Winston-Salem Red Sox

From SoSH

Red Sox Affiliates: 1961-1984
League: Carolina League
Stadium: Ernie Shore Field

1 History with the Red Sox
2 Winston-Salem alumni who made the Majors
3 Trivia
4 Records
5 Awards
6 No-Hitters
7 External Links

History with the Red Sox

The Red Sox moved Carolina Affiliates in 1961, from Raleigh, Virginia to Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It would prove to be the Red Sox first true long-term affiliate, as the Sox would not leave until after the 1984 season... moving to Greensboro.

Of course, perhaps this affiliation was fate, especially after Ernie Shore Field was built in 1956. After all, Ernie Shore played for the Sox, winning World Championship Titles in 1915 and 1916, Rooming with Babe Ruth for 5 seasons... and pitching perhaps the oddest Perfect Game ever. While no longer official, his 1917 feat of coming out of the bullpen (in relief of a thrown out Babe Ruth) with a runner on first after one batter... and then getting that runner on a Stolen Base, and retiring the other 26 batter should never be forgotten.

The team was immediately successful in the 1960's, winning a League Championship in 1964, having the best record in 1966 (82-58, but losing in the playoffs)... and then winning additional championships in 1970, 1973 and 1976. For 13 seasons, the team was led by Bill Slack, a long-term Sox minor league manager, who now leads the Carolina League in wins with 926.

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Winston-Salem alumni who made the Majors

The most notable name to call Winston-Salem home is Hall of Famer Wade Boggs, but other notables who called Ernie Shore Field Home include Rick Burleson, Jim Lonborg, Dwight Evans and Mike Greenwell.

Winston-Salem Alums who made the Majors

Ernie Shore Field

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Trivia

Ernie Shore Field is named after former Red Sox player, Ernie Shore
In 1984, Winston-Salem's name changed to the Spirits
Winston-Salem is the only team that has operated in the Carolina League since the leagues start.
Bill Slack's number 37 has been retired by the Winston-Salem franchise

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Records

Year	W	L	T	.PCT	Finish	Manager
1961	68	72	2			Elmer Yoter
1963	76	64	1			Eddie Popowski/Mace Brown*
1963	67	76	2	.469	4th	Matt Sczesny
1964	82	57	1	.590	1st	Bill Slack
1965	65	79	1	.451	3rd	Bill Slack
1966	82	58		.586	1st	Bill Slack
1967	69	68	1	.504	2nd	Bill Slack
1968	56	81		.409	5th	Bill Slack
1970	80	58	1	.580	1st (1st half) 2nd (2nd half)	Bill Slack
1971	67	67				Don Lock
1972	65	74		.468	6th (1st half) 3rd (2nd half)	Rac Slider
1973	77	62		.554	3rd (1st half) 1st (2nd half)	Bill Slack
1974	76	61		.555	3rd (1st half) 2nd (2nd half)	Bill Slack
1975	81	62	1			John Kennedy
1976	80	57		.584	1st (1st half) 1st (2nd half)	Tony Torchia
1977	61	77		.442	2nd (1st half) 4th (2nd half)	Tony Torchia
1978	55	77		.417	5th (1st half) 6th (2nd half)	Bill Slack
1979	85	55	1	.607	1st (1st half) 1st (2nd half)	Bill Slack
1980	76	64				Buddy Hunter
1981	72	67			2nd (Overall)	Buddy Hunter
1982	45	93	1	.326	4th (1st half) 4th (2nd half)	Rac Slider
1983	74	66		.529	1st (1st half) 1st (2nd half)	Bill Slack
1984	58	82				Bill Slack