Former Mets skipper Frazier dies By Sports Network

New York - Former New York Mets manager Joe Frazier has passed away at the age of 88, according to the New York Times.

The report indicates that he passed away in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, where he had been a long-time resident.

Frazier served only one full year as the team's skipper, guiding the Mets to an 86-76 record and a third place finish in the National League East.

He was let go after they stumbled to a 15-30 start to the 1977 campaign, which featured the trade of iconic pitcher Tom Seaver to the Cincinnati Reds.

His tenure as manager bridged the small gap between the end of Yogi Berra's four-season reign and the start of Joe Torre's five years leading the team from the dugout.

The North Carolina native spent parts of four seasons (1947, 1954-56) in the big leagues with Cleveland, St. Louis, Cincinnati and Baltimore. He was a .241 career hitter with 10 home runs and 45 runs batted in.

Frazier is survived by his wife, three children and six grandchildren.