Red Adams facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Red Adams |
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| Pitcher | |||
| Born: October 7, 1921 Parlier, California |
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| Died: January 18, 2017 (aged 95) Fresno, California |
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| debut | |||
| May 5, 1946, for the Chicago Cubs | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| July 2, 1946, for the Chicago Cubs | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Win–loss record | 0–1 | ||
| Earned run average | 8.25 | ||
| Strikeouts | 8 | ||
| Teams | |||
As player
As coach
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Charles Dwight "Red" Adams (October 7, 1921 – January 18, 2017) was an American baseball player, scout, and coach. He was born in Parlier, California. Red Adams played only a short time in Major League Baseball (MLB). However, he had a very long and important career as a scout and pitching coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was known for helping many pitchers become successful.
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Who Was Red Adams?
Red Adams was a right-handed pitcher during his playing days. He was 6 feet tall and weighed 185 pounds. Even though his time as an MLB player was brief, he made a big impact on baseball. He spent many years helping young players grow and succeed.
Playing Baseball
Red Adams had a very good career in the minor leagues. He won 193 games between 1939 and 1958. One of his best seasons was in 1945. That year, he won 21 games for the Los Angeles Angels. This team played in the Pacific Coast League.
His time in Major League Baseball was much shorter. He pitched only 12 innings in eight games for the Chicago Cubs in 1946. All of his games were as a relief pitcher. This means he came into the game after the starting pitcher. In his MLB career, he had 8 strikeouts. He allowed 11 earned runs and 18 hits.
Helping the Dodgers: Coach and Scout
After he stopped playing, Red Adams became a scout for the Dodgers. He worked as a scout from 1959 to 1968. A scout's job is to find new talented players.
Then, he became the Dodgers' MLB pitching coach. He held this important job from 1969 to 1980. During this time, the Dodgers won the National League championship three times. This happened in 1974, 1977, and 1978. He worked under famous managers like Walter Alston and Tommy Lasorda.
Red Adams was very good at helping pitchers get better. Many famous pitchers said he was a huge help to their careers.
Impact on Famous Pitchers
One of the pitchers Red Adams helped was Don Sutton. Sutton won 324 games in his career. When Sutton was put into the Baseball Hall of Fame, he said: "No person ever meant more to my career than Red Adams. Without him, I would not be standing in Cooperstown today."
Another great pitcher, Tommy John, also praised Adams. John won 288 games. He said that when he joined the Dodgers in 1972, he thought his fastball was just okay. But Red Adams strongly disagreed. Adams encouraged John to use his fastball more. He taught John that even if his fastball wasn't the fastest, it had a lot of movement. This made it hard for batters to hit.
Later Life and Legacy
In 1979, Red Adams was honored for his achievements. He was put into the Fresno County Athletic Hall of Fame. He passed away on January 18, 2017, at the age of 95. Red Adams is remembered for his long career and for helping many pitchers become baseball stars.
