TheDeadballEra.com :: Bill Adair's Obit

BAY MINETTE, Ala. (AP) - Bill Adair, who managed the Chicago White Sox for 10 games in 1970 and was Hank Aaron's first minor league manager, died Monday. He was 89.

Adair died at William F. Green State Veterans Home.

Adair was the third base coach for the White Sox in 1970 when he filled in as manager for 10 games between Don Gutteridge and Chuck Tanner. His record was 4-6.

In 1952, Adair played second base and served as manager of the Milwaukee Braves' farm team in Eau Claire, Wis. One of his players was Aaron.

``I learned an awful lot from him as a young kid,'' Aaron said Monday night. ``He gave me the foundation I needed to start out.''

That summer, despite starting late in the season and playing only 87 games, Aaron batted .336 with nine home runs and was selected the league's MVP.

Aaron, who went on to become baseball's career home run leader, said Adair was well-respected in the Braves organization and supported integration in its early days in baseball.

``He brought a lot of togetherness to the team,'' Aaron said. ``He made the other teams understand that the day was now that you were going to have blacks and whites playing together.''

Adair continued to coach for the Braves in Milwaukee and shortly after they moved to Atlanta.

Adair also served as manager of the Panama City (Fla.) Fliers in the defunct Alabama-Florida League and won the pennant in 1955.

He is survived by his widow, Olean Adair, and three daughters: Bonnie Allen of Montgomery, Ala., Marion Marshall of Lakeland, Fla. and Mary Adair of Steuben, Me.

Services are pending.