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E.J. Bavasi was the last general manager of the Dodgers in Brooklyn (and their first in Los Angeles), then created the San Diego Padres and later presided over the California Angels' signing of Reggie Jackson and Rod Carew, as well as the decision not to re-sign Nolan Ryan before he became an ageless legend. Old school, but a quipster who said of letting Ryan go after a 16-14 season: "We'll just have to find a couple of 8-7 pitchers to replace him." Heh. Ryan pitched 14 more years and went right into the Hall of Fame. From former Angels beat writer Tom Singer at MLB.com:
Mike Port, who succeeded Bavasi as Angels GM late in the 1984 season and now is MLB's vice president of umpiring, tied a bow around the baseball statesman's legacy, saying, "Eight National League pennants, four World Series titles, two American League Championship Series titles, more than two dozen of his former players who managed at the Major League level! That just scratches the surface of Buzzie's accomplishments in this game."
The Dodgers won 5-3 in Florida today. The Angels are playing Oakland at home, tied 4-4 in the second.