Ex-Dogers General Manager Buzzie Bavasi Dead at 93

LOS ANGELES – Buzzie Bavasi, who built Dodgers teams that won the four World Series titles in Brooklyn and Los Angeles, died Thursday. He was 93.

His death was announced by the Seattle Mariners, whose general manager is Bill Bavasi, a son of the former Dodgers GM.

"Buzzie was one of the game's greatest front office executives during a period that spanned parts of six different decades," baseball commissioner Bud Selig said. "He loved the game, and he loved talking about it."

Emil Joseph Bavasi's Dodgers teams included future Hall of Famers Jackie Robinson, Duke Snider, Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale. Bavasi later was part owner and president of the San Diego Padres, then became executive vice president of the California Angels.

With the Dodgers, he played a role in Jackie Robinson's becoming the first African-American to play in the major leagues.

Bavasi spent 44 years working in baseball, including 34 in the major leagues. He began as a traveling secretary and publicity director for the Dodgers in Brooklyn in 1939.

After serving in various posts for the team, he was promoted to GM before the 1951 season.

During his tenure as GM from 1951-68, first in Brooklyn and then Los Angeles, the Dodgers won eight National League pennant. They won their only World Series in Brooklyn in 1955. After the move West, the Dodgers won the World Series in 1959, 1963 and 1965 with Bavasi as GM.