SAN FRANCISCO — Former San Francisco State Head Baseball Coach Orrin Freeman has passed away at the age of 69, following complications from diabetes.

Freeman inherited a Gators squad that was 18-28-2 in 1978. In his first season at the helm, the Gators inched closer to .500 at 28-31-1. In 1980, Freeman posted the Gators' first winning season since 1971 and, in 1981, posted the team's best season since 1963, with a 38-14-1 (.726) mark. In four seasons, Freeman amassed an impressive 130-78-3 (.630) record.



Freeman played college ball at USC in the late sixties and early seventies. After graduating in 1972, he stayed on as an assistant for legendary Head Coach Rod Dedeaux. After turning around SF State's baseball program, Freeman compiled a long and successful career in the Major Leagues. He served as a scout for the New York Yankees from 1983-86 and for the Montreal Expos from 1987-91. In 1991, he was named director of international operations and associate scouting director of the expansion team, Florida Marlins. In 1995, he was named the Marlins' director of scouting and the Marlins won the World Series in 1997, and again in 2003. Freeman was inducted into the San Francisco State Athletics Hall of Fame in 1998 and that same year, was named the Marlins' special assistant to the general manager, and later senior advisor of player personnel. In 2014, Freeman was awarded the West Coast Scout of the Year. He was presented the George Genovese Lifetime Achievement Award in scouting at the 2015 Scouts Dinner.