The Boston Red Sox announced on Friday that longtime MLB manager Jimy Williams passed away at the age of 80.
Following a brief illness, Williams passed suddenly at AdventHealth North Pinellas Hospital in Tarpon Springs, Florida. Williams was a Palm Harbor resident.
Williams’ time in the major leagues was brief due to a shoulder injury, but he soon entered the coaching field and worked his way up to managing the Toronto Blue Jays.
It was his first managerial position after starting in the minor leagues with the California Angels in Class A Quad Cities of the Midwest League.
In 1982, Williams succeeded Bobby Cox as third base coach in Toronto. However, in 1998, Williams was fired by Cito Gaston, and he joined Cox in Atlanta as Cox’s third base coach. Williams did that from 1991 to 1996. Against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Game 7 of the 1992 NLCS, he had his most well-known moment.
Francisco Cabrera singled, and Williams drove Sid Bream home to end the ninth and win the game over Barry Bonds’ throw from left field.
Attendance record for WWE Royal Rumble Sets at Tampa’s home field, Tropicana Field.
In 1997, Williams would retake Kevin Kennedy’s position as manager of the Red Sox. Even though he would only win 78 games in his debut campaign, Boston was on to something positive.
In Williams’ second season with the team, the Red Sox finished 92-70. In 1999, he was named American League Manager of the Year after the team finished 94-68.
After winning Manager of the Year, Williams remarked, “I probably see life a lot differently than when I was with Toronto, maybe not so excitable, from a standpoint of having to say something all the time.”
