Introduction
Marion Danne "Bill" Adair (February 10, 1913 – June 17, 2002) was an American coach and interim manager in Major League Baseball.
A second baseman, he was a career minor-league player who never rose about the Class AA level but who spent 21 years as a manager in the minors.
History
Born in Mobile, Alabama, Adair was a manager in the Braves organization (he managed farm clubs for all three cities the Braves played in), as well as the Detroit Tigers, San Diego Padres, Montreal Expos, and the Chicago White Sox organizations.
Adair was later a major league scout for the Philadelphia Phillies.
He compiled a 1,611-1,305 (.552) record in the minors, but his managing career in the major leagueswas limited to ten games with the 1970 White Sox. Manager Don Gutteridge was fired on September 3 with 26 games left in the season and Adair was named interim manager, compiling a 4-6 (.400) record before Chuck Tanner took over as manager on September 14, 1970. The White Sox lost 106 games that season.
Adair also was a major league coach for the Braves (1962; 1967), White Sox (1970) and Expos (1976).
Death
He died in Bay Minette, Alabama at age 89 in 2002, survived by his wife, Olean, and three daughters.