Doug Bair replaces Butch Henry as pitching coach
Bair, who pitched in the big leagues for 15 years, will replace Butch Henry, who was slated to be the pitching coach this season but recently accepted a position outside of the Cincinnati Reds organization. The Mustangs, the advanced rookie league affiliate of the Reds, begin the season June 20 when they take on the Great Falls White Sox at Cobb Field in Billings.
Bair, 56, will join the field coaching staff that includes manager Rick Burleson and hitting coach Jeff Young. Bair, a native of Ohio, played college ball at Bowling Green State University. He was selected in the second round of the 1971 draft by the Pirates. He made his MLB debut with the Pirates in 1976 before he was traded to Oakland in 1977. The A's traded him to the Reds the following season.
The right-handed reliever had the best year of his career with the Reds in 1978. That year he posted a record of 7-6 to go along with 28 saves and a 1.97 ERA. In 1979, he saved 16 games, posted 11 wins and pitched for the Reds in the NLCS against the Pirates.
In 1981, he was traded to the Cardinals, where he won his first World Series ring, pitching for St. Louis in the 1982 NLCS and World Series. Two years later, he was on another championship team, this time pitching for the World Champion Detroit Tigers in 1984.
Bair pitched for seven different Major League teams over a career that ended in 1990 with the Pirates. He finished with a career record of 55-43, a 3.63 ERA and 81 saves.