[SPORTSMEM817]

Red Adams, a universally respected pitching coach who shepherded the Dodger staff from 1969–80, died today at the age of 95. Funeral arrangements are pending, according to his grandson, Scott Bourbon.

Born in the Fresno County city of Parlier, Charles Dwight Adams pitched for 19 seasons in the minor leagues from 1939–1958, winning 193 games, including a 21–15, 2.72 ERA season with the 1945 Los Angeles Angels of the Pacific Coast League. That year, he also batted .349 with two homers in 126 at-bats and was named PCL Most Valuable Player.

He saw his only big-league action the following year with the Chicago Cubs, allowing 11 earned runs in 12 innings over eight games of relief. He was the oldest living Cub.

Adams became a Dodger scout the year after his career ended and remained in that role through 1968, before becoming the team’s pitching coach first for Walter Alston, then under Tommy Lasorda.

“Red Adams was a good pitching coach, no doubt about it,” Lasorda said recently. “He knew how to handle pitchers.”

In seven seasons from 1972–78, the Dodgers led the National League in ERA (1972–75, 1977–78) and finished second the other year (1976).

In another recent interview, former Dodger pitcher Burt Hooton called Adams the best pitching coach in my lifetime anywhere around.”

“Adams always had a way of making things simple,” Hooton said, “which got me back to simple got me back to who I was.”