Winston-Salem Red Sox

Carolina League (1961-1983)

Background

Winston-Salem, North Carolina served as a long-time Carolina League outpost of the Boston Red Sox from 1961 until 1984. For all but the last of those seasons, the Winston-Salem club played under the Red Sox name.

Future stars who came up through Winston-Salem’s Ernie Shore Field during the Red Sox era included:

• Pitcher Wilbur Wood (W-S- ’61)
• Shortstop Rico Petrocelli (W-S ’62)
• Pitcher Jim Lonborg (W-S ’64)
• First baseman George “Boomer” Scott (W-S ’64)
• Pitcher Sparky Lyle (W-S ’65)
• Pitcher Bill “Spaceman” Lee (W-S ’68)
• Shortstop Rick Burleson (W-S ’71)
• First baseman Cecil Cooper (W-S ’71)
• Outfielder Dwight Evans (W-S ’71)
• Pitcher John Tudor (W-S ’76)
• Third baseman Wade Boggs (W-S ’77)
• Outfielder Mike Greenwell (W-S ’83)

Wade Boggs was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2005.

Bill Slack

One of the critical figures in Winston-Salem baseball was field manager Bill Slack, who served no fewer than five separate stints as manager of the W-S Red Sox/Spirits (1963-1968, 1970, 1973-1974, 1978-1979 and 1983-1984).

During the 1974 season Slack even served in the unusual dual role of owner-manager of the ball club. Veteran minor league operator Joe Buzas, owner of the Winston-Salem franchise from 1970-1973, was looking to unload the club during the winter of 1973-74. Ultimately, he sold the club to Slack and two local partners for a reported $20,000. Bob Moskowitz, a sports columnist with the Newport News Daily Press, speculated that this transaction made Bill Slack the first owner-manager in organized baseball since Connie Mack retired from Major League Baseball’s Philadelphia Athletics a quarter century earlier.²Moskowitz, Bob. “The Way The Ball Bounces”. The Daily Press (Newport News, VA). May 28, 1974

Slack, originally from Ontario, Canada, became a full-time resident of Winston-Salem. In the early 2000’s the Winston-Salem Warthogs of the Carolina League, named their annual community service award in Slack’s honor.

Sox to Spirits

After the 1983 season, new owner Dennis Bastien changed the Winston-Salem team’s name from “Red Sox” to “Spirits” and adopted a bold purple and green color scheme. The Spirits remained a Boston farm team for one final season in 1984. The Chicago Cubs replaced Boston as Winston-Salem’s parent club in 1985.

The former Winston-Salem Red Sox franchise still exists today after two further name changes. The club is now known as the Winston-Salem Dash and is a member of the High-A East league, the successor league to the old Carolina League.

Winston-Salem Red Sox Shop

In Memoriam

Catcher Tom Maggard (W-S ’70), Boston’s 1st round pick in the 1968 June Amateur Draft, died on September 9th, 1973 from an allergic reaction to an insect bite. Maggard was only 23 years old.

Shortstop Joe Foy (W-S ’66) died of a heart attack at age 46 on October 12, 1989 at age 46.

Pitcher Ken Brett (W-S ’67) passed away on November 18th, 2003 following a long battle with brain cancer. Brett, a 14-year Major League veteran and the brother of Kansas City Royals star George Brett, was 55 years old. New York Times obituary.

W-S Red Sox owner Ervin Oakley passed away on February 3, 2006 at age 77.

Catcher Bo Diaz (W-S ’75) died in a household accident while working on the roof of his home in Caracas Venezuela on November 23, 1990.  Diaz, who played 13 seasons in the Majors and was a two-time All-Star selection, was only 37 years old. New York Times obituary.

First baseman George Scott (W-S ’64) passed away at the age of 69 on July 28th, 2013. New York Times obituary.

Downloads

1965 W-S Red Sox vs. Kinston Eagles Roster Sheet

1972 W-S Red Sox vs. Lynchburg Twins Roster Sheet

August 26-29, 1978 W-S Red Sox vs. Lynchburg Mets Game Notes

Links

Carolina League Media Guides

Carolina League Programs

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