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RIP Jim Frey, 1931-2020

G-Fafif Apr 14 2020 08:44 AM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Apr 14 2020 09:08 AM

Former Mets batting coach Jim Frey, first major league mentor to Darryl Strawberry, has died at 88. Frey worked under George Bamberger and Frank Howard prior to accepting the managerial role with the Cubs, a club he'd steer to its first postseason in 39 years. Prior to joining the Mets, he managed the Royals to their first pennant. Frey came to baseball fans' attention as a coach for Earl Weaver and the Orioles in the '70s.

G-Fafif Apr 14 2020 08:55 AM Re: RIP Jim Frey, 1931-2020

The thing that sticks out from Frey's tenure, beyond his relationship with Strawberry, was the first intrasquad game of Spring Training was billed as the Small Freys versus the Jumbo Franks, the sides managed by Jimmy Frey and big Frank Howard.

G-Fafif Apr 14 2020 08:59 AM Re: RIP Jim Frey, 1931-2020

Dave Anderson reflected on Strawberry and Frey in 1989. Now that a hitting coach is needed, the critics wonder if Strawberry will respond to the new guru as he once responded to Jim Frey, the Mets' hitting coach in 1983 when Strawberry hit 26 homers as a rookie. Frey, of course, is now the general manager of the Chicago Cubs, the team that outhustled the Mets for the National League East title. But in the memory of many Metophiles, he remains forever linked to Strawberry. Especially the memory of that steamy midseason moment in Shea Stadium's indoor cage when Straw dropped his bat after about 150 pitches. ''That's enough,'' he said to Frey. ''If you walk out of here now,'' Frey said, ''don't talk to me about hitting ever again. You're the guy looking for help, not me. If you want to work, work. If you want to walk out of here now, you don't need me. Some people already are starting to call you a 'cruiser,' a guy who can get by on his ability alone. If you want to be a cruiser, go find somebody else to help you. But if you want to be the best player you can be, I'll try to help you.” Strawberry picked up his bat. After about 150 more pitches, Frey said, ''That's enough'' and they walked down the tunnel to the Mets' clubhouse together. ''After that,'' Frey recalled yesterday, ''he and I developed a good relationship. I was hoping he would want to be the best player he could be.'' As that season progressed, Strawberry emerged as the National League rookie of the year. https://www.nytimes.com/1989/10/26/sports/sports-of-the-times-when-straw-responded-to-jim-frey.html

Edgy MD Apr 14 2020 09:04 AM Re: RIP Jim Frey, 1931-2020

=G-Fafif post_id=35136 time=1586876116 user_id=55] The thing that sticks out from Frey's tenure, beyond his relationship with Strawberry, was the first intrasquad game of Spring Training was billed as the Small Freys versus the Jumbo Franks, the sides managed by Jimmy Frey and big Frank Howard.

These are the first two things I associated with Frey's tenure too.

Benjamin Grimm Apr 14 2020 09:04 AM Re: RIP Jim Frey, 1931-2020

https://www.tradingcarddb.com/Images/Cards/Baseball/98/98-33151RepFr.jpg>

G-Fafif Apr 14 2020 09:13 AM Re: RIP Jim Frey, 1931-2020

Straw in a 2019 interview with SNY's Anthony McCarron: Strawberry recalled the first time Jim Frey, a Mets coach in 1983, asked him to be at Shea Stadium at 2 p.m., hours before game time, for some early work. Frey waited at the batting cage, but Strawberry was a no-show. "He pulled me to the side later and said, 'I'm never going to wait for you again. If you want to be great, show up early,'" Strawberry said. "It taught me something about how it's not going to happen overnight.”

Johnny Lunchbucket Apr 14 2020 09:20 AM Re: RIP Jim Frey, 1931-2020

Have George Bammy on a TWiB episode saying, in his Noo Yawk accent: "Havin' Frey as a coach. Dat's the funniest ting I eveh sahw."