During his tenure as General Manager, Claire was responsible for building the Dodgers team that won the 1988 World Series. He made several key acquisitions, including the trade for pitcher Orel Hershiser and the signing of free agent outfielder Kirk Gibson. The Dodgers went on to defeat the heavily favored Oakland Athletics in five games, with Gibson hitting a memorable game-winning home run in Game 1.
Claire continued to make shrewd moves throughout his tenure as General Manager, including the acquisition of pitcher Ramon Martinez and the signing of free agent outfielder Darryl Strawberry. He also oversaw the development of several homegrown talents, including outfielder Mike Piazza and pitcher Pedro Martinez.
In addition to his success on the field, Claire was known for his commitment to community service. He was instrumental in the creation of the Dodgers Dream Foundation, which provides educational and athletic opportunities for underprivileged youth in the Los Angeles area.
Claire left the Dodgers organization in 1998 and went on to work as a baseball analyst for various media outlets. He also served as a consultant for several Major League teams, including the Tampa Bay Rays and the San Francisco Giants.
Throughout his career, Claire was widely respected for his knowledge of the game and his ability to build winning teams. He was inducted into the California Sports Hall of Fame in 2009 and continues to be involved in the baseball community through his work as a speaker and consultant.
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