TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Fred Hatfield, a former major leaguer who coached baseball at Florida State in the 1960s, has died of cancer. He was 74.

  Hatfield, an infielder who played for five major league teams from 1950-58, died Friday. He had a career batting average of .242.

  ``Fred was a great baseball man, and he was a fun guy to be around,'' said Dave Miller, director of minor league operations for the Detroit Tigers. ``He had a full life, you can bet.''

  After his playing career ended, Hatfield coached in the big leagues for more than 25 years and also served as a minor league manager and scout.

  He was head coach at Florida State from 1964 to 1968.

  ``He was a player's manager,'' said Jeff Hogan, who played for Hatfield at FSU and in the Tigers' minor league organization. ``I thought he was just awesome.''

  Hatfield's former players plan to erect a plaque in his honor at FSU's Dick Howser stadium. His funeral is scheduled for Sunday at Thomasville Road Baptist Church in Tallahassee.

  Survivors include his wife, Shirley, of Tallahassee, four sons, four grandsons and three granddaughters.