Bill Slack

From BR Bullpen

Bill Slack was a minor league manager in the Boston Red Sox chain for 17 years between 1961 and 1984, 12 1/2 of those in Winston-Salem, NC. In 1961 Slack got his start with the Red Sox, taking over the Waterloo Hawks in midyear for Matt Sczesny who was moving up to Winston-Salem. In 1962 he managed the Pocatello Chiefs in the Pioneer League. In 1963, Slack started the year with the Wellsville Red Sox, but was swapped with Sczesny and finished the year with the Winston-Salem Red Sox, where he would stay through 1968. The 1964 and 1966 clubs had the best record in the Carolina League with the '64 team winning the title. In 1969 Slack was moved down to the Greenville Red Sox in the Western Carolinas League, but he was back in Winston-Salem in 1970. After not managing for two years, Slack managed Winston-Salem again in 1973-1974. He managed the Bristol Red Sox in 1975, replacing Dick McAuliffe in midyear and leading the team to the league title, then took another two year hiatus from managing. Slack managed Winston-Salem in 1978-1979, winning the league title in 1979, took another three years off from managing, then managed Winston-Salem yet again in 1983 and in 1984, when they were re-christened the Winston-Salem Spirits. Slack returned briefly in 2001, managing the Savannah Sand Gnats, a Texas Rangers affiliate in the South Atlantic League, until being replaced by Pedro Lopez in mid-year. Slack won 5 league titles in his career, 4 of them in Winston-Salem.