DETROIT — Longtime baseball executive Bill Lajoie, whose eye for talent helped build the Detroit Tigers team that won the 1984 World Series championship, died Tuesday. He was 76.

Tigers spokesman Brian Britten said the team first learned of Lajoie’s death from the Pittsburgh Pirates. Lajoie had been working as a special assistant to the Pirates.

The Detroit News reported he died at his home near Sarasota, Fla.

“Bill played an integral role in building the Detroit Tigers into a world championship team in 1984 and a division title winner in 1987,” Tigers general manager David Dombrowski said in an e-mail to the Associated Press. “Bill was a respected and highly regarded baseball executive who made significant contributions to the Tigers franchise and the game of baseball.”

Lajoie was born in the Detroit suburb Wyandotte, played baseball at Western Michigan University and made it as far as Triple-A ball as an outfielder. He joined the Tigers as a scout in 1968 and helped land the likes of future stars Kirk Gibson, Jack Morris, Willie Hernandez, Lance Parrish, Dan Petry, Alan Trammell and Lou Whitaker.

Lajoie was scouting director and assistant general manager for the Tigers before coming general manager in 1984, a job he held till 1990.

Among his last moves at Detroit was the signing of Cecil Fielder as a free agent from Japan for the 1990 season. Fielder had 51 home runs that year.

After leaving Detroit, Lajoie served as an assistant for Boston, Los Angeles Dodgers, Cincinnati, Atlanta and Milwaukee.

Boros player, then scout
DETROIT — Former big league manager and infielder Steve Boros, who later played a key behind-the-scenes role in one of baseball’s most thrilling World Series moments, has died. He was 74.

Boros died Wednesday in Deland, Fla., where he had spent his recent years, the Detroit Tigers said.

Boros hit .245 with 26 home runs and 149 RBIs in parts of seven seasons with Detroit, the Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati. He managed the Oakland Athletics in 1983 and part of 1984, and guided the San Diego Padres in 1986.

Born in Michigan, Boros made his major league debut with Detroit in 1957 and mostly played third base. He hit three homers in a game in 1962 — no other Tigers player accomplished the feat until Bill Freehan in 1971.

But it was his work as an advance scout for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1988 that really showed off his baseball smarts.

Boros was part of a scout team that filled out reports that fall on the Athletics, the Dodgers’ opponent in the World Series. Among the traits that Boros and his co-workers noticed: Oakland relief ace Dennis Eckersley tended to throw a backdoor slider on 3-2 counts to left-handed hitters.

That was exactly the pitch that pinch-hitter Kirk Gibson launched off Eck for a two-out, bottom-of-the-ninth homer to win Game 1. The Dodgers went on to upset the mighty A’s in five games.

Boros worked for more than four decades in baseball, and coached for Kansas City, Montreal, the Dodgers and Baltimore. He spent the last nine years of his career in the Tigers’ organization as their minor league field coordinator (1996-2002), director of player development (2003) and special assistant to the general manager (2004).

Boros signed with the Tigers in June 1957 out of the University of Michigan and hit .270 with five homers and 62 RBIs. He missed more than a month in midseason after breaking his collarbone in a collision with Tigers pitcher Frank Lary on a bunt. Boros hit 16 homers in 1962, including his big game at Cleveland, but did not match that total again.

The Athletics went 74-88 during Boros’ first year as a manager, and he was let go during the next season.

Boros took over the Padres in spring training in 1986 after Dick Williams resigned. San Diego also went 74-88 under Boros.

DETROIT (AP)—Former big league manager and infielder Steve Boros, who later played a key behind-the-scenes role in one of baseball’s most thrilling World Series moments, has died. He was 74.

Boros died Wednesday night in Deland, Fla., where he had spent his recent years, the Detroit Tigers said Thursday. The team said it didn’t have any other details on his death.

Boros hit .245 with 26 home runs and 149 RBIs in parts of seven seasons with Detroit, the Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati. He managed the Oakland Athletics in 1983 and part of 1984, and guided the San Diego Padres in 1986.

Born in Michigan, Boros made his major league debut with Detroit in 1957 and mostly played third base. He hit three homers in a game in 1962—no other Tigers player accomplished the feat until Bill Freehan in 1971.

But it was his work as an advance scout for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1988 that really showed off his baseball smarts.

Boros was part of a scout team that filled out reports that fall on the Athletics, the Dodgers’ opponent in the World Series. Among the traits that Boros and his co-workers noticed: Oakland relief ace Dennis Eckersley tended to throw a backdoor slider on 3-2 counts to left-handed hitters.

That was exactly the pitch that pinch-hitter Kirk Gibson launched off Eck for a two-out, bottom-of-the-ninth homer to win Game 1. The Dodgers went on to upset the mighty A’s in five games.

Boros worked for more than four decades in baseball, and coached for Kansas City, Montreal, the Dodgers and Baltimore. He spent the last nine years of his career in the Tigers’ organization as their minor league field coordinator (1996-2002), director of player development (2003) and special assistant to the general manager (2004).

Boros’ son followed him into the game and worked as a scout.

“The Detroit Tigers were saddened to hear of the passing of Steve Boros,” team president and general manager Dave Dombrowski said in a statement. “Steve was a lifelong baseball man, who we respected for his years of experience as a player, manager and teacher of the game.”

Boros signed with the Tigers in June 1957 out of the University of Michigan and did well as a rookie, hitting .270 with five homers and 62 RBIs. He missed more than a month in midseason after breaking his collarbone in a collision with Tigers pitcher Frank Lary on a bunt. Boros hit 16 homers in 1962, including his big game at Cleveland, but did not match that total again.

Boros was known as one of the most genial people in baseball. In fact, that was often the knock on him as a manager, that he was too nice. Boros liked to read books on various subjects, too, and some critics a quarter-century ago said that didn’t fit in with the game’s hard-nosed nature.

The Athletics went 74-88 during Boros’ first year as a manager, and he was let go during the next season.

Boros took over the Padres in spring training in 1986 after Dick Williams resigned. San Diego also went 74-88 under Boros and aging star Graig Nettles needled the manager, calling him “Mr. Moves” for all his tinkering.

Boros, however, always kept his eye on the ball.

In the middle of the 1986 season, Boros was ejected before the first pitch of a game at Atlanta. He had gone to home plate for the exchange of lineup cards and tried to hand a videotape to umpire Charlie Williams, who had made a call the previous night that resulted in a triple play against the Padres. Williams was sure he’d gotten the play correct and quickly tossed Boros.

Replays showed Boros was right.

Updated Dec 30, 2010 9:05 PM ET

DETROIT (AP)

Former big league manager and infielder Steve Boros, who later played a key behind-the-scenes role in one of baseball’s most thrilling World Series moments, has died. He was 74.

Boros died Wednesday night in Deland, Fla., where he had spent his recent years, the Detroit Tigers said Thursday. The team said it didn’t have any other details on his death.

Boros hit .245 with 26 home runs and 149 RBIs in parts of seven seasons with Detroit, the Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati. He managed the Oakland Athletics in 1983 and part of 1984, and guided the San Diego Padres in 1986.

Born in Michigan, Boros made his major league debut with Detroit in 1957 and mostly played third base. He hit three homers in a game in 1962 – no other Tigers player accomplished the feat until Bill Freehan in 1971.

But it was his work as an advance scout for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1988 that really showed off his baseball smarts.

Boros was part of a scout team that filled out reports that fall on the Athletics, the Dodgers’ opponent in the World Series. Among the traits that Boros and his co-workers noticed: Oakland relief ace Dennis Eckersley tended to throw a backdoor slider on 3-2 counts to left-handed hitters.

That was exactly the pitch that pinch-hitter Kirk Gibson launched off Eck for a two-out, bottom-of-the-ninth homer to win Game 1. The Dodgers went on to upset the mighty A’s in five games.

Boros worked for more than four decades in baseball, and coached for Kansas City, Montreal, the Dodgers and Baltimore. He spent the last nine years of his career in the Tigers’ organization as their minor league field coordinator (1996-2002), director of player development (2003) and special assistant to the general manager (2004).

Boros’ son followed him into the game and worked as a scout.

”The Detroit Tigers were saddened to hear of the passing of Steve Boros,” team president and general manager Dave Dombrowski said in a statement. ”Steve was a lifelong baseball man, who we respected for his years of experience as a player, manager and teacher of the game.”

Boros signed with the Tigers in June 1957 out of the University of Michigan and did well as a rookie, hitting .270 with five homers and 62 RBIs. He missed more than a month in midseason after breaking his collarbone in a collision with Tigers pitcher Frank Lary on a bunt. Boros hit 16 homers in 1962, including his big game at Cleveland, but did not match that total again.

Boros was known as one of the most genial people in baseball. In fact, that was often the knock on him as a manager, that he was too nice. Boros liked to read books on various subjects, too, and some critics a quarter-century ago said that didn’t fit in with the game’s hard-nosed nature.

The Athletics went 74-88 during Boros’ first year as a manager, and he was let go during the next season.

Boros took over the Padres in spring training in 1986 after Dick Williams resigned. San Diego also went 74-88 under Boros and aging star Graig Nettles needled the manager, calling him ”Mr. Moves” for all his tinkering.

Boros, however, always kept his eye on the ball.

In the middle of the 1986 season, Boros was ejected before the first pitch of a game at Atlanta. He had gone to home plate for the exchange of lineup cards and tried to hand a videotape to umpire Charlie Williams, who had made a call the previous night that resulted in a triple play against the Padres. Williams was sure he’d gotten the play correct and quickly tossed Boros.

Replays showed Boros was right.

DETROIT — Former big league manager and infielder Steve Boros, who later played a key behind-the-scenes role in one of baseball’s most thrilling World Series moments, has died. He was 74.

Boros died Wednesday night in Deland, Fla., where he had spent his recent years, the Detroit Tigers said Thursday. The team said it didn’t have any other details on his death.

Boros hit .245 with 26 home runs and 149 RBIs in parts of seven seasons with Detroit, the Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds. He managed the Oakland Athletics in 1983 and part of 1984 and guided the San Diego Padres in 1986.

Born in Michigan, Boros made his major league debut with Detroit in 1957 and mostly played third base. He hit three homers in a game in 1962 — no other Tigers player accomplished the feat until Bill Freehan in 1971.

But it was his work as an advance scout for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1988 that really showed off his baseball smarts.

Boros was part of a scout team that filled out reports that fall on the A’s, the Dodgers’ opponent in the World Series. Among the traits that Boros and his co-workers noticed: Oakland relief ace Dennis Eckersley tended to throw a backdoor slider on 3-2 counts to left-handed hitters.

That was exactly the pitch that pinch-hitter Kirk Gibson launched off Eck for a two-out, bottom-of-the-ninth homer to win Game 1. The Dodgers went on to upset the mighty A’s in five games.

Boros worked for more than four decades in baseball and coached for the Kansas City Royals, Montreal Expos, Dodgers and Baltimore Orioles. He spent the last nine years of his career in the Tigers’ organization as their minor league field coordinator (1996 to 2002), director of player development (2003) and special assistant to the general manager (2004).

Boros’ son followed him into the game and worked as a scout.

“The Detroit Tigers were saddened to hear of the passing of Steve Boros,” team president and general manager Dave Dombrowski said in a statement. “Steve was a lifelong baseball man who we respected for his years of experience as a player, manager and teacher of the game.”

Boros signed with the Tigers in June 1957 out of the University of Michigan and did well as a rookie, hitting .270 with five homers and 62 RBIs. He missed more than a month in midseason after breaking his collarbone in a collision with Tigers pitcher Frank Lary on a bunt. Boros hit 16 homers in 1962, including his big game at Cleveland, but did not match that total again.

Boros was known as one of the most genial people in baseball. In fact, that was often the knock on him as a manager, that he was too nice. Boros liked to read books on various subjects, too, and some critics a quarter-century ago said that didn’t fit in with the game’s hard-nosed nature.

The A’s went 74-88 during Boros’ first year as a manager, and he was let go during the next season.

Boros took over the Padres in spring training in 1986 after Dick Williams resigned. San Diego also went 74-88 under Boros and aging star Graig Nettles needled the manager, calling him “Mr. Moves” for all his tinkering.

Boros, however, always kept his eye on the ball.

In the middle of the 1986 season, Boros was ejected before the first pitch of a game at Atlanta. He had gone to home plate for the exchange of lineup cards and tried to hand a videotape to umpire Charlie Williams, who had made a call the previous night that resulted in a triple play against the Padres. Williams was sure he’d gotten the play correct and quickly tossed Boros.

Replays showed Boros was right.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

Ernie Harwell once wrote in the Free Press that Steve Boros “displayed knowledge few in the game could match.”

Boros, a Flint native, Michigan graduate and Tigers bonus baby, spent 47 years in professional baseball, playing, coaching, managing, scouting and advising. Much of his time was in the Tigers’ organization.

The Tigers announced today that Boros died late Wednesday in Deland, Fla. He was 74. He had battled multiple myeloma, a cancer of the blood, since 2007.

Boros retired in 2004 after a year as a special assistant to Tigers president and general manager Dave Dombrowski.

“Steve started and finished his career as a Tiger, first as a player, and most recently with us in the front office,” Dombrowski said in a statement. “Steve was a lifelong baseball man, who we respected for his years of experience as a player, manager and teacher of the game.

“We’ve lost another long-standing member of our Tigers family.”

In 2010, three other long-time Tigers died: Harwell, the legendary voice of the team for 42 years, in May; Sparky Anderson, the Hall of Fame manager, in November; and Bill Lajoie, the architect of the 1984 wire-to-wire World Series champions, on Tuesday.

The Tigers signed Boros in 1957 out of U-M for a $25,000 bonus. He played 24 games in ’57 and six in ’58 for the Tigers as a third baseman and shortstop. He had only six hits in 42 at-bats.

His career flourished in the minor leagues, however. In 1960, he was MVP of the American Association at Triple-A Denver. When he returned to the Tigers in 1961, he had a fine season at third base despite suffering a broken collarbone in a collision with pitcher Frank Lary on a bunt. He hit .270 with five home runs and 62 RBIs in 116 games.

In 1962, Boros hit 16 homers — including three in a game at Cleveland — but only batted .228.

He was traded to the Cubs in the offseason and his big-league playing days petered out in 1965.

But his second life as a baseball man was born. That included two unsuccessful stints as a manager in the 1980s — with the Athletics and Padres.

After spending 1995 as the Orioles’ third-base coach, he returned to the Tigers. He was minor-league field coordinator (1996-2002), director of player development (2003) and then Dombrowski’s special assistant (2004).

© Copyright 2010 Globe Newspaper Company.