Dodgers Ron Fairly Passes Away at Age 81
Some sad news for Dodger fans today as three-time World Series champion and 12-year Dodgers first baseman/outfielder Ron Fairly has passed away at the age of 81.
The Dodgers send their condolences to the family and friends of former Dodger Ron Fairly, who has passed away. Fairly played for the Dodgers for 12 years and won three championships with the team. pic.twitter.com/bZDlZbRsd4
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 30, 2019
Fairly was a major factor for the Dodgers in the 1950s and 1960s, posting a .267 batting average and .347 on-base percentage across 11 1/2 seasons with the club. Fairly’s best season with the Dodgers came in 1961 as he held an impressive .322 batting average and .956 on-base plus slugging percentage.
Ron Fairly was a SoCal man all the way — he grew up in Long Beach, attended USC, and was a Los Angeles Dodger.
The first baseman and outfielder played 21 seasons in Major League Baseball — quite an impressive feat for anyone. Outside of his time with the Dodgers, Fairly played in six seasons for the Montreal Expos, two seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals, and a season each with the Oakland Athletics, Toronto Blue Jays, and California Angels. He was well-traveled to say the least — a true ballplayer.
Fairly was also a two-time All-Star, once with the Expos and once with the Toronto Blue Jays at the age of 38. He was still swinging it well at the tail end of his career — marked by a .301 batting average and .888 OPS in 1975 at age 36 on a nice list of accomplishments.
Fairly played for the Dodgers in their 1959, 1963, and 1965 World Series championship teams and certainly impressed in each of them. Fairly put together an excellent .300/.378/.525 slash line across four World Series appearances in his career. In addition to his bat, Fairly was considered a defensive stalwart for most of his career — he posted a .991 fielding percentage lifetime.
Post-career, Fairly was the broadcaster for the Seattle Mariners.
Ron Fairly was certainly one of the glue guys that helped hold the Dodgers together during their title runs and impressed when it mattered most. If you are interested in reading more into the life of Ron Fairly, he wrote a book entitled: Fairly at Bat: My 50 Years in Baseball, From the Batter’s Box to the Broadcast Booth.
Rest in peace, Mr. Fairly.
Joc Pederson is his offspring like Chris Taylor is Mike Marshall’s
I grew up rooting for Ron and not happy when he went to the Expo’s in the draft. Good player, great Dodger.
RIP Ron Fairly
Sad. Fairly was always one of my favorite Dodgers RIP Ron.
One of the truly nice gentlemen you will ever meet. I met him at a Dodger – White Sox reunion show about a dozen years ago, and he regaled me with stories about the Dodgers, and his years of announcing games for the Expos. He looked great, and still had that boyish smile. A real gentleman!!!! RIP!!!! And thanks for the memories!!!! Go Blue!!!
Remember watching Dodger games when he was on the team. Gave it his all! Rest In Peace with the other Dodgers who have passed in Blue Heaven! ????