Jim Fregosi left an impact on the MLB

Max’s Cafe, the media and baseball officials dining room at Steinbrenner Field, where Jim Fregosi could always be found, holding court, swapping stories with the scouts at the big table in the back, will be a little quieter.

The news of Fregosi’s sudden death sent shock waves through the baseball community, especially among the scouts with whom he spent most of his time these past 13 years in his capacity of assistant general manager of the Atlanta Braves.

Jim Fregosi (c.), here with Mets teammates Ken Boswell and Wayne Garrett in 1973.

Gene Autry, the Angels’ founding owner, always said Fregosi was his favorite player and in 1978 he made him the Angels’ manager despite the fact that he had no managerial or coaching experience.

A year later, Fregosi led the Angels to their first AL West division title.

He later managed the White Sox, Phillies and Blue Jays, winning a total of 1,028 games in 15 years as a big league skipper.

Of scouting, his last job, Fregosi told the Orange County Register’s Mark Whicker last year: “You don’t just watch a player play.

The ballparks were home for Jim Fregosi, baseball lifer, and this spring there is going to be a huge void at the ballparks all around the Gulf Coast of Florida.