Beloved coach of the legendary "Little Yankees" of the Newark PAL Baseball league. Friendly arch-rival of the iconic Continetal Can coach Robert Crowley.

Visitation: Zarro's Funeral Home, 145 Harrison Street, Bloomfield.
Thursday, 4 to 8 p.m.

Funeral: 10:30 am mass, St. Anthony, Belleville. Burial Cresthaven Cemetary, Clifton on Friday.

Retired decorated Newark Police officer and detective.

Later coached a PAL Babe Ruth league All-Star team called the Warriors.
He and Bob Crowley were among the few coaches in that era who insisted that their teams be integrated. Both were pioneers in that respect.

Some of his great players included Rick Torti, John McCree, Bruce Davis, Dan Cassady, Tony Hammed, Richie Glenn, Henry Drakeford, and many many others.

You may see the faces of JOE MINACAY, LEROY SMITH, BOB CROWlEY, AND JOE FREID.

Condolences to the Freid Family from ome of his former players. I never saw anyone hit a baseball further than Joe Freid. He could hit Newark Academy from our little league field.

I worked with Joe Freid a number of times. He was double-strong and twice as street smart; I used to ask him to 'think out loud', that some of his knowledge and experience might rub off on me.

One summer night in the late 70's, things got out of hand down on Cutler St; the cops got in over their heads and had to call for help. Freid and his partner got there just as I did, and we managed to get stuff under control. Two hours later the same thing happened, at the same location. Again, we went down there. As the situation cooled, Joe looked around at the cops who'd responded and said "You ever notice, the same guys always show up at these things?" I had to agree; we had pretty much the same guys from a couple hours before.

Fast forward about five years. We'd lost two police officers within a very short time span, both killed on the job. At the second funeral, I saw Joe Freid, having just recently seen him at the first. We were assembled, in uniform, in one of those ceremonies that are all too often on the TV news. Tenn-hut! Bagpipes and all. Joe looked around and said "You ever notice, the same guys always show up at these things?"

It was like an echo; I guess it's the same thing.

Goodbye, Joe.



Joe Fried among the NPD basketball champs, 1959

Back row L to R: Coach Sgt. Fred Wulff; Mgr.Eddie Basttschinger; Vic Carlucci; Floyd Hall; Jack Burns; Tommy Cox; Harry Hertig; Sponsor:Undersheriff Mr. John Paolercie. Front row L to R: Billy Conn; Bat Masterson; Al Cordasco; Don Kissane; Joe Fried and Fred Engel. Photo courtesy Dick Masterson.

[edited to include photo]