1951 Snapshots Ontario     

Bill Slack

Bill Slack
London Majors 1951

Slack, who grew up in Sarnia, Ontario, rode an 9-3, 1.38 season with the London Majors of the Ontario Intercounty league in 1951 to a contract with the Boston Red Sox. 

It was the beginning of a journey which would include a career in professional baseball lasting more than 55 years. 

He had his accomplishments as a player but his claim to fame has been his work as a coach and manager. 

In the Red Sox system for 15 seasons after his playing days, Slack won four titles and had a significant role in the development of players such as Jim Rice, Carlton Fisk, Dwight Evans, Bill Lee, Fred Lynn, and Cy Young winner Jim Lonborg.

Brought to the Atlanta organization in 1984, Tom Glavine and John Smoltz were among his pupils. In 2002 the former "bonus baby" was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame.