TORONTO: Jimy Williams, a former manager of the Blue Jays who spent a dozen seasons winning 910 games with Toronto, Boston,
and Houston, has passed away.
He was eighty.
After working as a third-base coach for the Blue Jays since 1980, Williams was elevated to manager in 1986 to take over for Bobby
Cox, who departed the team to play for the Atlanta Braves. Williams led Toronto to a 281-241 record in 522 games during his tenure.
The Blue Jays sent a statement on X, the website that was once known as Twitter, on Monday stating, “We are saddened to learn of the
passing of former Blue Jays manager Jimy Williams.” His influence on our company will always be felt.
“Our hearts go out to Jimy’s family and friends during this difficult time.”
Williams passed on Friday at AdventHealth North Pinellas, according to the Red Sox.
Williams led the Red Sox to their second consecutive postseason appearance in 1999, earning him the AL Manager of the Year award.
In a clubhouse, he claimed, it was easier to remain composed than at home.
“I have four children and a wife. You desire chaos?” Williams stated in 1996, upon being appointed Boston’s manager. “You must
communicate. It is not acceptable to take sides and declare, “Let’s see who wins this battle.”
James Francis Williams, an infielder, was born on October 4, 1943, in Santa Maria, California. He first spelled his name Jimy as a joke
in high school, and he graduated from Arroyo Grande High School in 1961.
Williams attended Fresno State, where he graduated in 1964 with a bachelor’s degree in agribusiness. He
He told the Houston Chronicle, “I can remember my first big league hit, but when you only get three you can remember them all.”
Williams was 3 for 13 (.231) with one RBI in 14 major league games.
After being acquired by Cincinnati, he played for Triple-A Indianapolis in 1968 before being selected by Montreal in the expansion
draft to play for Triple-A Vancouver in 1969.
In 1974, following a shoulder injury that ended his playing career, Williams joined the California Angels as a manager at Class A Quad
Cities in the Midwest League. Before joining Toronto in 1980 as Bobby Mattick’s third-base coach, he managed in the minor leagues
for six seasons.
In 1982, Cox became the Blue Jays’ manager, and
Following a 12-24 start in 1989, Williams was replaced by Cito Gaston as the Blue Jays finished 87-75 in 1988. Williams and star
George Bell, who objected to being a designated hitter, had a number of run-ins.
From 1991 to 1996, Williams rejoined the Braves as Cox’s third base coach. It is remembered because at that time, he gave Sid Bream
the go-ahead for Francisco Cabrera’s pennant-winning single, which defeated Barry Bonds’ throw from left field and won Game 7 of
the 1992 NL Championship Series against Pittsburgh.
Following the 1996 season, Williams succeeded Kevin Kennedy as manager of Boston. After winning 78 games in his debut season, the
Red Sox went on to have two seasons with 90 wins apiece. They defeated Cleveland in a 1999 Division Series after coming back from a
0–2 deficit.
The Astros hired Williams that fall, and he was sacked by the team in 2004 after they were 44-44 following two successful seasons. A
day after he was jeered by Minute Maid Park spectators upon his introduction as a coach for the All-Star Game, he was fired.
Williams had a 910-790 managerial record.
He was a roaming teacher for Tampa Bay in 2005 and 2006; in 2007 and 2008, he was Charlie Manuel’s bench coach for Philadelphia,
where he won a World Series ring in his second season.
Both Brady and Shawn, who are sons, were minor league players. Brady currently coaches third base for Tampa Bay, while Shawn
managed minor league teams in the past.
Williams’s 47-year wife Peggy survives him in addition to his sons;
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