Rac Slider
Encyclopedia
Rachel Wayne "Rac" Slider (born December 23, 1933, at Simms, Texas
) is a retired infielder
and manager
in American
minor league baseball
who also spent four seasons (1987–1990) as a Major League Baseball
coach
with the Boston Red Sox
. In his playing days, Slider stood 5 in 8 in (1.73 m) tall, weighed 160 pounds (72.6 kg), batted left-handed
and threw right-handed.
Slider graduated from James Bowie High School in Simms in 1951, and signed his first professional baseball contract in 1954. During an 11-year playing career (1954–1956; 1958–1964; 1966) he never reached the major league level, although he spent four seasons in the AAA Pacific Coast League
. In his finest year in the PCL, with the 1961 Hawaii Islanders
, Slider batted
.300, with 154 hits
, 75 runs scored
, and a career-high 7 home run
s. In 1962, the Kansas City Athletics sold Slider's contract to the Red Sox, and he spent the remainder of his career in the Boston organization.
He managed Bosox farm clubs for 21 consecutive seasons, 1965–1985, beginning in the Rookie-level Appalachian League
and culminating as the pilot of the AAA Pawtucket Red Sox
of the International League
. Slider spent nine seasons as skipper of the Red Sox' Winter Haven
affiliate in the Class A Florida State League
. He won pennants in 1970 (in the Class A Western Carolinas League
) and 1979 (in the Florida State League). In 1983, his New Britain Red Sox won the AA Eastern League playoffs behind first-year pitcher
Roger Clemens
. Overall, his managerial record was 1,275–1,405 (.476) in 2,680 games.
He served under John McNamara
as Boston's bullpen coach, and under Joe Morgan
as the Red Sox' third-base coach, from 1987–1990. He was a minor league infield instructor with the Red Sox in 1986 and from 1991–1994.
Simms, Texas
Simms is an unincorporated community in Bowie County, Texas, United States. It is part of the Texarkana, Texas–Texarkana, Arkansas Metropolitan Statistical Area.The Simms Independent School District serves area students....
) is a retired infielder
Infielder
An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field.-Standard arrangement of positions:In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles...
and manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
in American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
minor league baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
who also spent four seasons (1987–1990) as a Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
coach
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
with the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
. In his playing days, Slider stood 5 in 8 in (1.73 m) tall, weighed 160 pounds (72.6 kg), batted left-handed
Left-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
and threw right-handed.
Slider graduated from James Bowie High School in Simms in 1951, and signed his first professional baseball contract in 1954. During an 11-year playing career (1954–1956; 1958–1964; 1966) he never reached the major league level, although he spent four seasons in the AAA Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
. In his finest year in the PCL, with the 1961 Hawaii Islanders
Hawaii Islanders
The Hawaii Islanders were a AAA minor league baseball team, based in Honolulu, Hawaii, that played in the Pacific Coast League from 1961 through 1987. The Islanders were originally an affiliate of the Kansas City Athletics. They played their home games at Honolulu Stadium, Honolulu's Aloha Stadium...
, Slider batted
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.300, with 154 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
, 75 runs scored
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
, and a career-high 7 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s. In 1962, the Kansas City Athletics sold Slider's contract to the Red Sox, and he spent the remainder of his career in the Boston organization.
He managed Bosox farm clubs for 21 consecutive seasons, 1965–1985, beginning in the Rookie-level Appalachian League
Appalachian League
The Appalachian League is a Rookie-class minor league that began play in 1937 with one year of inactivity in 1956. From 1937 to 1962, it was a Class D League. Teams are located in the Appalachian regions of Virginia, North Carolina, West Virginia and Tennessee...
and culminating as the pilot of the AAA Pawtucket Red Sox
Pawtucket Red Sox
The Pawtucket Red Sox are the minor league baseball Triple-A affiliates of the Boston Red Sox and belong to the International League...
of the International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
. Slider spent nine seasons as skipper of the Red Sox' Winter Haven
Winter Haven Red Sox
The Winter Haven Red Sox is a former minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Boston Red Sox from 1969 to 1992.*Location: Winter Haven, FL*League: Florida State League *Affiliation: Boston Red Sox...
affiliate in the Class A Florida State League
Florida State League
The Florida State League is a Class A-Advanced minor league baseball league operating in the state of Florida. They are one of three leagues currently operating in Class A-Advanced, the third highest of six classifications of minor leagues...
. He won pennants in 1970 (in the Class A Western Carolinas League
Western Carolinas League
The Western Carolinas League was a Class D and a low Class A full-season league in American minor league baseball. The WCL changed its name prior to the 1980 season and has been known since as the South Atlantic League, a highly successful low Class A circuit with teams up the Eastern Seaboard...
) and 1979 (in the Florida State League). In 1983, his New Britain Red Sox won the AA Eastern League playoffs behind first-year pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
Roger Clemens
Roger Clemens
William Roger Clemens , nicknamed "Rocket", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who broke into the league with the Boston Red Sox, whose pitching staff he would help anchor for 12 years. Clemens won seven Cy Young Awards, more than any other pitcher. He played for four different teams over...
. Overall, his managerial record was 1,275–1,405 (.476) in 2,680 games.
He served under John McNamara
John McNamara (baseball)
John Francis McNamara is a former manager and coach in Major League Baseball. He managed six major league teams, directing the 1986 Boston Red Sox to the American League pennant, only to experience an excruciating defeat in that season's World Series at the hands of the New York Mets.-Playing,...
as Boston's bullpen coach, and under Joe Morgan
Joe Morgan (manager)
Joseph Michael Morgan is a retired American infielder, manager, coach and scout in Major League Baseball.-Early life:...
as the Red Sox' third-base coach, from 1987–1990. He was a minor league infield instructor with the Red Sox in 1986 and from 1991–1994.