very enjoyable book because i have a special connection to Fred and the Dodgers. His story brought back a lot of memories to me.

I loved Fred's book. Must read for a baseball fan. Read it in one day.

I am a big Dodger fan and found this book very interesting. The book focuses mostly on the 1987/88 seasons and the Mike Piazza trade. I don't read a lot of books and I found this one interesting and an easy read. The chapters are short and the language is very easy to read. I actually read the whole book over a weekend.

Excellent. Many stories of the inside workings of the Dodgers. Excellent information written in an informative, caring way.

A fantastic read. The book gives an inside look to the work done behind the scenes of an MLB organization. Fred Claire gives a lot of commentary on situations in baseball that have helped shape the history of the game. This is the first baseball book that I have read, which really explores the business of the game and the inner workings of a highly historic franchise. Easily a must-read for any baseball fan.

Great book by a true gentleman and a great man.

Great read for dodger fans born in the 60s and 70s!

I am a San Francisco Giants fan till the end, and Fred Claire's book about his time with the Dodgers was a great read. It offered personal and professional stories about his time in Major League Baseball. Anyone who is a BASEBALL FAN will enjoy reading his insights. Get it, read it, and enjoy.

If you want to get the truth behind the Fox take over and resulting train wreck the legendary team found themseleves in read this book. Like Jack Webb said "The facts ma'am just the facts".

Have the honor of knowing Fred for many years. In his book he offers unusual insight regarding the inner working of administering a major league Baseball team.

This is an excellent book. I think all baseball fans will enjoy it, but it will appeal especially to Dodger fans. I've been a Dodger fan all my life, and this book brought back a lot of memories some good and some not so great. I must admit that I remembered Fred mostly for his trading away Pedro Martinez and John Wettland,but this book reminded me of all the good decisions he made such as putting together the team that won the championship in 1988, getting Mickey Hatcher,Alfredo Griffin,John Shelby Kirk Gibson and others. He talks of his early years as a writer then goes into how he started with the Dodgers, and his years as General Manager, then goes into Fox buying the team. I learned alot about Fred Claire and others in the organization this book was a very easy and enjoyable read and made me realize how much class Fred has and how he really seemed to care about those who worked for him, and for the Dodger organization.

Unlike the typical self-aggrandizing sports memoir, this one puts a very honest face on a remarkable 30-year career that spanned enormous changes in baseball, for better and worse. Consider that when Claire joined the Dodgers, Steinbrenner had not yet bought the Yankees--for $10 million. And, when Claire left the Dodgers after Fox bought the team, that was a decent salary for one top player for one year. He does not spare himself in terms of a hard and analytical look at the record, including great trades made, and some not made. The book has many dramatic moments, including dealing with the drug addiction of Maury Wills and Darryl Strawberry, or the legendary Kirk Gibson home run, and funny ones, as in what player stole the wheels from Walter O'Malley's golf cart in spring training? For most fans, who sit in the stands as armchair GM's, this is a look at how that job is really done, and done well.

Baseball has so many inside stories that never fully come out during the time they are happening. Fred Claire has written what I believe is his accurate account of the many things that happened during his time with the fabled franchise known as the LA Dodgers. It goes much deeper than just anecdotes and stories about the players ( which are entertaining in their own right); but also about the true inner workings about the business of baseball. Philosophies between ownership, lower team administration and players are discussed in a well described way by Mr. Claire that will, at times, leave you shaking your head at the state of a team and baseball then. It also gives you a perspective and strong reference point as to the direction of baseball's business side then and a solid understanding of how things are today in the national pastime. It certainly is not as simple as putting the best players out there to play every day and this explores the vast amount of variables involved in a team's decision making process. If you want a deeper story into the inner workings of a club and how it works, this book, Fred Claire, is the one for you. The book brings to light the specifics behind the decision making of the Dodgers and brings an insight as to how a major league team at the time transformed into the Dodgers at that time. Mr. Claire has done a terrific job in recalling his accounts by writing about very detailed situations and making them come alive with his ability to describe specifically what happened- I found the book a great read because of the data Mr. Claire included about things that went on in the Dodger organization in the 70s and 80s that shaped the Dodgers of that era. Enjoy!! Paul Bean Hulls Cove, Maine

The story of Fred Claire is in many ways, a mirror image of the social history of the postwar emergence of the city of Los Angeles and the state of California. Born in Ohio in 1935, Claire moved with his family to Torrance, California during his formative years. A journalist by trade, Claire graduated from San Jose State University in 1957 before embarking on a meteoric rise through the print media industry. He honed his trade in Whittier, Pomona, and Long Beach before accepting a job at Chavez Ravine in Los Angeles in 1969. As the title suggests, he spent `three decades in Dodger blue' as a beat writer, director of public relations, executive director, and from 1987 to 1998, general manager. Fred Claire's tenure as general manager was marred by controversy on either end. Having been hired in the wake of some ill-timed remarks by predecessor Al Campanis, he was fired weeks after a blockbuster trade sent the Dodgers' franchise player to the worst team in baseball. This was a deal over which Claire had absolutely no control. The narrative begins at the end, where the reader is a presented with a surreal portrait of Claire and manager Bill Russell in the Dodger Stadium parking lot, two franchise stalwarts both having been terminated only months after the O'Malley family sold the team to the Fox Corporation. Fred Claire describes to his readers how he became interested in baseball as a Reds' fan in the Buckeye state. In journalism school, he authored an article arguing why the Pacific Coast League had the capacity to challenge baseball's establishment as a third major league. Working in the Dodgers' front office, Claire was privy to startling developments behind the headlines. Read how the seemingly mild mannered, avuncular manager Walter Alston disciplined one of his players for losing his temper on club property and how he conveyed disappointment in a star outfielder to the press. You'll see why when the Dodgers became the first team to crack the 3 million attendance barrier in 1978, owner Walter O'Malley reacted with disappointment. Read about how Claire and Don Newcombe invaded Maury Wills' house to save his life and why Joe Morgan nearly replaced Tommy Lasorda as manager following the 1983 season. Would the Nightline controversy have ever seen the light of day with Morgan piloting the Dodgers? The crowning pinnacle of Fred Claire's career was, of course, winning the World Series in 1988, but what few realize is that Claire was nearly bypassed for a more experienced general manager following a pedestrian 1987 campaign. Claire describes his tribulations with trades and signings, agents and injuries as he rebuilt the Dodgers into a powerhouse. He took risks by signing Mickey Hatcher and trading for John Shelby, releasing Don Sutton and promoting Ramon Martinez, acquired Jesse Orosco and Alfredo Griffin in an unorthodox three team trade, and watched in horror as staff ace Fernando Valenzuela lost considerable time to the disabled list. The greatest risk taken was signing new look free agent Kirk Gibson; alongside Orel Hershiser, he paved the way to upset heavily favoured Mets and Athletics teams to win the World Series. Fred Claire goes on to describe his disappointments as general manager. He would not have been alone in envisioning another World Championship banner with Eric Davis and Darryl Strawberry patrolling the Dodgers' outfield in 1992. That season, Los Angeles finished in last place. He also described the political difficulties in the clubhouse in promoting a replacement player during the 1995 season. We learn why Peter O'Malley decided to sell the Dodgers in 1997 and the real reason behind the Mike Piazza trade one season later. Did the Dodgers meet their aim in trading Piazza? Finally, Fred Claire reminisces on his career with the Dodgers and how he reconciles his 30 years on Elysian Park Avenue with the other accomplishments in his life. Looking back, the Dodgers do not rank high on his list. They represent what he did rather than who he is. In the final chapter, we read about what is most important to Fred Claire: his wife, children, and grandchildren, his general accomplishments as a writer, a journalist, and a consultant, his hobbies such as golfing and fishing, and relationships with people he met through his professional life, including the Dodgers. Walter Alston's granddaughter even went on the record to say about after Claire was fired, she could no longer be a Dodgers fan. Work hard and seize opportunities and you will succeed. Persevere when confronted with the unknown and the surprising. The social history of California is the biography of Fred Claire. -30-

If you are looking for a book that describes the business side of baseball with lots of personal experiences and honesty, this is one of the best. As a lifelong Dodger fan, I thoroughly enjoyed reading and re-living many of the great Dodger moments through Mr. Claire's eyes and work. Fred Claire is a first-class G.M. and his ethical, honest way of doing business is sorely missed in today's game. Fox Baseball made a huge blunder when they fired him from his position. But as you will see, Fred Claire's personal beliefs and moral compass were too much for the idiotic "don't know nothin about baseball" folks at Fox.

How many times have true baseball fans wanted to be a fly on the wall in a baseball general manager's office? Fred Claire's book, "My 30 Years in Dodger Blue," does just that. It is an interesting, informative and very entertaining look at baseball from the inside out. This behind the scenes look at how a baseball organization operates includes an insiders look at the game. Much like a ballplayer who does more for his team than shows up in the box score, Claire's book takes into account the personalities that make up an organization. He explains player transactions and some of the politics that are part of every team. In short, "My 30 Years in Dodger Blue" is a must read for die-hard baseball fans as well as casual fans who would like to learn more about the game. After reading this book, I sincerely hope that Fred Claire will grace us with another book about baseball. It would be well worth reading.

It isn't often that a baseball fan gets the real story about what transpires when it comes to GM's and their player personnel moves and how they work with ownership and the team manager. It is even rarer to find a GM who can write about those details and was trained as a reporter. This book, written by former newspaper sports writer and Dodgers' general manager Fred Claire is the perfect combination of both and is insightfully presented in this book. Unfortunately, you will also find out the manner in which the new wave of baseball ownerships operate. This is more about where baseball is and what happened to the Dodgers. Those Dodger days are gone and people like Fred are no longer on the scene. Like it or not, it is part of the baseball evolutionary process. If you loved the Dodgers and are amazed at what is going on right now ironically, this book will give you a glimpse into why. This is a easy and quick read thanks to Fred's willingness and ability to tell the story.

Fred Claire's story is a virtual travelogue of 30 years of baseball history, a blast for anyone who loves baseball, especially Dodger fans. He brings a variety of perspectives to his story, falling for the game as a boy in Ohio, covering the game as a beat writer for the Angels and Dodgers, becoming an insider as the Dodgers' publicity director, and building a world championship club as a general manager. Along the way, Claire recounts unforgettable stories, everything from his own one-game Spring Training "tryout" to signing World Series hero Kirk Gibson, from the release of Orel Hershiser to the day Tommy Lasorda nearly gave up bleeding Dodger Blue to join George Steinbrenner's Yankees. Claire also shares a behind-the-scenes look into the business side of baseball, tracing the Dodgers' evolution from a family-owned business under the legendary O'Malley family to a piece of Rupert Murdoch's Fox empire. Claire remains connected to the game through a radio show and column for [...] If you've heard or read his work there, "My 30 Years in Dodger Blue" won't disappoint.

I recently purchased this book and I must say that I enjoyed reading every page of it. I have been a Dodgers fan since 1982. It was the day the Dodgers were out of the playoff picture on Joe Morgan's HR in S.F., and it was also the day my blood ran Dodger Blue. Twenty four years later, my blood still runs Dodger Blue! In this book, Fred Claire clearly shed light on what occured behind the scences that I, as a fan, was not aware of, or perplexed at the time of the incidents. He also cleared up many of the questions that I had about the FOX deal, more particularly the Piazza trade. I don't blame him for what happened, as I previously did at the time. He made me feel as if I were part of the whole deal and now I understand the complexity of the situation more clearly. He could not have been more candid as he was in the book. It is a must read book for anyone!

Being a lifelong fan of the Dodgers hasn't been easy for the past 23 years. As fans, we may not understand perfectly the business side of the industry. Fred Claire's "My 30 Years in Dodger Blue" is a great introspection of his long tenure with the Dodgers organization. His memoir relays his account from covering the team as a beat writer to joining the front office in the PR department and his term as the 4th General Manager since moving to Los Angeles starting and ending with controversy. Claire also gives insight to his career and how he became successful in the business of sports. The beauty of "My 30 Years in Dodger Blue" is Claire's ability to tell his side of the story without sensationalizing the many controversial events during his career with the team. This is a must read for any Dodger fan, baseball fan, sports fan and people who want to work in sports.

"Fred Claire: My 30 Years in Dodger Blue." Great read. Fred who began his baseball career as a sports writer teams up with LA Times writer Steve Springer for a tightly written look at one man's stay in the bigs. It's a great baseball book. What I found interesting is how it relates to sports marketing. Fred has taught sports marketing at USC. His book chronicles his trip around the bases with the O'Malley family business until he is slapped out at home plate by global behemoth Rupert Murdoch. It's a good look at how to manage people, the human resource in sports. How deals get done. How Dodger Blue was invented and team branding with it. It's a book about how the modern sports franchise earns respect and the dignity that follows.

As a baseball fan, I found Fred Claire''s book very enlightening. As a Dodger fan, I found this book a must read! His tenture as Dodgers GM as well as working his way up the storied organization's ladder, was a thriiling ride and I highly recommend this book to baseball and sports fans alike. Fred touches on the ever changing world of major league baseball and how a family run business gave way to corporate ownership. A classy man and a classy story about his dealings with the O'Malley family as well as dealing with sports agents and the players themselves. A man of intregrity, Fred's book shows us how difficult it was dealing with the transfer of a family run business to corporate ownership. It also brings full circle the last 30 years of Dodger history. I absolutely loved it!

Fred Claire lays down the honest truth about the saddest days in Dodger History, the day Fox took over. This is a must for any Dodger fan. Filled with incredable stories and perspectives that only an insider could share. Never again will there be a team like the family owned Dodgers, never again will there be a chance to truely know about the worlds greatest baseball franchise team as it is written from an honest perspective in this book. I GOT MINE AUTOGRAPHED FROM FRED WHEN PURCHASED THROUGH E-BAY !!

Just finished Fred Claire's book and will read it again. The reader gains an insider's perspective on the goings-on within the LA Dodgers organization from 1969 thru the Piazza trade. Fred Claire is a class-act. I have always been impressed with him. I am even more impressed with him after reading the book. He does not trash the Fox regime. He is even complimentary of Chase Carey (every blue-blooded Dodgers fan I know curses upon hearing the name Chase Carey). However, the book clearly demonstrates that Claire is no pushover. There are several instances that demonstrate his candor and leadership abilities. I especially appreciated the chapter describing in detail Claire's handling of Hideo Nomo in June 1998. This book is very worthwhile and enjoyable. BUY IT!

I sat down to read Fred's book and could NOT put it down. I think I nearly read the entire book in one sitting, it was that riviting! The insight he gives you into the inner workings of the Dodgers is fascinating! Fred also gives you life lessons such as how important integrity and character is. If you have ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes of a major league baseball club this is the book for you. The fact that it involves one of the most storied franchises in baseball if not all of sports, The Los Angeles Dodgers, is just a bonus. GREAT read!!

Fred Claire is a class individual who was treated in a very unclassy manner by the powers that were in the Los Angeles Dodgers ownership. In "My 30 Years In Dodger Blue" Fred does not attempt to mask his hurt and disappointment, but that is far overshadowed by the insight he provides the reader into the goings-on in baseball's top management, as well as a peek into the interpersonal relationships of some of the game's biggest names. Fred Claire started his Dodger career as a rookie publicity man and rose to become General Manager. He addresses that climb with uncommon candor, pointing out his failures as well as successes, but the bottom line is that he helped put together a team that won the World Series in 1988.

Fred Claire will take you on a 30 year journey, recounting vividly and candidly about his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers. You will enter the world of the baseball executive, and experience all the challenges, disappointments, and triumphs he experienced as a member of the Dodger front office. Although have been a Cardinals fan for life, I have always admired the Dodger organization for its class and professionalism, and I found it fascinating to learn about the inner workings of the franchise through the book. Any true baseball fan will love reading this account of a dynamic period of one of baseball's best organizations.

Anyone who is a Dodger fan (or was a Dodger fan until the bumbling Fox regime got their grubby hands on the team) will find this book to be an interesting and candid look at three decades of Dodger baseball. Claire's book is great because it lets you know what made the Dodgers win with class (a front office under Walter O'Malley all pulling in the same direction), and what recently made the Dodgers a sad laughingstock (a Fox TV exec making a terrible trade to finalize a cable TV deal). And the best part about the whole book is that Claire isn't out to glorify himself or grind an axe towards the Fox people --- he simply tells his story like it was at Dodger Stadium.

This is a terrific, honest account of what Dodger Blue was like during Fred's carrer with the Dodgers. There have always headlines, good and bad, associated with the Dodgers throuout the years, and this is a first hand account of all of them, dating back to the 60's. Mr. Claire, in my opinion, was a great General Manager. Sure, some of the trades didn't work out. But most of them did, and he handled all of them with class, professionalism, and the best interest of the team and fans. Any Dodger fan would enjoy reading this book - I highly recommend it.

Althought I must admit that I am not really a baseball fan, this book really caught my attention- as I was unaware of the corporate politics floating around the Dodger Stadium. With the first and last chapters discussing his last night in the parking lot at Dodger Stadium, Fred Claire really gives you a peak inside his management career- though not in an obtrusive way. Although one may assume his bitterness or resentment in his firing, Claire never lets that get through in the story, really allowing the reader to get the full picture. His objective writing style and love of baseball really come through in this read.

Fred's book offers an excellent first-hand account into the world of a baseball GM. His stories and experiences help to shed some light on what it takes to become a successful sport executive. I don't think there is any better way to learn how to become successful in this business than through someonee who did it himself. This book is excellent for sport management classes as it shows students what skills are necessary in different situations. A MUST READ, I will put this book in my baseball library as one of the most useful books on the business of baseball.

This should be required reading for anyone going into sports management.Fred Claire, through his personal story, provides insights into the three-dimensional chess game of making trades, evaluating talent, negotiating salaries, and firing players without destroying their self confidence.As general manager, Fred avoided personal publicity and demonstrated remarkable discretion and loyalty to the Dodger Blue. He also showed that nice guys don't finish last.

Fred Claire writes in detail and is very candid about what went on for 30 years behind the scenes of a successful professional baseball organization. If you want to learn more about a storied baseball franchise, this is an excellent book. It was also very interesting from a business perspective. Fred's point of view and the way he takes responsibility for all of his decisions is refreshing. This is a must read for the sports fan, the business person or anyone else who likes to learn from people who have done it the right way.

I am an avid baseball fan and have read many related books including the best-selling "Moneyball" and even the infamous "Juiced: Wild Times, Rampant 'Roids, Smash Hits, and How Baseball Got Big". But Fred Claire's "My 30 Years in Dodger Blue" is defintitely one of the best ones I've read. It may even rival "Moneyball". In the book, Claire gives his honest opinion and story of the Dodgers and its personnel and owner. Although many blame him for the trades of Pedro Martinez and Mike Piazza, one must not forget that he built a championship team in 1988.

Fred Claire's autobiography "My 30 Years in Dodger Blue" fits so perfectly among my sports collection because it covers every important phase of Major League baseball in Los Angeles in the earliest days of my sports writing experience. In recent years, I wondered whether or not being a "true blue" baseball fan was worth all of the frustrations down through the years but I can honestly say that Fred's book gives me a greater sense of pride that I have always been a Dodger fan.

I would recommend this book to baseball fans throughout the country who want to learn more about the much beloved Los Angeles Dodgers. This book offers a tremendous insight into the tightly woven social relationships involved in managing a baseball team. Fred Claire experienced the job many of us dream of, managing a major league team, and in this book he shares not only the tough decisions but the moments of glory for both the team and himself. A must read for avid Dodger fans.

For those Dodger fans that attended games at Dodger Stadium during the period Fred recollects, it is a poignant reminder of the family tradition that slipped into history when Fox purchased the team. What a pleasure it was to have Fred revive those memories! A particular must read for those who have attended the Dodger Adult baseball camp.

I recommend this book for anyone looking to build a career and life with class, guts, patience, vision, class, respect and values. I never me anyone in baseball with more of those qualities than Fred.

I had the privilege of working in the Dodger organization for 12 years, all during Fred Claire's reign. This book was so very interesting. I recall Fred Claire as very focused, just as he illustrates in the book. I could not put the book down and have actually read it cover to cover twice in the month since purchase. If you like baseball, and especially if you like the Dodgers, BUY THIS BOOK!

Claire's book on his time with the LA Dodgers is a great read for any baseball fan. He provides a clear picture of the behind the scenes events in the front office of one of the most revered sports franchises.

Great story and bio of a man we all know in southern California, read it straight through to the last page, most interesting and true.

If you are a Dodger fan, this book is definitely the book to read! It will give you many insight stories of Dodger's history. I personally have been inspiried by Fred's great dedication to sports. Also, it is a interesting book for those of you who want to be part of the baseball organization. His experience is absoultely helpful!