TORONTO – Former Blue Jays supervisor Jimy Williams, who gained 910 video games over a dozen seasons with Toronto, Boston and Houston, has died.
He was 80.
Williams joined the Blue Jays in 1980 as third-base coach and was promoted to supervisor in 1986 to interchange Bobby Cox, who left to affix the Atlanta Braves. Williams had a 281-241 report over 522 video games as Toronto skipper.
“We’re saddened to study of the passing of former Blue Jays supervisor Jimy Williams,” the Blue Jays stated Monday on X, the web site previously often known as Twitter. “His impression on our group will endlessly be remembered.
“Our hearts exit to Jimy’s household and buddies throughout this troublesome time.”
The Purple Sox stated Williams died Friday at AdventHealth North Pinellas Hospital in Tarpon Springs, Fla., after a short sickness. Williams lived in close by Palm Harbor.
Williams was voted AL Supervisor of the 12 months in 1999 after main the Purple Sox to their second straight playoff look. He stated protecting calm in a clubhouse was simpler than at residence.
“I’ve acquired a spouse and 4 youngsters. You need turmoil?” Williams stated when he was employed to handle Boston in 1996. “You’ve acquired to speak. You’ll be able to’t select up sides and say, ‘Let’s see who wins this battle.’”
An infielder, Williams was born James Francis Williams in Santa Maria, Calif., on Oct. 4, 1943. He was a 1961 graduate of Arroyo Grande Excessive Faculty and first spelled his identify Jimy as a prank in highschool.
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Williams went to Fresno State, the place he earned a bachelor’s diploma in 1964 in agri-business. He performed summer season ball that 12 months with the Alaska Goldpanners alongside Tom Seaver and Graig Nettles. Williams signed with Boston, performed at Class A Iowa and was chosen by St. Louis within the 1965 Rule 5 draft.
Williams made his main league debut on April 26, 1966, placing out in opposition to the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Sandy Koufax in his first at-bat. His first hit was on Could 7, an RBI single off San Francisco’s Juan Marichal, like Koufax a future Corridor of Famer.
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“I can bear in mind my first large league hit, however if you solely get three you possibly can bear in mind all of them,” he informed the Houston Chronicle.
Williams performed in 14 main league video games, going 3 for 13 (.231) with one RBI.
He was traded to Cincinnati and spent 1968 at Triple-A Indianapolis, then was taken by Montreal within the enlargement draft and performed for Triple-A Vancouver in 1969.
After his enjoying profession was lower brief by a shoulder damage, Williams turned a supervisor for the California Angels at Class A Quad Cities of the Midwest League in 1974. He spent six seasons managing within the minors earlier than turning into Bobby Mattick’s third-base coach with Toronto in 1980.
Cox took over because the Blue Jays’ supervisor in 1982 and when Cox left in 1986 to change into Atlanta’s basic supervisor, Williams changed him in Toronto’s dugout.
Toronto went 86-76 in his first season and had a 3 1/2-game AL East lead with seven video games left in 1987 however went 0-7 and completed two video games behind Detroit.
The Blue Jays went 87-75 in 1988 and Williams was changed by Cito Gaston after a 12-24 begin in 1989. Williams had clashed a number of occasions with star George Bell, who didn’t wish to be a chosen hitter.
Williams returned to the Braves as Cox’s third base coach from 1991-96, memorably giving Sid Bream the inexperienced mild for the pennant-winning run on Francisco Cabrera’s single that beat Barry Bonds’ throw from left subject and gained Sport 7 of the 1992 NL Championship Collection in opposition to Pittsburgh.
Williams changed Kevin Kennedy as Boston’s supervisor after the 1996 season. The Purple Sox gained 78 video games in his first season after which had consecutive 90-win seasons. They rallied from a 0-2 deficit to beat Cleveland in a 1999 Division Collection.
“I in all probability see life so much in another way than after I was with Toronto,” he stated after incomes Supervisor of the 12 months, “possibly not so excitable, from a standpoint of getting to say one thing on a regular basis.”
Boston gained 85 video games in 2000, and Williams was fired in August 2001 with the staff at 65-53.
Williams was employed that fall by the Astros, and after two successful seasons he was fired with the Astros at 44-44 in 2004. He was terminated a day after followers at Minute Maid Park booed him when he was launched as a coach on the All-Star Sport.
Williams’ managing report was 910-790.
He spent 2005 and ’06 as a Tampa Bay roving teacher and was Charlie Manuel’s bench coach for Philadelphia in 2007 and ’08, incomes a World Collection ring in his second season.
Sons Shawn and Brady each performed within the minor leagues, and Brady is Tampa Bay’s third base coach whereas Shawn is a former minor league supervisor.
Along with his sons, Williams is survived by Peggy, his spouse of 47 years; daughters Monica Farr and Jenna Williams; and eight grandchildren. Monica was an All-America swimmer at Texas A&M who gained a pair of gold medals on the World College Video games.
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This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed Jan. 29, 2024.
With information from The Related Press.
© 2024 The Canadian Press
