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NEW YORK -- Frank Cashen, the general manager who wore a signature bow tie and fashioned a New York Mets team that rollicked its way to the 1986 World Series championship, died Monday. The team said he was 88. He died at Memorial Hospital in Easton, Maryland, after a short illness, the Mets said. Cashen was a longtime sports writer in his Baltimore hometown and went to law school before joining the Orioles and eventually becoming their GM. The Orioles won two titles while Cashen worked for them, but it was in New York where he put his stamp on a franchise with the likes of Darryl Strawberry and Dwight Gooden. Hired in 1980, Cashen transformed a last-place team into an outfit that became the most dominant force in baseball. Those Mets were brash and full of swagger, not at all like the personality of the man who built the club. Cashen made the trades that brought star first baseman Keith Hernandez and future Hall of Famer Gary Carter to the Mets, and oversaw the draft picks of Gooden and Strawberry. "Frank was our leader," Strawberry said in a statement. "I always admired the way he put together our team. He mixed young guys, like me and Doc, with guys like Carter and Hernandez. He was able to find the perfect blend to build a championship." Cashen also hired his former second baseman in Baltimore, Davey Johnson, to be the Mets manager. By the 1986, the Mets were ready to take over. They powered their way to 108 victories, won a tough playoff series with Houston and then rallied past Boston to win the World Series in seven games. "Frank was willing to take a chance and jump me from A-ball to the majors. That always meant a lot to me," Gooden said in a statement. "Also, he helped get me my No. 16. Lee Mazzilli had it before and Frank went to bat for me and said, If thats the number Doc wants, let him have it." Hernandez is now a broadcaster for the Mets. He was already a star first baseman for the St. Louis Cardinals when Cashen acquired him in June 1983 in a one-sided deal, getting him for pitchers Neil Allen and Rick Ownbey. Before the Mets played at Atlanta on Monday night, Hernandez fondly remembered Cashen. "He was a man of integrity and honestly, and that was most important. He told you the truth," Hernandez said. "It was a day when the general managers didnt pal around with the players. We hardly ever saw him, but there was a relationship there. He was just a wonderful man." After winning the championship, however, the Mets werent able to sustain that peak performance. In the following years and Cashen traded away Lenny Dykstra, Ron Darling, Roger McDowell and other popular players. Cashen left the Mets after a fifth-place finish in 1991. He remained close to the team and was briefly the interim GM several years later. "Frank Cashen revitalized our franchise when he took over," Mets chairman Fred Wilpon said in a statement. "I dealt with Frank on a daily basis and he was a man of integrity and great passion." "No one had a more diverse career than Frank. He was also a lawyer, sports writer and marketing executive. His accomplishments will always be an integral part of our team history," he said. Cashen, who also worked as an executive in Major League Baseball, was inducted into the team Hall of Fame for both the Orioles and Mets. "Frank Cashen was one of the greatest executives in our game," Commissioner Bud Selig said. "A true gentleman who had many interests, Frank had a multifaceted career in baseball and beyond. He helped construct some of the best clubs that two of our franchises - his hometown Baltimore Orioles and the New York Mets - have ever had." The Orioles said Cashen served the team during its "most successful on-field era." "It was during his tenure that the Orioles acquired Frank Robinson and named Earl Weaver manager, two of the most significant moments in club history," the club said. In recent years, Cashen spent his time in Easton and in Port St. Lucie, Florida, where the Mets hold spring training. He was in camp with the Mets this year. "One of the great baseball people," Mets manager Terry Collins said Monday. Cashen is survived by wife Jean, seven children and nine grandchildren. ------ AP freelance writer Amy Jinkner-Lloyd in Atlanta contributed to this report. Air Force 1 Uk .C. -- Wake Forest coach Jim Grobe is resigning after 13 seasons at the school. Air Force 1 Uk Sale . The international synchronized skating competition takes place from January 31 - February 1, 2014, and features 39 teams from 10 countries, in senior, junior, and novice. http://www.airforce1uk.com/ . Marcus Olsson, 23, joins Blackburn on a free transfer from Swedens Halmstads. He made 139 appearances and scored 17 goals in his four years with the club. He earned his first caps for Sweden this month, featuring against Bahrain and Qatar. Air Force 1 Clearance . Meeks has agreed to a $19.5 million, three-year deal with Detroit, a person familiar with the situation said Tuesday night. The person, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because free agents cant sign contracts until the leagues moratorium ends July 10, also said Cartier Martin had agreed to a one-year contract with the rebuilding franchise. Wholesale Air Force 1 . - Steve Stricker usually doesnt show up at a tournament on Sunday. LONDON -- Manchester City substitutes Jesus Navas and James Milner recovered a 4-2 victory at Fulham on Saturday after the visitors threw away a two-goal lead in a rain-lashed English Premier League encounter. Yaya Toure put City in front with his fourth goal from a free kick this season and captain Vincent Kompany fired in Citys second just before halftime. But five minutes after the break City conceded possession near the Fulham penalty area, and Kieran Richardson completed a rapid counterattack to begin the hosts fightback. In wild, windy conditions on the banks of the River Thames, Fulham was gifted an equalizer in the 69th. Kompany inexplicably sliced the ball past his own goalkeeper Joe Hart, who was recalled after being dropped in league games since October. But Navas restored Citys lead in the 78th when he slotted through goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburgs legs. And City ripped through the Fulham defence again five minutes later as Milner scored to condemn Fulham to an eighth loss in nine league games. While Fulham is next from bottom, City rose provisionally into second place, a point behind Liverpool. "It was a really difficult match because the pitch wasnt good and it was very windy," City manager Manuel Pellegrini said. City can be overtaken by either Arsenal or Chelsea, who play on Monday, but the teams status as the leagues most formidable attack was reinforced here against the most porous defence. While City has a leading-leading 55 goals, Fulham has conceded a high of 32. But away from the Etihad Stadium, City has averaged only a point a game this season, and the intensity from the hosts was greater from the outset. The City defence was easily beaten after 13 minutes, as Adel Taarabt forced Hart into making a fine diving save -- one of several that convinced Pellegrini to retain the goalkeeper for Thursdays match against Liverpool. "At the moment he deserved to play today and he also deserves to conttinue," Pellegrini said.dddddddddddd "When I put (Costel) Pantilimon in the starting XI I spoke with Joe and he understood that he was not in a good moment. "Maybe seven games after, one month after, hes working very hard, and I thought that he deserved another opportunity, and I think he did it well." Citys opener came in the 23rd minute from a set-piece. After Silva was brought down on the edge of the area, Toure curled in a free kick off the underside of the crossbar. City extended its lead in the 43rd. Silvas free kick was met by the unmarked Martin Demichelis at the far post. An initial header was saved well by Stekelenburg, but the ball was pushed straight to Kompany to fire in. "The goals that we concede, from set plays, its not good enough defending, especially the one just before halftime," Fulham manager Rene Meulensteen said. "I was hoping the experience would kick in a bit from some of these players, to steady the ship." That appeared to happen at the start of the second half. Silva was tackled near the Fulham penalty area by Scott Parker, allowing Fulham to surge forward and score. Taarabt rampaged down the left flank past Demichelis who squared into the centre for Richardson to sweep the ball in. City responded by taking off ineffective striker Dzeko, and bringing Navas on, leaving Negredo as the lone striker. But Hart was beaten again, this time by his own player. Sascha Riether whipped a cross into the penalty, and Kompany managed to turn the ball into his own goal. Kompanys blushes were spared, though, by Navas. The winger raced onto Silvas throughball, cut in from the right and slotted through Stekelenburgs legs from a tight angle. And Milner ensured a comfortable conclusion for City, meeting Negredos cross and netting his first league goal of the season. Fulham did not risk playing Dimitar Berbatov after the striker picked up a groin injury in training. 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