View source for Ron Fraser

{{Short description|American baseball player and coach}}
{{other people||Ronald Fraser (disambiguation){{!}}Ronald Fraser}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2024}}{{Infobox college coach
| name = Ron Fraser
| image = Ron Fraser.jpg
| alt = 
| caption = 
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1933|6|25}}
| birth_place = [[Nutley, New Jersey]], U.S.
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2013|1|20|1933|6|25}}
| death_place = [[Weston, Florida]], U.S.
| alma_mater = [[Florida State University]]
| coach_years1 = 1963–1992
| coach_team1 = [[Miami Hurricanes baseball|Miami Hurricanes]]
| overall_record = 1,271–438–9
| bowl_record = 
| tournament_record = 
| championships = 2 [[College World Series]] ([[1982 College World Series|1982]], [[1985 College World Series|1985]])
| awards = 
| coaching_records = 
| CBASEHOF_year = 2006
| module = {{infobox baseball biography
| embed = yes
| hofcolor      = Orange
| hoflink       = Royal Netherlands Baseball and Softball Federation
| hoftype       = Netherlands
| hofdate       = 1985
| medaltemplates =
{{MedalSport | Men's [[baseball]]}}
{{MedalSport|Manager for {{bb|USA}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Amateur World Series]]}}
{{MedalGold| [[1973 Amateur World Series (in Nicaragua)|1973 Managua]] | [[United States national baseball team|Team]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Baseball at the Pan American Games|Pan American Games]]}}
{{MedalSilver| [[Baseball at the 1987 Pan American Games|1987 Indianapolis]] | [[United States national baseball team|Team]]}}
{{MedalSport|Manager for {{bb|Netherlands}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[European Baseball Championship|European Championship]]}}
{{MedalGold| [[1960 European Baseball Championship|1960 Barcelona]] | [[Netherlands national baseball team|Team]]}}
{{MedalGold| [[1962 European Baseball Championship|1962 Amsterdam]] | [[Netherlands national baseball team|Team]]}}
{{MedalGold| [[1973 European Baseball Championship|1973 Haarlem]] | [[Netherlands national baseball team|Team]]}}
{{MedalSport|Manager for {{bb|West Germany}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[European Baseball Championship|European Championship]]}}
{{MedalBronze| [[1958 European Baseball Championship|1958 Amsterdam]] | [[Germany national baseball team|Team]]}}
}}
}}
'''Ronald George Fraser''' (June 25, 1933 – January 20, 2013) was an American [[college baseball]] [[Coach (baseball)|coach]] best known for his tenure at the [[University of Miami]] from 1963 to 1992. Nicknamed the "Wizard of College Baseball", he led the [[Miami Hurricanes baseball]] program to over 1,200 victories—his teams set an [[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]] baseball record with playoff appearances in 20 consecutive seasons and won [[College World Series]] championships in 1982 and 1985.<ref name=HOF>{{cite web |url=https://www.mlb.com/college-baseball-hall-of-fame/class-of-2006#fraser |title=Ron Fraser - University of Miami / 1962-92 |website=MLB.com |accessdate=April 14, 2024}}</ref> 

Fraser managed the [[United States national baseball team]] on several occasions, including to a world title at the [[1973 Amateur World Series (in Nicaragua)|1973 Amateur World Series]] in Nicaragua and at the  [[Baseball at the 1992 Summer Olympics|1992 Summer Olympics]]. He also managed [[Netherlands national baseball team|the Netherlands]] to two European championships in the 1960s.<ref name="si">{{cite news |last1=Wulf |first1=Steve |title=A Last Hurrah |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1992/07/22/a-last-hurrah-ron-frasers-final-coaching-mission-is-to-take-team-usa-to-the-gold-medal |access-date=28 April 2025 |work=[[Sports Illustrated]] |date=July 22, 1992}}</ref>

==Early years==
Born and raised in [[Nutley, New Jersey]], Fraser was a three-sport letterman at [[Nutley High School]] where he graduated in 1953.<ref name=Velber>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-herald-news-nutleys-fraser-is-mr-s/145386648/ |title=Nutley's Fraser Is Mr. Success |first=Don |last=Veleber |newspaper=[[Herald News]] |location=[[Passaic, New Jersey]] |page=23 |date=July 29, 1969 |accessdate=April 14, 2024 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> He then attended [[Murray State University|Murray State College]] in Kentucky from 1953 to 1954.<ref name=Velber/> Later, he played baseball at [[Florida State University]] from 1954 to 1956 as a [[relief pitcher]] for the [[Florida State Seminoles baseball]] team. At Florida State, he joined [[Theta Chi]]. He graduated in 1960.<ref name=Velber/>

Fraser served in the [[United States Army]] for two years, during 1957 and 1958.<ref name=Velber/> He was stationed in Germany and the Netherlands. 

==Managerial career==
=== European baseball ===
During his time in Europe with the US Army, Fraser coached the [[Germany national baseball team|West Germany national baseball team]] at the [[1958 European Baseball Championship]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-fsus-ron-fraser-to-pilot/145386305/ |title=FSU's Ron Fraser To Pilot Dutch Nine |agency=[[Associated Press|AP]] |newspaper=[[The Tennessean]] |location=[[Nashville, Tennessee]] |page=12 |date=March 26, 1960 |accessdate=April 14, 2024 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> He later went on to manage the [[Netherlands national baseball team]] from 1960 until 1963.<ref name=gain>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-news-the-dutch-lose-a-coach-an/145381968/ |title=The Dutch Lose A Coach And It's U-M's Gain |first=Rick |last=Pezdirtz |newspaper=[[The Miami News]] |page=3C |date=January 16, 1963 |accessdate=April 14, 2024 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref>

Fraser was hired as manager of the Dutch national team in 1960, replacing [[Henk Keulemans]], becoming the team's second ever coach and first American coach. He led the team to two European championships, in [[1960 European Baseball Championship|1960]] and [[1962 European Baseball Championship|1962]]. On one occasion, Fraser broke his leg while attempting to demonstrate a proper slide. Fraser left the Netherlands team in 1962 to take a coaching job with the University of Miami.<ref name="slam">{{cite news |last1=Stoovelaar |first1=Marco |title=Hall of Famer, former coach Ron Fraser passed away |url=https://catcher.home.xs4all.nl/bb13-2301rfn.htm |access-date=4 May 2025 |work=Grand Slam Stats & News |date=23 January 2013}}</ref>

In 1972 and 1973, he returned to coach the Netherlands between college seasons, taking part in the 1972 [[Haarlem Baseball Week]] and winning another European title in [[1973 European Baseball Championship|1973]] in Haarlem. Fraser returned to the Netherlands a third time in 1980 when he participated in Haarlem Baseball Week with his Miami Hurricanes collegiate team, winning the tournament.<ref name="slam" />

=== Miami Hurricanes ===
{{refimprove|section|date=April 2024}}
In 1963, Fraser took a head coaching job with the [[University of Miami]],<ref name=gain/> a school which did not offer its baseball players a scholarship. Even though the school did not begin to offer scholarships until 1973, Fraser built a program. Some of the people Fraser brought to visit the school to bring publicity to the program were [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) Hall of Famers [[Ted Williams]] and [[Stan Musial]], as well as announcer [[Joe Garagiola Sr.|Joe Garagiola]].

In 1973, Miami started a record streak of consecutive postseason appearances in college baseball; the streak continued for 20 seasons under Fraser, and ultimately lasted 44 seasons, finally ending in 2017. Also in 1973, [[Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field|Mark Light Stadium]] was built in large part to efforts by Fraser to build a privately-funded stadium. In 1974, Miami was [[College World Series]] runner-up to the [[University of Southern California]] (USC), a perennial college baseball powerhouse.

The 1980s were a time of great change in Miami athletics.{{whom|date=April 2024}} The [[Miami Hurricanes football]] team won championships in 1983, 1987 and 1989. While the success of Miami football seemed to eclipse much of the success of the baseball program, Miami won its first two College World Series in 1982 and 1985.
{{More|1982 College World Series|1985 College World Series}}

While opponents' fans often criticized Hurricane football fans for not selling out the [[Miami Orange Bowl|Orange Bowl]]. Mark Light Stadium was almost always a full house for Hurricane baseball games and Fraser's Hurricanes drew 1.27 million fans in the 1980s, the best in college baseball.

Fraser was inducted to the Hurricanes' sports hall of fame in 1983,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.umsportshalloffame.com/ron-fraser.html |title=Ron Fraser: Baseball Coach |website=umsportshalloffame.com |accessdate=April 14, 2024}}</ref> and the Ron Fraser Building, which houses the baseball offices at Mark Light Stadium, was named after him in 1986.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-news-ron-fraser-baseball-build/145383541/ |title=Ron Fraser Baseball Building: It's about time |first=Richard |last=Rosenblatt |newspaper=[[The Miami News]] |page=2B |date=February 19, 1986 |accessdate=April 14, 2024 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> Fraser retired as coach of Miami baseball at the end of the 1992 season.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/south-florida-sun-sentinel-fraser-leaves/145383157/ |title=Fraser leaves Omaha rain for new reign in Spain |first=Randall |last=Mell |newspaper=[[Sun Sentinel]] |location=[[Fort Lauderdale, Florida]] |page=5C |date=June 7, 1992 |accessdate=April 14, 2024 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref>

=== 1992 Summer Olympics ===
Fraser coached the [[United States national baseball team]] at the [[Baseball at the 1992 Summer Olympics|1992 Summer Olympics]], which marked the first time that baseball was an official medal sport.<ref name=preston/><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83078535/fraser-makes-final-cuts-on-us-baseball/ |title=Fraser makes final cuts on U.S. baseball team |agency=[[Associated Press|AP]] |newspaper=[[South Bend Tribune]] |location=[[South Bend, Indiana]] |page=C3 |date=July 11, 1992 |accessdate=August 8, 2021 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> The team, per Olympic rules at the time, was restricted to amateur players only.<ref name=preston/> Fraser's 20-player squad of college baseball players included future major leaguers such as [[Jason Giambi]], [[Nomar Garciaparra]], and [[Jason Varitek]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83078065/garciaparra-safe-varitek-out-as-us-ma/ |title=Garciaparra safe, Varitek out as U.S. makes final cuts |first=Thomas |last=Stinson |newspaper=[[The Atlanta Journal-Constitution]] |page=D4 |date=July 11, 1992 |accessdate=August 8, 2021 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83080145/varitek-headed-to-the-olympics/ |title=Varitek headed to the Olympics |newspaper=[[Orlando Sentinel]] |page=C-1 |date=July 15, 1992 |accessdate=August 8, 2021 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> The team had a 5–2 record in pool play, then fell to [[Cuba national baseball team|Cuba]] in the semifinals, followed by a loss to [[Japan national baseball team|Japan]] in the bronze-medal match.<ref name=preston>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83082056/dismayed-us-beaten-at-its-own-game/ |title=Dismayed U.S. Beaten at Its Own Game |first=Mike |last=Preston |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |page=C7 |date=August 6, 1992 |accessdate=August 8, 2021 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref>

== Later years ==
Fraser was inducted to the [[College Baseball Hall of Fame]] in 2006.<ref name=HOF/> He died on January 20, 2013, at his home in [[Weston, Florida]], of complications from [[Alzheimer's disease]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Degnan |first=Susan Miller |date=January 21, 2013 |url=http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/01/20/3191820/miami-hurricanes-legendary-coach.html |title=Miami Hurricanes legendary baseball coach Ron Fraser dies |work=Miami Herald |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140118230921/http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/01/21/3191820/miami-hurricanes-legendary-coach.html |archive-date=January 18, 2014}}</ref>

==Head coaching record==
{{CBB Yearly Record Start
|type=coach
|conference=
|postseason=
|poll=no
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead|
|name=[[Miami Hurricanes baseball|Miami]]
|startyear=1963
|conference=Independent
|endyear=1992
|}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season       = 1963
 | name         = Miami
 | overall      = 18-9
 | conference   = 
 | confstanding = 
 | postseason   = 
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season       = 1964
 | name         = Miami
 | overall      = 20-9-1
 | conference   = 
 | confstanding = 
 | postseason   = 
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season       = 1965
 | name         = Miami
 | overall      = 23-12-1
 | conference   = 
 | confstanding = 
 | postseason   = 
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season       = 1966
 | name         = Miami
 | overall      = 19-18-1
 | conference   = 
 | confstanding = 
 | postseason   = 
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season       = 1967
 | name         = Miami
 | overall      = 23-15-1
 | conference   = 
 | confstanding = 
 | postseason   = 
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season       = 1968
 | name         = Miami
 | overall      = 27-11-1
 | conference   = 
 | confstanding = 
 | postseason   = 
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season       = 1969
 | name         = Miami
 | overall      = 31-11
 | conference   = 
 | confstanding = 
 | postseason   = 
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season       = 1970
 | name         = Miami
 | overall      = 28-15-1
 | conference   = 
 | confstanding = 
 | postseason   = 
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season       = 1971
 | name         = Miami
 | overall      = 35-11
 | conference   = 
 | confstanding = 
 | postseason   = [[1971 NCAA Division I baseball tournament|NCAA District]]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season       = 1972
 | name         = Miami
 | overall      = 32-17
 | conference   = 
 | confstanding = 
 | postseason   = 
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season       = 1973
 | name         = Miami
 | overall      = 42-17
 | conference   = 
 | confstanding = 
 | postseason   = [[1973 NCAA Division I baseball tournament|NCAA District]]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season       = 1974
 | name         = Miami
 | overall      = 51-11
 | conference   = 
 | confstanding = 
 | postseason   = [[1974 College World Series|College World Series Runner-up]]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season       = 1975
 | name         = Miami
 | overall      = 45-14
 | conference   = 
 | confstanding = 
 | postseason   = [[1975 NCAA Division I baseball tournament|NCAA Regional]]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season       = 1976
 | name         = Miami
 | overall      = 41-15
 | conference   = 
 | confstanding = 
 | postseason   = [[1976 NCAA Division I baseball tournament|NCAA Regional]]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season       = 1977
 | name         = Miami
 | overall      = 44-13
 | conference   = 
 | confstanding = 
 | postseason   = [[1977 NCAA Division I baseball tournament|NCAA Regional]]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season       = 1978
 | name         = Miami
 | overall      = 50-12
 | conference   = 
 | confstanding = 
 | postseason   = [[1978 College World Series|College World Series]]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season       = 1979
 | name         = Miami
 | overall      = 55-11
 | conference   = 
 | confstanding = 
 | postseason   = [[1979 College World Series|College World Series]]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season       = 1980
 | name         = Miami
 | overall      = 59-12
 | conference   = 
 | confstanding = 
 | postseason   = [[1980 College World Series|College World Series]]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season       = 1981
 | name         = Miami
 | overall      = 61-10
 | conference   = 
 | confstanding = 
 | postseason   = [[1981 College World Series|College World Series]]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = national
 | season       = 1982
 | name         = Miami
 | overall      = 55-17-1
 | conference   = 
 | confstanding = 
 | postseason   = [[1982 College World Series|College World Series champions]]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season       = 1983
 | name         = Miami
 | overall      = 61-21
 | conference   = 
 | confstanding = 
 | postseason   = [[1983 NCAA Division I baseball tournament|NCAA Regional]]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season       = 1984
 | name         = Miami
 | overall      = 48-28
 | conference   = 
 | confstanding = 
 | postseason   = [[1984 College World Series|College World Series]]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = national
 | season       = 1985
 | name         = Miami
 | overall      = 64-16
 | conference   = 
 | confstanding = 
 | postseason   = [[1985 College World Series|College World Series champions]]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season       = 1986
 | name         = Miami
 | overall      = 50-17
 | conference   = 
 | confstanding = 
 | postseason   = [[1986 College World Series|College World Series]]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season       = 1987
 | name         = Miami
 | overall      = 35-24-1
 | conference   = 
 | confstanding = 
 | postseason   = [[1987 NCAA Division I baseball tournament|NCAA Regional]]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season       = 1988
 | name         = Miami
 | overall      = 52-14-1
 | conference   = 
 | confstanding = 
 | postseason   = [[1988 College World Series|College World Series]]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season       = 1989
 | name         = Miami
 | overall      = 49-18
 | conference   = 
 | confstanding = 
 | postseason   = [[1989 College World Series|College World Series]]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season       = 1990
 | name         = Miami
 | overall      = 52-13
 | conference   = 
 | confstanding = 
 | postseason   = [[1990 NCAA Division I baseball tournament|NCAA Regional]]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season       = 1991
 | name         = Miami
 | overall      = 46-17
 | conference   = 
 | confstanding = 
 | postseason   = [[1991 NCAA Division I baseball tournament|NCAA Regional]]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season       = 1992
 | name         = Miami
 | overall      = 55-10
 | conference   = 
 | confstanding = 
 | postseason   = [[1992 College World Series|College World Series]]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal
 | name       = Miami
 | overall    = 1,271–438–9
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record End
|overall=1,271–438–9
}}

==See also==
{{Portal|Baseball}}
*[[List of college baseball career coaching wins leaders]]
*[[Miami Maniac]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Baseball America College COY}}
{{Miami Hurricanes baseball coach navbox}}
{{1982 Miami Hurricanes baseball}}
{{1985 Miami Hurricanes baseball}}
{{National College Baseball Hall of Fame}}
{{United States national baseball team managers}}
{{United States baseball roster 1992 Summer Olympics}}
{{Netherlands national baseball team managers}}
{{Baseball in the Netherlands}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fraser, Ron}}
[[Category:1933 births]]
[[Category:2013 deaths]]
[[Category:Florida State Seminoles baseball players]]
[[Category:Miami Hurricanes baseball coaches]]
[[Category:National College Baseball Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Nutley High School alumni]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Nutley, New Jersey]]
[[Category:Baseball players from Essex County, New Jersey]]
[[Category:Deaths from dementia in Florida]]
[[Category:Deaths from Alzheimer's disease in Florida]]
[[Category:American expatriate baseball people in the Netherlands]]
[[Category:United States Army soldiers]]
[[Category:Murray State Racers baseball players]]
[[Category:American expatriate sportspeople in Germany]]
[[Category:Baseball coaches from New Jersey]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]
[[Category:United States national baseball team managers]]