Jimy Williams was a Major League Baseball manager and coach who led the Boston Red Sox, Houston Astros, and Toronto Blue Jays. He was Manager of the Year in 1999.
- Died: January 26, 2024 (Who else died on January 26?)
- Details of death: Died in Tarpon Springs, Florida at the age of 80.
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Jimy Williams’ legacy
Born James Francis Williams, the name and spelling “Jimy” was a purposeful misspelling in high school initially intended as a prank – but the name stuck. He carried it through his college days as an infielder for California State University, Fresno and into his brief professional playing career. Williams played in the St. Louis Cardinals organization, taking part in 14 major league games in 1966 and 1967, as well as spending several years in the minors.
Williams began his coaching career in 1974, working his way through the Toronto Blue Jays minor league system and becoming third base coach for the team in 1980. In 1986, Williams took over as team manager after Bobby Cox went to the Atlanta Braves. A few years later, he followed Cox to the Braves in the 1990s and was with the team during their 1995 World Series-winning season.
Williams became manager of the Boston Red Sox in 1997. The team became competitive again under his tenure, earning him a Manager of the Year award in 1999. However, a contentious relationship with general manager Dan Duquette led to Williams’ dismissal. He spent three years as manager of the Houston Astros before joining the Philadelphia Phillies as a bench coach and being part of their 2008 World Series-winning season. He eventually finished his managerial career with a 910-790 record, with six 2nd place finishes in 12 seasons.
Tributes to Jimy Williams
Full obituary: ESPN
