ADAIR KEY TO
PENNANT
Neil Singelais, Globe Staff The Boston Globe
ADAIR KEY TO
PENNANT
Byline: Neil Singelais, Globe Staff
Edition:
THIRD
Section: SPORTS
1987
Jerry Adair, who died of liver cancer at 50 Sunday in
Tulsa, Okla., played a key role as a utility infielder in the 1967 Red
Sox' "Impossible Dream."
Adair was a steadying influence at
shortstop on a young infield of Mike Andrews, Joe Foy and George Scott
during the pennant drive after Rico Petrocelli was sidelined for a month
with an injury. He didn't make an error during that time as the Sox went
19-9.
Adair was acquired in early June in a trade with Baltimore for
pitchers Don McMahon and Rob Snow. The Sox were 22-21 before he joined
them. They were 70-49 with him. He batted .291 in 89 games, playing three
infield positions.
"It was one the best baseball trades ever
made," said Russ Gibson, a catcher on the team. "No one could pivot as
well as Jerry on a double play ball. He could play anywhere and he was a
tough guy to get out."
Jim Lonborg, then the pitching ace and now
a dentist in Scituate, said the trade that brought Adair to Boston "was
like adding a gem to a beautiful necklace. He did such a magnificant job
for us. He was a quiet guy around the clubhouse. He was so invaluable,
older and more experienced."
Adair spent 13 years in the majors,
eight with the Orioles during which he set two fielding records. In one
stretch, he accepted 458 consecutive chances without an error. In 1964, he
played 89 consecutive games at second base without an error and finished
with a .994 average.
Funeral services for Adair, one of the finest
athletes to play at Oklahoma State University, where he excelled in
basketball as well as baseball, will be held today in Sand Springs, Okla.,
his birthplace. SINGEL;06/01 LDRISC;06/03,16:24 ADAIR
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