Jimy Williams
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James Francis Williams (October 4, 1943 – January 26, 2024) was an American professional
baseball Baseball is a bat-and-ball games, bat-and-ball sport played between two team sport, teams of nine players each, taking turns batting (baseball), batting and Fielding (baseball), fielding. The game occurs over the course of several Pitch ...
infielder An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field, between first base and third base. Standard arrangement of positions In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns pla ...
, coach and manager in
Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball league composed of 30 teams, divided equally between the National League (baseball), National League (NL) and the American League (AL), with 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada. MLB i ...
(MLB). He played for the St. Louis Cardinals in 1966 and 1967 and managed the
Toronto Blue Jays The Toronto Blue Jays are a Canadian professional baseball team based in Toronto. The Blue Jays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. Since 1989, the team has p ...
,
Boston Red Sox The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. Founded in as one of the Ameri ...
, and
Houston Astros The Houston Astros are an American professional baseball team based in Houston. The Astros compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League West, West Division. They are one of two major leag ...
. Williams was born in
Santa Maria, California Santa Maria (Spanish language, Spanish for "Mary, mother of Jesus, St. Mary") is a city in Santa Barbara County, California, United States. Located on the Central Coast (California), Central Coast of California, it is approximately northwest o ...
, and briefly appeared in two MLB seasons as a
second baseman In baseball and softball, second baseman, abbreviated 2B, is a fielding position in the Infielder, infield, between Baseball field#Second base, second and Baseball field#First base, first base. The second baseman often possesses quick hands and f ...
and
shortstop Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball positions, baseball or softball fielding position between second base, second and third base, which is considered to be among the Defensive spectrum, most demanding defensive positions. Historically, the ...
for the Cardinals. After his playing career, he managed in the
California Angels The Los Angeles Angels are an American professional baseball team based in the Greater Los Angeles area. The Angels compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West Division. Since 1966, the team has pl ...
'
minor league Minor leagues are professional sports leagues which are not regarded as the premier leagues in those sports. Minor league teams tend to play in smaller, less elaborate venues, often competing in smaller cities/markets. This term is used in Nort ...
system before coaching at the MLB level and then managing for the Blue Jays (1986–1989), Red Sox (1997–2001) and Astros (2002–2004). Williams was the
American League The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the American League (AL), is the younger of two sports leagues, leagues constituting Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western L ...
Manager of the Year in . He also coached for Toronto, the
Atlanta Braves The Atlanta Braves are an American professional baseball team based in the Atlanta metropolitan area. The Braves compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Eas ...
and Philadelphia Phillies. As a coach, Williams was a member of the 1995 World Series and 2008 World Series champions.


Early life and career

James Francis Williams was born on October 4, 1943, in
Santa Maria, California Santa Maria (Spanish language, Spanish for "Mary, mother of Jesus, St. Mary") is a city in Santa Barbara County, California, United States. Located on the Central Coast (California), Central Coast of California, it is approximately northwest o ...
. He was one of seven children; his father was a cattle rancher and his mother was a teacher. Williams' father died when he was a teenager. Williams, a former
infielder An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field, between first base and third base. Standard arrangement of positions In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns pla ...
who threw and batted right-handed, graduated from Arroyo Grande High School in Arroyo Grande, California, and
California State University, Fresno California State University, Fresno (Fresno State) is a public university in Fresno, California, United States. It is part of the California State University system. The university had a fall 2020 enrollment of 25,341 students. It offers 60 ba ...
, where he played
college baseball College baseball is baseball that is played by Student athlete, student-athletes at institutions of higher education. In the United States, college baseball is sanctioned mainly by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA); in Japan, ...
for the Fresno State Bulldogs. He first spelled his name "Jimy" as a prank in high school. At Fresno, Williams earned a bachelor's degree in
agribusiness Agribusiness is the industry, enterprises, and the field of study of value chains in agriculture and in the bio-economy, in which case it is also called bio-business or bio-enterprise. The primary goal of agribusiness is to maximize profit ...
in 1964. During the 1965 season, he played for the Alaska Goldpanners of Fairbanks, along with teammates Graig Nettles and Tom Seaver. Williams signed originally with the
Boston Red Sox The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. Founded in as one of the Ameri ...
and was taken in the 1965 Rule 5 draft by the St. Louis Cardinals. He appeared in 14 games for the Cardinals over two seasons, 1966–67, but had only 13
at bat In baseball, an at bat (AB) or time at bat is a batter's turn batting against a pitcher. An at bat is different from a plate appearance. A batter is credited with a plate appearance regardless of what happens upon completion of his turn at bat, ...
s, compiling a batting average of .231. Williams' first hit came off Juan Marichal. Before the 1968 season, the Cardinals traded Williams and
Pat Corrales Patrick Corrales (March 20, 1941 – August 27, 2023) was an American professional baseball catcher, manager, and coach, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB), from 1964 to 1973, primarily for the Cincinnati Reds as well as the Philadelp ...
to the Cincinnati Reds for Johnny Edwards. After the 1968 season, the
Montreal Expos The Montreal Expos () were a Canadian professional baseball team based in Montreal. The Expos were the first Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise located outside the United States. They played in the National League (baseball), National League ...
selected Williams in the 1968 expansion draft; then he played the 1969 AAA season for the Vancouver Mounties. He spent the 1970 season playing in AAA for the Buffalo Bisons and the
Winnipeg Whips The Winnipeg Whips were a professional Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A minor league baseball team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada that played in the International League from 1970 to 1971. The team was affiliated with the Montreal Expos of Ma ...
, followed by the 1971 season with the Winnipeg Whips and the Tidewater Tides.


Coaching and managerial career


Early career, Toronto Blue Jays, and Atlanta Braves

Williams's playing career ended due to a shoulder injury. He began his
minor league Minor leagues are professional sports leagues which are not regarded as the premier leagues in those sports. Minor league teams tend to play in smaller, less elaborate venues, often competing in smaller cities/markets. This term is used in Nort ...
managing career with the California Angels in 1974. Williams soon reached the Triple-A level and was appointed the third base coach of the
Toronto Blue Jays The Toronto Blue Jays are a Canadian professional baseball team based in Toronto. The Blue Jays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. Since 1989, the team has p ...
in 1980. Williams remained as Toronto's third base coach for six seasons. After the 1985 season, Blue Jays' manager Bobby Cox left the organization to rejoin the
Atlanta Braves The Atlanta Braves are an American professional baseball team based in the Atlanta metropolitan area. The Braves compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Eas ...
and the Blue Jays named Williams as their new manager. He was the Blue Jays' manager until the 1989 season, when he was fired May 14 and replaced by Cito Gaston after the team got off to a 12–24 start. Under Gaston, the Blue Jays went 77–49 for the rest of the season and won the
American League East The American League East is one of Major League Baseball's six divisions. MLB consists of an East, Central, and West division for each of its two 15-team leagues, the American League (AL) and National League (baseball), National League (NL). T ...
title. Williams finished with a record of 281 wins and 241 losses. Williams rejoined Cox as their third base coach for the Braves in 1991. During the 1992 National League Championship Series, he waved home Sid Bream after seeing Barry Bonds having to make a difficult throw on a single while the game was tied in the ninth inning. Bream made the slide that would win the pennant for the Braves in that game. He was their third base coach through the 1996 season, including the Braves 1995 World Series championship season. While with the Braves, Williams developed a reputation as an outstanding teaching coach, especially adept at working with infielders.


Boston Red Sox

On November 19, 1996, the Boston Red Sox hired Williams as their new manager; the team had fired Kevin Kennedy immediately after the season ended, and Williams was hired by general manager Dan Duquette after a lengthy search that saw many names considered (such as Grady Little and Whitey Herzog). The 1997 team was hindered by injuries and went 78–84. The following year, they went 92–70, which was good enough for second best in the
American League The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the American League (AL), is the younger of two sports leagues, leagues constituting Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western L ...
and a wild-card spot. They lost to the
Cleveland Indians The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. Since , the team ...
in the Division Series. In 1999, the Red Sox went 94–68 and clinched a wild card spot again. On August 14, Williams, having seen ace Pedro Martinez arrive late for his scheduled start, elected to not let him pitch in the game despite the objections of Martinez. Nine innings later, Martinez had received the win after being called to pitch in the 6th inning and threw four innings in relief. The Sox reached the
American League Championship Series The American League Championship Series (ALCS) is a best-of-seven playoff and one of two League Championship Series comprising the penultimate round of Major League Baseball's (MLB) postseason. The winner of the ALCS wins the AL pennant and ...
after beating the Indians in an ALDS rematch, but lost to their arch-rivals, the
New York Yankees The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Am ...
in five games. Williams won the 1999 Major League Baseball Manager of the Year Award for the American League. Williams' relationship with general manager Dan Duquette soured, with players such as Carl Everett also having disagreements with Williams, who liked to constantly change the batting lineup for games. Williams developed a feud with Everett, which saw Duquette back Everett publicly in the late stages of the 2000 season, which saw them go 85–77 and miss the playoffs handily. The ensuing disagreement soured the already tense dynamic between Williams and Duquette, to the point where team CEO John Harrington had to call a meeting between Williams and Duquette to try and smooth things over. When the Red Sox—depleted by injuries—slumped in August 2001, Duquette fired Williams. The club then lost 27 of 43 games under Duquette's appointee, Joe Kerrigan. Williams finished his tenure as Red Sox manager with a record of 414 wins and 352 losses.


Houston Astros and Philadelphia Phillies

On November 1, 2001, Williams was hired to become manager of the
Houston Astros The Houston Astros are an American professional baseball team based in Houston. The Astros compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League West, West Division. They are one of two major leag ...
. The other reported candidates were Jim Fregosi and Tony Pena. The Astros went 84–78 in 2002 and were not a particularly serious threat that season. At one point in his tenure, he apparently came up with a suggestion to name the foul poles at Minute Maid Park "fowl poles" and do branding with chicken restaurants. As it turned out, the Astros would do a partnership with Chick-fil-A to brand the poles as such in 2006, which as of 2025 is still present on the poles at the park. He made it clear to owner Drayton McLane that he was not particularly interested in playing ball with the media, which in turn led to a perception of him being distant, although it was said that Williams was quite friendly when talking about baseball rather than off-the-field issues. The Astros fell short by one game for the NL Central title to the
Chicago Cubs The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The Cubs compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central Division. Th ...
in 2003, losing six of their last nine games. However, expectations were raised in the offseason when ownership signed pitchers Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte. The 2004 season did not get off to a great start for Williams, and they went into the All-Star break at 44–44 after losing five of seven games in their last road trip before returning to Houston for the break. Williams was assigned to serve as a National League coach at the 2004 All-Star Game, held in Houston. When he was announced to the crowd at Houston's Minute Maid Park, he was greeted with jeers; the next morning, general manager Gerry Hunsicker fired him, citing the past week as a turning point. Hunsicker was quoted as saying, "The message we wanted to send is that we needed a dramatic change. The more new faces, the more new energy that we can bring in here, the greater impact we might make. My biggest regret was the fact that this week couldn't have been any more awkward for all of us. "The unfortunate reaction he got from the fans, and the speculation that became rampant in the last day or so was very unfortunate. He deserved better." Williams was replaced by Phil Garner, who Hunsicker had contacted about taking the job earlier. Garner would lead the Astros to the 2004 National League Championship Series, but they fell one game short of going to Houston's first ever World Series (the following year, Garner led the Astros to the
World Series The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball (MLB). It has been contested since between the champion teams of the American League (AL) and the National League (NL). The winning team, determined through a best- ...
). Williams finished with a record of 215 wins and 197 losses. Williams described his tenure as one where he felt bad about not making the playoffs while stating, "We just couldn't hit a lick that season. Remember? We couldn't have hit if we'd gone up there with a banjo. We just couldn't get anything going. And it was about three weeks after I left that they finally started playing well. Those things happen." On October 16, 2006, Williams was named the Philadelphia Phillies bench coach and continued with that role through the Phillies 2008 World Series championship season. Williams decided not to return to his position for the 2009 season. Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said, "As far as I know, it's not like that he left on a bad note."


Managerial record


Personal life and death

Williams and his wife, Peggy, had four children. Two of his sons are former professional baseball players who have managed teams in the minor leagues. Brady was chosen by the Red Sox in the 45th round of the 1999 Major League Baseball draft and had a seven-year playing career as an infielder in minor league and independent league baseball. He managed in the Tampa Bay Rays' system from 2009 to 2022, and in was named third-base coach of the MLB Rays. Shawn Williams also had a seven-year playing career (2006–2012), including four years in the Tampa Bay organization; primarily an infielder, he played every position but
center fielder A center fielder, abbreviated CF, is the outfielder in baseball who plays defense in center field – the baseball and softball fielding position between left field and right field. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the ...
. He has been a manager in the Phillies' farm system since 2014. Williams was a distant relative of Red Sox great Ted Williams. Williams lived in Palm Harbor, Florida. He died after a short illness at age 80, on January 26, 2024, at AdventHealth North Pinellas in Tarpon Springs, Florida.


See also

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References


External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Williams, Jimy 1943 births 2024 deaths 20th-century American sportsmen Alaska Goldpanners of Fairbanks players American expatriate baseball players in Canada Arkansas Travelers players Atlanta Braves coaches Baseball coaches from California Baseball players from San Luis Obispo County, California Baseball players from Santa Barbara County, California Boston Red Sox managers Buffalo Bisons (minor league) players El Paso Diablos players Fresno State Bulldogs baseball players Houston Astros managers Indianapolis Indians players Major League Baseball bench coaches Major League Baseball infielders Major League Baseball third base coaches Major League Baseball Manager of the Year Award winners People from Arroyo Grande, California Philadelphia Phillies coaches St. Louis Cardinals players Sportspeople from Santa Maria, California Tidewater Tides players Toronto Blue Jays coaches Toronto Blue Jays managers Tulsa Oilers (baseball) players Vancouver Mounties players Waterloo Hawks (baseball) players Winnipeg Whips players