Former Chicago Cubs, Kansas City Royals manager Jim Frey dies at 88

Jim Frey, who managed the Kansas City Royals and Chicago Cubs before becoming the latter's general manager, died Sunday at the age of 88. 

The lifelong baseball man also helped found the Somerset Patriots of the independent Atlantic League; the Patriots first announced his death Tuesday, adding he "passed away peacefully in his home surrounded by family." No specific cause of death was provided.

Frey managed the Kansas City Royals to their first World Series appearance during his first year on the job in 1980, replacing Whitey Herzog. The Royals dropped the Fall Classic to the Philadelphia Phillies. 

Frey managed the Cubs to their first National League East division title in 1984. That year, the Cubs were one game away from reaching the World Series, but lost three straight to the San Diego Padres in the NLCS. 

From December 1987 through the 1991 season, he served as the Cubs' general manager, winning another division title in 1989.