The Los Angeles Dodgers announced on Wednesday morning that former first baseman and right fielder Ron Fairly passed away at the age of 81.
Fairly grew up in Long Beach, Calif., and attended David Starr Jordan High School. He went on to play his college ball at the University of Southern California, helping lead the Trojans to a 1958 College World Series championship during his sophomore season.
The Dodgers signed Fairly as an amateur free agent later that year, where he made his MLB debut in a Sept. 9 contest against the Philadelphia Phillies. Fairly went hitless in three at-bats but overall batted a solid .283 for the month.
Fairly earned a more prominent role in 1959, appearing in 118 games during the regular season and all six of the Dodgers’ World Series contests against the Chicago White Sox. He captured his first of three World Series championships with the organization as L.A. defeated Chicago, 4-2.
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’s 12-year stint with the Dodgers concluded in 1969 when he was traded to the Montreal Expos midseason. He departed the organization with a .260/.347/.385 batting line, 168 doubles, 22 triples, 90 home runs and 541 RBI in 1,306 games.
Fairly won two additional World Series championships in 1963 and 1965 to boot. He spent the next six seasons of his career with the Expos and enjoyed moderate success. Fairly was selected to his first National League All-Star team in 1973 and hit 17 home runs that year.
Prior to the 1975 season, Fairly was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals and went on to enjoy other stints with the Oakland Athletics, California Angels and Toronto Blue Jays before retiring in 1978.
In 21 MLB seasons, Fairly hit .266/.360/.408 with 307 doubles, 33 triples, 215 home runs and 1,044 RBI across 8,437 plate appearances (2,442 games). He was a two-time All-Star and later became a broadcaster for multiple teams.
Earlier this year, the Dodgers lost another beloved figure in Don Newcombe. He passed away at the age of 92 following a lengthy illness. The organization honored him during the 2019 season by wearing a commemorative No. 36 jersey patch.
