Eddie Haas, whose cup of coffee in MLB was followed by a long coaching career that led him to manage the Atlanta Braves for one season, died June 4. He was 91.
Paducah, KY native and baseball legend Eddie Haas passed away on Thursday at the age of 91.
Haas spent 50 years in professional baseball as a player, manager, scout and executive.
He played in the MLB with the Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Braves and became manager for the Atlanta… pic.twitter.com/pUQbCCVIO4
— Adam Wells (@TheAdamBWells) June 5, 2026
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Haas played three big league seasons for the Chicago Cubs (1957) and Milwaukee Braves (1958-60). An outfielder, Haas batted 79 times and hit .243 with one home run.
Haas continued playing in the minor league systems of the Braves and Los Angeles Angels from 1960-64 before retiring as a player.
After more than two decades as a minor league coach and manager, he was brought up to Atlanta from the minor leagues for the final two months of the 1984 season on Joe Torre’s staff, serving as first base coach and hitting instructor.
Haas was named manager of the Atlanta Braves in October 1984 when Torre, a future Hall of Famer, was fired. Haas had spent 31 of his 49 years working for the Braves in some capacity before getting the job.
“It’s a special honor to manage what I consider one of the top organizations in baseball,” Haas said at the time.
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The ending of Haas’ managerial career was not as sweet as the beginning. The Braves were 50-71 when Haas was fired on Aug. 27, 1985, abruptly ending his tenure in the organization — and his managerial career. Reviews of his performance from inside the Braves’ clubhouse were less than glowing.
“For us to win this year, we had to have a three- or four-run lead in the eighth inning,” Braves outfielder Claudell Washington said at the time. “If it was one or two runs, he was going to mess it up.”
Haas continued his baseball career as a special assignment scout for the Montreal Expos from 1986-94, and later for the Boston Red Sox from 1995-2003.
Haas twice managed minor league teams to first place, and led the Greenwood Braves to the Western Carolinas League championship in 1969.
Haas’ family has a long legacy in baseball. His brother, Louis, played in the Braves’ farm system, while sons Matt and Danny became longtime scouts and former minor league players. Two cousins, Phil Roof and Gene Roof, both reached the major leagues.
Haas is survived by two sisters, three children, and seven grandchildren.
For more MLB news, visit Newsweek Sports.
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