Eddie Haas, a longtime figure in professional baseball whose brief time as a major league player gave way to decades of dedicated coaching and managerial work, passed away on June 4 at the age of 91.
Haas made limited appearances in the big leagues across three seasons, first suiting up for the Chicago Cubs in 1957 before joining the Milwaukee Braves from 1958 through 1960. As an outfielder, he recorded 79 at-bats during his major league stint and posted a batting average of .243, along with a single home run.
Following his time in the majors, Haas extended his playing days in the minor leagues within the Braves and Los Angeles Angels organizations until 1964, at which point he decided to step away from active competition as a player.
His deep involvement in the game persisted through an extensive period spent developing talent in the minors, where he served as both a coach and manager for more than 20 years. This foundation eventually opened the door for a return to the Atlanta Braves in the latter part of the 1984 campaign.
Haas joined the major league staff under manager Joe Torre during the final two months of that season, taking on roles as the first base coach and hitting instructor after being promoted from the minor league ranks.
In October 1984, following the dismissal of Torre—who would later earn induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame—Haas received the opportunity to lead the Braves as their manager. By that stage, he had devoted 31 of his 49 years in baseball to the Braves franchise in various capacities.
“It’s a special honor to manage what I consider one of the top organizations in baseball,” Haas said at the time of his appointment.
Despite the promising start, Haas’s time at the helm proved short-lived and challenging. The team compiled a record of 50 wins and 71 losses when he was relieved of his duties on August 27, 1985, bringing a sudden close not only to his tenure with the Braves but to his entire managerial career.
After departing from his managerial position, Haas transitioned into scouting roles that kept him connected to the sport for many more years. He worked as a special assignment scout for the Montreal Expos between 1986 and 1994, before moving on to a similar position with the Boston Red Sox from 1995 until 2003.
Throughout his minor league leadership, Haas achieved notable success on two separate occasions by guiding teams to first-place finishes. One highlight came in 1969 when he steered the Greenwood Braves to the Western Carolinas League championship.
Baseball remained a family tradition for the Haas lineage. His brother Louis competed in the Braves’ farm system, while his sons Matt and Danny pursued careers as longtime scouts and former minor league players. Additionally, cousins Phil Roof and Gene Roof both advanced to the major leagues during their playing days.
Haas leaves behind two sisters, three children, and seven grandchildren, who carry forward the family’s enduring connection to the national pastime.
His contributions to baseball spanned more than half a century, touching players and organizations at every level of the game.
