George Frazier was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on October 13, 1954 and passed away on June 19, 2023 in Tulsa, Oklahoma at the age of 68 from an undisclosed illness.
The lanky, 6-foot-5 right-hander, Frazier was a star at Hillcrest High School in Springfield, Missouri where he played alongside two other future major leaguers in Bob Detherage and Keith Drumright. before attending the University of Oklahoma from 1973-76.
Frazier was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 13th round of the 1972 June free agent draft but turned that offer down to attend the University of Oklahoma. George Frazier, who was a member of two College World Series teams in the 1970s playing at Oklahoma in 1975 and ’76 for legendary coach Enos Semore and was a member of the final two of five straight CWS appearances from 1972-76. After completing his college career Frazier was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 9th round of the 1976 MLB June Amateur Draft.
Frazier played parts of 10 major league seasons with five MLB clubs, the Cardinals, the Yankees, the Indians, the Cubs and finished his big league career with the Minnesota Twins where he won a World Series in 1987. The Twins acquired Frazier from the Chicago Cubs on August 13, 1986 along with Julius McDougal (minors) and Ray Fontenot and traded away Ron Davis and Dewayne Coleman (minors).
In 1986 after the trade from the Cubs, Frazier appeared in 15 games for Minnesota going 1-1 with six saves while posting a 4.39 ERA. In 1987 Frazier appeared in 54 games posting a 5-5 record with two saves and a 4.98 ERA. Frazier appeared in one game for Minnesota in the 1987 World series in which he pitched two scoreless innings allowing just one hit. His only other World Series appearances were in 1981 as a Yankee and appeared in 3 games and oddly enough took the loss in each game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 1987 World Series appearance with the Twins was the last time Frazier pitched in a big league game.
In his ten seasons in the major leagues Frazier pitched in 415 games, all in relief, pitching 675.2 innings posting a 35-43 record with 29 saves.
After his retirement as a player, Frazier turned to the broadcast booth. His announcing career began immediately following his playing days in 1988 as a college basketball broadcaster and University of Tulsa football sideline reporter. He returned to baseball to broadcast regional games for the Twins during the 1993 season, as well as working with ESPN and The Baseball Network. He served as a TV color analyst for the Rockies from 1998-2015. Frazier returned to Oklahoma in 215 as a color analyst on TV broadcasts and served in that role through the 2023 season.
The Denver Post reported that Frazier had two sons, Mathew and Parker, the latter drafted in the eighth round of the 2007 draft by the Rockies, and a daughter, Georgia, who was crowned Miss Oklahoma in 2015.
We at Twinstrivia.com would like to pass on our condolences to the George Frazier family, friends and fans.