KALAMAZOO, Mich.- Leading Western Michigan to the title game of the 1955 College World Series as a First Team All-American, Bill Lajoie was one of the most iconic figures in Bronco baseball history. Lajoie went on to a successful minor league career before joining the front office ranks, where he is best known for architecting the 1984 World Champion Detroit Tigers and serving as the Tigers general manager. Lajoie passed away at his home in Sarasota, Fla., on Dec. 28, 2010, at age 76.

An outfielder, Lajoie earned First Team All-Mid-American Conference honors at Western Michigan in 1954 & 55. Named an All-American in 1955, he is one of only six Broncos to earn a first team nod. WMU went 25-7 that season, winning a MAC Championship with a 9-0 record, and finished as NCAA Runners-Up.

Lajoie was signed by the Baltimore Orioles and spent nine years in the minors, making it as high as Triple A. He joined the Tigers as a scout in 1968 and helped land the likes of future stars Kirk Gibson, Jack Morris, Lance Parrish, Dan Petry, Alan Trammell and Lou Whitaker. Lajoie spent 23 years with the Tigers, six of them as the general manager from 1984 to 1990.

Known for having an eye for talent, Lajoie served as a consultant to the Atlanta Braves, Milwaukee Brewers, Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers over the past 15 years. At the time of his death, he was a special assistant to the general manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Lajoie got his start with the Cincinnati Reds organization, serving as a scout and minor league manager.

Lajoie was inducted into the Western Michigan Hall of Fame in 1982 and was honored with WMU's distinguished alumnus award in 1988. Throughout the years, Lajoie continued to give back to the Bronco program. He was instrumental in raising funds for the recent baseball project, which allowed WMU to make major renovations to its home stadium. Scheduled to be officially dedicated this May, the “Bill Lajoie” section will be one of eight seating areas in Robert J. Bobb Stadium.

“Bill was an extremely special Bronco,” said WMU Athletic Director Kathy Beauregard. “He loved Bronco baseball and over the course of his entire career was devoted to making the game better. He had a gifted talent of evaluating the game and potential big league players. He truly loved the game.”

It is the wishes of the Lajoie family to have all memorial contributions donated to the Mike Gary Athletic Fund and designated to the Bronco baseball program in memory of Bill Lajoie.