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 posted on X, the website that was once known as Twitter, on Monday, saying, “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 thoughts and prayers are with Jimy’s family and friends during this trying time.”
Following a brief illness, Williams passed away on Friday at AdventHealth North Pinellas Hospital in Tarpon Springs, Florida,
according to the Red Sox. Williams resided in Palm Harbor, which is close.
Williams led the Red Sox to their second consecutive postseason berth 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. Do 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 initially 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. That year, he played summer
ball with Graig Nettles and Tom Seaver’s Alaska Goldpanners. Williams played at Class A Iowa, signed with Boston, and was chosen by
St. Louis in the 1965 Rule 5 draft.
On April 26, 1966, Williams made his major league debut, striking out in his first at-bat against Sandy Koufax of the Los Angeles
Dodgers. Like future Hall of Famer Koufax, he got his first hit on May 7 with an RBI single against San Francisco’s Juan Marichal.
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 taking over as Toronto’s third-base coach in 1980 under Bobby Mattick, he managed in the minor
leagues for six seasons.
In 1982, Cox became management of the Blue Jays; Williams succeeded him in the dugout when Cox left in 1986 to take a position as
general manager in Atlanta.
In his debut season, Toronto finished 86-76. With seven games remaining in 1987, they led the AL East by three and a half games, but
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!
