ATLANTA -- Jim Fregosis big league career got off to a real quiet start. His first three at-bats, as a teenager for the expansion Los Angeles Angels, he hit grounders back to perennial Gold Glove pitcher Jim Kaat. Over the next half-century, Fregosi made a lot more noise in majors. Fregosi, a six-time All-Star shortstop who went to manage the Angels to their first playoff appearance and guide the rowdy 1993 Philadelphia Phillies into the World Series, died Friday after an apparent stroke. He was 71. Popular on and off the field, full of opinions and an outsized personality, Fregosi could argue with the best of em. He could also laugh at himself, and would poke fun at his part in one of baseballs most-lopsided trades -- the deal that sent him to the New York Mets for a young, wild pitcher named Nolan Ryan. The Atlanta Braves said they were notified by a family member that Fregosi died early Friday in Miami, where he was hospitalized after the apparent stroke while on a cruise with baseball alumni. Fregosi ended more than 50 years in baseball as a special assistant to Braves general manager Frank Wren. "Jim played a vital role in our club over the last 13 years," Wren said Friday. "As a senior adviser he was someone you could always pick up the phone and get a feel for the players in the game. He covered all 30 teams for us and was such a positive, knowledgeable resource. He lit up a room and had just great relationships throughout the game. "When I first became GM, one of the things that made the transition so easy was having Jim as close as a phone call for advice and help or encouragement." Braves president John Schuerholz said the team would find a way to honour Fregosi this season. "He gave a lot to the game no matter what uniform he was in, no matter whether he was a player, a coach or a scout," Schuerholz said. "Some people say he could have managed again right now. He was so smart and knew the game so well. I agree with that." Schuerholz said Fregosi "didnt grow into this personality. I think he was born with it. I think he had that personality when he was born." Along with the Phillies and Angels -- where he was reunited with Ryan and made the playoffs in 1979 -- Fregosi managed the Chicago White Sox and Toronto. He took over the White Sox in the middle of the 1986 season after Tony La Russa was fired, and was hired by the Blue Jays after manager Tim Johnson was dismissed during spring training in 1999 for lying about his military service record. Phillies president David Montgomery said the team and others in baseball "lost a dear friend." "Hell be remembered for his vibrant personality, wisdom and love of the game," Montgomery said in a statement. "Our deepest sympathy is extended to his widow, Joni, daughters Nikki, Lexy and Jennifer and sons Robert and Jim." Giants general manager Brian Sabean said Fregosis death "leaves a hole in the unique fabric of our great game. He was a great friend and mentor to so many, no matter what hat he wore." "He was a one-of-a-kind baseball lifer," he said. Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig spoke of Fregosis widespread relationships in the game. "The outpouring of support in recent days illustrates the vast respect that Jim earned in a great baseball life," Selig said in a statement. Fregosi was an infielder in the majors from 1961 to 1978, hitting .265 with 151 homers and 706 RBIs. His best seasons came with the Angels. From 1964-69, he teamed with second baseman Bobby Knoop to form a strong double-play combination. They played together in the 1966 All-Star game. Knoop, now an Angels coach, said Fregosi was the kind of guy who "would not have a tattoo, but would cover your back. He was a tremendous person who had tremendous passion for the game and loved the Angels." The Angels retired Fregosis No. 11 in 1988 and said he was a personal favourite of former owner Gene Autry. "His personality was infectious, his love of the game legendary, and his knowledge endless," the team said in a statement. Fregosi was traded from the Angels to the Mets after the 1971 season for a package of players that included Ryan. Fregosi played just 146 games over two seasons for the Mets and hit .233 with five home runs; Ryan turned into a Hall of Fame pitcher. Fregosi later played for the Texas Rangers and Pittsburgh Pirates. He began his managing career at 36 with the Angels in April 1978 -- two days after his final game as a player with the Pirates. In 15 seasons as a manager, he posted a 1,028-1,094 record. With the Phillies, Fregosi handled a team that included a lot of rough-and-tumble players and helped them reach the 1993 World Series. Philadelphia was beaten by Toronto on Joe Carters winning home run in Game 6. Former Phillies catcher Darren Daulton called Fregosi "the best manager Ive ever played for." "Our relationship was so special ... and he was the one that taught me how to be a leader," Daulton said. "Fregos and I could relate to each other whether we were in the clubhouse or on the field. In 1993 The City of Brotherly Love changed the world ... Fregos was the driving force!" Lenny Dykstra, a Phillies star in those days, said Fregosi "was a players manager." "Jim Fregosi was the reason that 1993 was one of the most exciting years in Philadelphia sports history," he said. James Louis Fregosi was born in 1942 in San Francisco and excelled in baseball, football basketball and track and field at Serra High School. He signed with the Boston Red Sox out of high school and went to the Angels in the 1960 expansion draft. 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After the buzzer sounded following the second period of Game 6 on Sunday night, Lundqvist casually skated behind Crosby and sprayed him with water while Crosby was down on the ice. No penalty was called. The league punished Lundqvist on Monday night for unsportsmanlike conduct.LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Arkansas didnt need a spectacular dunk to beat No. 17 Kentucky in overtime this time around. Perfect free throw shooting worked just fine for the Razorbacks, a fundamental they executed much better than the Wildcats, with Coty Clarke and Kikko Hayder providing the final touches in the extra session. Clarke scored four of his seven points in OT from the foul line and Arkansas upset the Wildcats 71-67 on Thursday night to complete a season sweep. Six weeks after Michael Qualls beat the Wildcats with a last-second dunk in OT, Clarke lifted the Razorbacks this time with a 3-pointer and foul shooting, making two free throws with 36.7 seconds left for a 69-64 lead. Foul shots were the difference in the game, with Arkansas making all six attempts in overtime and going 16 for 16 overall. Kentucky was 12 of 22 from the line and just 6 of 14 in the second half. "They got tired and you could tell when they were going up and missing," said Clarke, who went 6 for 6 to finish with 11 points. "We were able to capitalize. You need that going in against a team like this on the road to maintain. Thats what we were able to do." James Youngs 3-pointer brought Kentucky (21-7, 11-4 Southeastern Conference) within two, but Haydar made two more from the line with 17 seconds left for the final margin. Aaron Harrison and Andrew Harrison each missed a 3 at the end for the Wildcats. The surging Razorbacks (19-9, 8-7) have won four straight and six of seven. They evened their OT record at 2-2. Clarke was one of four Razorbacks in double figures. Qualls scored 14 to lead the way, with Rashad Madden adding 12 and Anthlon Bell 10. Arkansas was outrebounded 47-38 and outscored 42-20 in the paint while committing 20 turnovers and shooting just 41 per cent. None of that stopped the Razorbacks from beating Kentucky for the third straight time and earning their first win at Rupp Arena since their 1993-94 NCAA championship season. "It was good to see our guys come out on the right side of things, afteer so many overtime games," Arkansas coach Mike Anderson said.dddddddddddd Willie Cauley-Stein led Kentucky with 16 points and 13 rebounds. Andrew Harrison and Julius Randle each scored 14 and Young 11 on a night when the Wildcats shot just 26 of 76 (34 per cent) from the field. Randle also had 10 rebounds but went 2 of 5 from the foul line. Kentucky struggled with easy shots the whole game. Despite outscoring Arkansas in the lane, the Wildcats missed many from close in as the Razorbacks disrupted their flow shooting and passing. "They beat us to loose balls," Kentucky coach John Calipari said. "We missed 10 one-foot shots. We missed all free throws that mattered. We have a lead late, were leaving timeouts and not executing. "We took two steps back today. Give them (the Razorbacks) credit, they played hard." The Razorbacks also gained bragging rights in a matchup of the SECs top two offences. But they had to do it at the foul line with baskets hard to come by for both teams in a scrappy if sloppy second half. Trailing 50-43 with 12:03 remaining and struggling for offensive consistency, the Wildcats battled back with tough defence to outscore the Razorbacks 11-2 over 6:14. Cauley-Steins dunk at the 5:31 mark provided Kentuckys first lead since the early minutes. But the Wildcats missed three of four free throws late in regulation along with a couple of jumpers. Andrew Harrison also committed a costly turnover in the final minute on a lob attempt to Alex Poythress, allowing Arkansas to come back from a 60-56 deficit and force overtime. Arkansas had a chance to win at the end of regulation after Clarke blocked Andrew Harrisons jumper, but Alandise Harris long 3-pointer bounced off the rim. Clarke took over from there in overtime, culminating in a road win the Razorbacks have been waiting to secure for a long time. "We just had to stay poised," Harris said. "Weve been down, weve been up. We just had to make plays to get us where we needed to be." Cheap Jerseys? nfl jerseys cheap authentic?wholesale jerseys?jerseys from china authentic Cheap Jerseys wholesale stitched jerseys ' ' '