Oklahoma Mourns Passing of George Frazier

Sooner legend George Frazier passed away on Monday at 68-years-old.

By OU Media Relations

NORMAN – The University of Oklahoma mourns the passing of former OU and major league pitcher and broadcaster George Frazier, who was a member of two College World Series teams in the 1970s and served as a television color analyst for the Sooners since 2015. He was 68.Frazier played at Oklahoma in 1975 and '76 for legendary coach Enos Semore and was a member of the final two of five straight CWS appearances from 1972-76. He later played parts of 10 major league seasons with five clubs and won a World Series in 1987 with the Minnesota Twins. He spent 18 years as a television broadcaster with the Colorado Rockies and nine as a TV color analyst for OU baseball."The entire Oklahoma family is saddened by the passing of George Frazier, a beloved alumnus and colleague," said OU Vice President and Director of Athletics Joe Castiglione. "George was a proud Sooner, a member of two College World Series teams and an accomplished major league pitcher and World Series champion, who later shared his witty, insightful and uniquely entertaining perspective of the game through his television commentary. We were fortunate to call him a friend and teammate, and to have him as a member of our baseball broadcasts for nine seasons. We will miss him dearly, and share our deepest condolences with his wife Kay, sons Matt, Brian and Parker, and daughter Georgia at this time."

Over his two varsity seasons with the Sooners, Frazier posted a 12-4 record, recorded eight saves and registered a 2.62 ERA in 43 appearances. He ranks among the top 16 in school history in career ERA and saves.Frazier returned to Oklahoma in 2015 as a color analyst on TV broadcasts and served in that role through the 2023 season. He also sometimes joined radio play-by-play voice Toby Rowland on broadcasts for OU baseball games in Tulsa and Stillwater, and for Big 12 tournament games in Oklahoma City.In between, Frazier built a long career in Major League Baseball as both a player and broadcaster. Selected in the ninth round of the 1976 MLB Draft by the Milwaukee Brewers, he made his major league debut in 1978 with the St. Louis Cardinals. Over 10 seasons, he played for the Cardinals (1978-80), New York Yankees (1981-83), Cleveland Guardians (1984), Chicago Cubs (1984-86) and Twins (1986-87).He appeared in the 1981 World Series with the Yankees, helped the Cubs win their first division title in 1984 and won the 1987 World Series with the Twins. He posted a career 4.20 ERA with 35 wins and 29 saves in 415 appearances. He pitched two scoreless innings during Game 4 of the 1987 World Series against St. Louis, which turned out to be his final MLB appearance.After his retirement as a player, Frazier turned to the broadcast booth. His announcing career began immediately following his playing days in 1988 as a college basketball broadcaster and University of Tulsa football sideline reporter. He returned to baseball to broadcast regional games for the Twins during the 1993 season, as well as working with ESPN and The Baseball Network. He served as a TV color analyst for the Rockies from 1998-2015.A resident of Tulsa, Frazier was born in Oklahoma City and attended Hillcrest High School in Springfield, Mo., before attending the University of Oklahoma from 1973-76. His son Parker was selected in the eighth round of the 2007 MLB Draft by the Rockies and pitched 12 seasons in the minor leagues, and daughter Georgia was crowned Miss Oklahoma in 2015.