\n\n”, “providerName”: “Twitter”, “providerUrl”: “https://twitter.com”, “thumbnail_url”: null, “type”: “oembed”, “width”: 550, “contentType “rich”: “”},{“__typename”: “Markdown”, “content”: “Known as a gifted coach — a role he never relinquished, even when he could — Williams won 86 or more games in each of his three starts Complete seasons in Toronto.\n\nIn 1987, Williams won a career-high 96 games. However, this season will also be remembered for the Jays losing their final seven games and the Tigers clinching the American League East title in the final game of the Season.\n\nThe Blue Jays parted ways with their coach after just 36 games in the '89 season. Williams followed his close friend Bobby Cox (they also worked together in Toronto) to Atlanta in 1991 and served as third base coach for the World Series champion Braves in 1995.\n n\nIn 1997, Williams got the opportunity to coach in one of baseball's major markets when the Red Sox hired him.\n\nDuring his introductory press conference at Fenway Park, Williams demonstrated his popular nature when he said: “If a frog had wings, he wouldn't crash his booty .”” “type”:text”},{“__typename”:”Markdown”,”content”:”:* Top 5 Red Sox Managers: Browne's take”,”type”:text”},{“__typename”: “: “Markdown”, “content”: “For Williams, the Red Sox years were far better remembered for the team's accomplishments on the field than for his quirky one-on-one conversations with the press.\n\nDuring that period, Williams managed Boston For the beginning of the hugely popular Nomar Garciaparra/Pedro Martinez era in Red Sox Nation. Boston's Williams reached the postseason as an AL Wild Card entry in 1998 and again in 1999.”,”type”: text”},{“__typename”: “OEmbed”, “html”: “
As the Red Sox's manager from 1997-2001, Jimmy Williams was a true fixture and leader of the Red Sox.
We send our love to the Williams family. pic.twitter.com/HPRWGw4XqE
– Red Sox (@RedSox) January 29, 2024
\n\n\n”, “providerName”: “Twitter”, “providerUrl”: “https://twitter.com”, “thumbnail_url”: null, “type”: “oembed”, “width”: 550, “contentType”: “rich”},{“__typename”: “Markdown”, “content”: “Although the Red Sox lost superstar Mo Vaughn to free agency after the 1998 season and did not get a top producer to replace him” For his efforts, Williams was honored as the AL Manager of the Year in 1999. Williams remains the last Boston manager to earn this distinction despite Although the Sox have won four World Series titles in the 21st century.\n\nWhile the Red Sox of the mid-2000s developed a culture of coming back from massive postseason deficits, some of that mentality began with Williams' 1999 team, which turned the tables on Cleveland after losing the first two games of the AL Championship Series.\n\nIn 2004, Kevin Millar told anyone who would listen before Game 4 of the AL Championship Series, “Don't let us win tonight!”\n\n nWhile the cameras were all over Millar, making it a special moment, the much less underrated Williams did something similar five years ago in an ALDS game against Cleveland.\n\nHis players repeatedly said: “You better sweep us!” In other words, if Cleveland can't eliminate the Red Sox when they have the chance, Boston will come back strong.\n\nIn the Game 5 classic, Martinez returned from a right shoulder injury that cut short his start in Game 1. He pitched six hitless innings The bullpen. Troy O'Leary had two homers, including a grand slam. The Red Sox hit a 12-8 wild card to advance to the ALCS against the Yankees.”, “type”: text “}, {“__typename “: “Video”,”contentDate”: “1999-10-” 11T20:14:00Z”,”preferredPlaybackScenarioURL({\”preferredPlaybacks\”:\”mp4AvcPlayback\”})”:https://cuts.diamond. mlb.com/FORGE/2019/2019-10/08/a9a2dab3 -e889ac2d-87bc8d7d-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4″,”type”: “video”,”description”:”Pedro Martinez pitches in relief and throws six innings “Cleveland in the ALDS”, “displayAsVideoGif”:false, “duration”: “00:05:12”, “slug”: “pedro-shuts-down-cleveland” , “tags”:[{“__typename”:”GameTag”},{“__typename”:”TeamTag”,”slug”:”teamid-111″,”title”:”Boston Red Sox”,”team”:{“__ref”:”Team:111″},”type”:”team”},{“__typename”:”PersonTag”,”slug”:”playerid-118377″,”title”:”Pedro Martinez”,”person”:{“__ref”:”Person:118377″},”type”:”player”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”highlight-reel-pitching”,”title”:”highlight reel pitching”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”postseason”,”title”:”postseason”,”type”:”taxonomy”}]”thumbnail”:{“__typename”: “Thumbnail”, “templateUrl”: “https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/private/{formatInstructions}/mlb/ymmqhjow2aecrsysokje”},”title” : “Pedro shuts down Cleveland”,relativeSiteUrl”:”/video/pedro-shuts-down-cleveland”},{“__typename”: “Markdown”, “content”: “After the game, in a cheerful clubhouse, several players shouted, ” You better sweep us!”\n\nThe Yankees, in the middle of a dynasty, beat the Red Sox in five games in the ALCS.\n\nWilliams ranks eighth all-time in Boston's managerial wins with 414. Although the Red The Sox were a respectable 65-53 and trailing by five games in the AL East on August 16 of the '01 season, and Williams was abruptly relieved of his duties.”,”type”:text”},{” __typename “OEmbed”, “html” : “
We are saddened to hear of the passing of former Astros manager Jimmy Williams. Jimmy spent three (2002-2004) of his 12 seasons in the MLB as Astros manager. We send our heartfelt condolences to Jimmy's family and friends. pic.twitter.com/ihP51rXuKu
-Houston Astros (@Astros) January 29, 2024
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January 29, 2024
Jimmy Williams, the baseball player who spent 910-790 as a major league manager for the Blue Jays, Red Sox and Astros, has died at age 80, it was announced Monday.
As a player, Williams logged parts of two seasons in the Majors (1966–67) with the Cardinals, making 14 appearances. His first of three career hits was against Hall of Famer Juan Marichal.
The definition of someone who paid his dues before lineup cards were written in the major leagues, Williams, the pride of Santa Maria, Calif., managed the minor leagues from 1974 through 1979 and coached with the Blue Jays for six seasons before Toronto promoted him to general manager '86.
Known as a talented coach — a role he never relinquished, even as a coach — Williams won 86 or more games in each of his three full seasons in Toronto.
In 1987, Williams won a career-high 96 games. However, this season will also be remembered for the Jays losing their final seven games and being beaten for the American League East title by the Tigers in the final game of the season.
The Blue Jays parted ways with their manager after just 36 games in the 1989 season. Williams followed his close friend Bobby Cox (they also worked together in Toronto) to Atlanta in 1991 and served as third base coach for the World Series champion Braves in 1995.
In 1997, Williams got the opportunity to manage in one of baseball's leading markets when the Red Sox hired him.
During his introductory press conference at Fenway Park, Williams demonstrated his popular nature when he said, “If a frog had wings, it wouldn't crash its spoils.”
For Williams, the Red Sox years were much better remembered for the team's accomplishments on the field than for convoluted one-on-one conversations with the press.
During that period, Williams was able to lead Boston to start the hugely popular Nomar Garciaparra/Pedro Martinez era in Red Sox Nation.
Williams got Boston to the postseason as an AL Wild Card entry in 1998 and again in 1999.
Although the Red Sox lost star player Mo Vaughn to free agency after the 1998 season and did not get a top producer to replace him, Williams got more wins from the Sox in '99 (94) than the previous season (92).
For his efforts, Williams was named the AL Manager of the Year in 1999. Williams remains the last Boston manager to earn that distinction despite the Sox winning four World Series titles in the 21st century.
While the Red Sox of the mid-2000s developed a culture of coming back from massive deficits in the postseason, some of that mentality began with Williams' 1999 team, which turned the tables on Cleveland after losing the first two games of the American League Division Series.
While the cameras were all over Millar, making it a special moment, the less underrated Williams did something similar five years ago in an ALDS game against Cleveland.
He repeatedly told his players: “You'd better sweep us away!” In other words, if Cleveland can't eliminate the Red Sox when given the chance, Boston will come back strong.
In a classic Game 5, Martinez returned from a right shoulder injury that cut short his start in Game 1 and pitched six hitless innings out of the bullpen. Troy O'Leary had two homers, including a grand slam. The Red Sox pulled off a wild 12-8 win to advance to the ALCS against the Yankees.
After the match, in a cheerful clubhouse, several players shouted: “You better sweep us!”
The Yankees, in the middle of the dynasty, beat the Red Sox in five games in the ALCS.
Williams ranks eighth all-time in Boston's managerial wins with 414. Although the Red Sox were a respectable 65-53 and five games behind in the AL East on August 16 of the 2001 season, Williams was surprisingly relieved of his duties.
The third and final team Williams managed was the Astros, for whom he posted a 215-197 record from 2002-04.
In 2008, as part of a two-season stint as the Phillies' bench coach, Williams collected another World Series ring. He also spent time as a special coach for the Rays and his son Brady is Tampa Bay's third base coach.
“Jimmy's excellent baseball legacy will be passed down through his sons Brady and Sean, and his impact on the game of baseball will forever be remembered,” the Rays said in a statement.
Williams leaves behind his wife, Peggy, after 47 years of marriage, two sons, two daughters, and eight grandchildren.