Miami Hurricanes legendary baseball coach Ron Fraser dies

RECcane · Jan 21, 2013

It was the Sunday before Memorial Day, 1992, and the top-ranked University of Miami was one defeat from elimination in the NCAA baseball tournament — which also would have been Ron Fraser’s final game in his 30-year reign as the Hurricanes’ head coach.

Fraser, known as “The Wizard of College Baseball,’’ delivered a pep talk to rally his downtrodden Canes after they blew a 3-0 lead to North Carolina State and were tied 4-4 in the eighth inning.

“What the hell are you guys doing to me?’’ Fraser pleaded. “Remember, if we lose this game, it’s over and I don’t get paid anymore! I want to play more because tomorrow’s a holiday, and I get paid time-and-a-half!’’

The Canes rallied to victory, and the beloved Fraser would eventually go to his 12th and final College World Series in Omaha, Neb., before retiring that summer.

Fraser amassed a 1,271-438-9 record at UM from 1963 through ’92, at the time behind only the late Southern Cal’s Rod Dedeaux (1,332-571-11).
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Fraser became almost as well-known for his fundraising and marketing genius as for winning games. He inspired creative promotions that he often described as “good, clean G-rated family entertainment.’’ Among his promotions: Tax Night (bring your 1040 form and get in free), Bathing Suit Day (wear your bathing suit and get in free), double admission for fans with binoculars, and General Hospital Night — free, nontransferable open-heart surgery (with a five-year window) for the winner.
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If you enjoy college baseball on TV Ron Fraser is one of the main reasons why. Back in the 70's when college baseball was an afterthought It was Coach Fraser that got networks interested in broadcasting college baseball. He is the reason why I have a love for the sport of college baseball...

http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/01/21/v-fullstory/3191820/miami-hurricanes-legendary-coach.html

Sid · Jan 21, 2013

Although Ron Fraser coached 200 less games than Rod Dedeaux, he had a higher career winning percentage (.7398) than Dedeaux (.6959). I was surprised to learn he's been gone from the game since 1992. I've always associated his name with Miami baseball.

R.I.P.

Terry O'Keefe · Jan 21, 2013

Sorry to hear that, he was clearly one of the greats.

Don Ballard · Jan 21, 2013

Ralph,

Miami is one of the few colleges that can say they were tops in both football and baseball.

Fraser had quite a record!

IrishCorey · Jan 21, 2013

terrible loss, terrible disease.. great man.

Gator Bill · Jan 21, 2013

He put Miami on the baseball map. Great coach and like Corey said a terrible loss to a terrible disease.

RIP Ron

RECcane · Jan 21, 2013

Another great article on Fraser, it seems he was related to Barnum and Bailey...

And to think -- Fraser's run at Miami almost didn't get started.

With the athletic department in dire straits in the early 1970's, the school elected to cut one program. Football was lousy, basketball was worse and baseball -- though far more successful than the others -- didn't make money.

"We were going to have to let one of them go," Fraser said.

He fully expected baseball to be the program that got cut. So in a last-ditch effort, Fraser called in some favors. Baseball Hall of Famer Stan Musial, major league broadcaster Joe Garagiola and other notables showed up at a beach benefit banquet that impressed the school. In 1972, the university dropped basketball instead of baseball.

Fraser made the move pay off, finally leading Miami to its first College World Series appearance in 1974.
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Fraser was born and raised in New Jersey, then attended Florida State, where he's a member of the Seminoles' Hall of Fame.

His induction there really had very little to do with his athletic achievements in Tallahassee.

"Florida State University is proud to honor a former athlete who more recently has become a distinguished opponent," read the text of his induction into that Hall of Fame in 1981. "A brilliant promoter and coach, he has advanced collegiate baseball at the University of Miami, across Florida and across the nation."

That's how well thought of Fraser was: The Seminoles put an archrival in their Hall of Fame.

Fraser took over at Miami in 1963 with a $2,200 salary, a converted shower for an office and a cow pasture for a field. College baseball was not a revenue generating sport, even for successful programs, so Fraser got creative.

Giveaways, parachutists, whatever he could think of, it all was part of Fraser's plan to entice more people to come see his team.

"My whole thing was to entertain the people. People said it was the winning, but I was trying to entertain the people so they would come back," Fraser said around the time his coaching career ended. "I did a lot of crazy things and it worked."
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http://espn.go.com/college-sports/story/_/id/8862450/ron-fraser-ex-miami-hurricanes-baseball-coach-dies

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Miami Hurricanes legendary baseball coach Ron Fraser dies

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