Fraser Comes Home

The Wizard of College Baseball’s grandchildren unveil his UM statue.
Photo by JC Ridley, '94

Ron Fraser, the legendary University of Miami base-ball coach, is back where he belongs. Standing outside Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field, bat slung over his shoulder and a twinkle in his eye, he welcomes fans to the game he helped elevate to the national stage. His likeness, immortalized in bronze by artist Zenos Frudakis, was dedicated April 24 in a ceremony attended by his family, many former players and Sugarcanes bat girls, and scores of fans.

“The Light has always been a huge part of our life,” said Fraser’s daughter, Elizabeth Fraser Kraut, speaking on behalf of the family. “We are so excited to see ‘Popie’ here at the gate greeting the fans today and all the fans to come.”

The statue was funded primarily by friends and fans of the late coach, who led the Hurricanes from 1963 to 1992. In those 30 years, he won two national championships, went to 20 straight postseasons, and never had a losing season.

But his legacy extended far beyond the scoreboard. A father figure to a legion of young men, his mastery of promoting and marketing college baseball helped develop the sport into a major player in college athletics and Mark Light Stadium into one of South Florida’s premier family entertainment spots.

More than a hundred of Fraser’s ballplayers went on to professional baseball, and many more started successful careers. Fraser, aka the Wizard of College Baseball, was inducted into the College Baseball Hall of Fame’s introductory Class of 2006.

“Coach Fraser was not only the most influential person in college baseball history, but also the most influential in my own professional career,” head baseball coach Jim Morris said. “Having a statue in front of our park, honoring all that he did, both on the field and off, is going to be something special for his family, our program, and for our fans.”

For Rick Remmert, A.B. ’77, director of athletics alumni programs and a former assistant athletic director at UM, Fraser, who died in 2013 at age 79, is back where he belongs. “This is his ballpark,” Remmert said. “People can now say, ‘Meet me at the Frase.’”

Honoring Mother Shalala

Though she was an Ohio State Buckeye, Class of 1933, Edna C. Shalala was a staunch Miami Hurricane as well. On December 4, 2014, two days after University of Miami President Donna E. Shalala’s mother passed away at the age of 103, the women’s basketball team was playing Wisconsin at home. Jennifer Strawley, UM’s deputy director of athletics and senior woman administrator, looked toward the seat from which “Mother Shalala,” as she was affectionately known, always rooted for the team. Seeing the seat empty choked Strawley up.

Photo by JC Ridley, '94

Nine days later, Strawley was among the more than 900 people who paid tribute to the memory of this accomplished lawyer, nationally ranked amateur tennis player, and avid supporter of women’s athletics by participating in the inaugural Edna C. Shalala 5K Walk/Run. Proceeds benefited the Edna C. Shalala Fund for Women’s Athletics, established on the occasion of her 100th birthday.

Miami’s ten women’s varsity sports have brought home a total of seven national championships and numerous conference titles. Currently UM has more than 200 female student-athletes.

To donate to the Edna C. Shalala Fund for Women’s Athletics, go to http://bit.ly/Shalala_Fund.

Swimming Losses

The U lost two swimming legends last year. UM Sports Hall of Famer and head swimming coach Bill Diaz, who coached at UM from 1970 to 1985, died at age 89 in September 2014.

Jack Nelson, B.Ed. ’60, an All-American at UM and Olympic swimmer who coached 44 Olympians, four world champions, 14 national championship teams, and 30 high school state championship teams, died in November 2014. He was 82.

The post Fraser Comes Home appeared first on University of Miami: Miami Magazine.

Courtesy UM Sports Media Relations Office

The Ron Fraser Statue Dedication and Unveiling took place on Friday, April 24, outside of Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field, on the DiMare Family Champions Plaza.

Designed and sculpted by Zenos Frudakis, the seven-foot-tall bronze statue was majorly funded by friends and fans of the late Coach Fraser, who led the Hurricanes for 30 years from 1963-92. While never posting a losing season, Fraser’s teams won 1,271 games and captured the 1982 and 1985 national titles.

Fraser’s mastery of promoting and marketing the game helped develop the sport into a major player in college athletics.

From ESPN covering games in Miami to his “Dinner on the Diamond,” from creating the batgirls with “The Sugarcanes” to developing a mascot, The Miami Maniac, Fraser—more commonly known as “The Wizard of College Baseball”—made Mark Light Stadium the premier family entertainment spot in South Florida.

“The dedication of a statue in honor of Ron Fraser is a testimony to a lifetime spent enriching the lives of all who knew him, not only in the University of Miami and college baseball communities, but in the entire South Florida community,” Miami Athletics Director Blake James said. “Ron touched the lives of thousands through his passion for baseball and for people. It is fitting that his immeasurable love for this community will forever be present at the entrance of our ballpark.”

More than a hundred of Fraser’s ballplayers went on to professional baseball and many more started successful careers. Fraser was inducted into the College Baseball Hall of Fame in its introductory Class of 2006.

“Coach Fraser was not only the most influential person in college baseball history, but also the most influential in my own professional career,” head baseball coach Jim Morris said. “Having a statue in front of our park, honoring all that he did both on the field and off, is going to be something special for his family, our program and for our fans.”

The post Fraser Statue Unveiled appeared first on University of Miami: Miami Magazine.

Miami coach revered game, revived fan base

Celebrating the first of his two national title wins at UM.

Baseball legend Ron Fraser, who died on January 20 at 79 years old, will be remembered as much for his marketing brilliance as his winning teams.

When Fraser was hired as coach in 1962, America’s pastime was something of an afterthought at the University of Miami. But he quickly set his sights on creating a national power and getting fans excited about UM baseball.

He started the Dinner on the Diamond event, formed the first-ever group of batgirls (the Sugarcanes), and created a mascot—the Miami Maniac. He also convinced ESPN to broadcast college baseball.

These and other smooth moves turned the Hurricanes into one of college baseball’s most recognized teams. In his 30 years at the U, Fraser never suffered a losing season. He won two College World Series titles and saw more than 140 players go on to play professional ball.

“He played such a significant role in the history of college baseball and this program,” says UM baseball coach Jim Morris, Fraser’s successor and fellow two-time national title winner. “We will always be a tribute to him.”

Known as the Wizard of College Baseball, Fraser led the Hurricanes to 20 consecutive NCAA regional berths, 12 College World Series appearances, and national titles in 1982 and 1985. With 1,271 wins, he retired as NCAA Division I Baseball’s winningest active coach.

Born in Nutley, New Jersey, Ronald George Fraser attended Florida State University. He was letterwinner for the Seminoles from 1954 to 1956. His international coaching accolades include European championships in 1960, 1962, and 1973 with the Dutch National Team, silver medals at the 1971 and 1987 Pan American Games with the U.S. National Team, and heading the 1992 U.S. Olympic baseball team.

In honor of the man Collegiate Baseball named the 1980s Coach of the Decade, the UM baseball players are wearing a commemorative patch on their uniforms this season, and National Baseball Hall of Famer Tommy Lasorda was among the notable speakers at a celebration of Fraser’s life attended by about 1,000 people at UM’s Knight Sports Complex on February 23.

Former Hurricane Rob Cooper, A.B. ’94, M.S.Ed. ’96, Wright State University’s head baseball coach, helped launch the 2013 Ron Fraser Classic at the USA Baseball National Training Complex to raise money for the Ron Fraser Wizard Fund. “Fraser was college baseball,” says Cooper. “This is just a small way for us to celebrate Coach Fraser’s impact on collegiate and USA Baseball—two things he loved a great deal.”

Fraser is survived by his wife, Karen; three daughters; and five grandchildren.

The Ron Fraser Wizard Fund aims to erect a bronze statue of the coach at UM. For more information contact Rick Remmert, UM’s director of alumni programs, at 305-284-9517 or [email protected], or visit http://gocan.es/RonFraserWizardFund.

Ron Fraser will be remembered as the Wizard of College Baseball.

He played such a significant role in the history of college baseball and this program.

The post ‘Fraser Was College Baseball’ appeared first on University of Miami: Miami Magazine.