Jimy Williams, the former captain of the Toronto Blue Jays, passed away on Monday at the age of 80, the team confirmed.
The Jays signed the distant relative of baseball great Ted Williams in 1980 as their third base coach, and he stayed with the team until 1986, when he was promoted to manager. In his debut season in the dugout after replacing Bobby Cox, Williams went 86-76 with the team.
The Jays released a statement saying, “We are saddened to learn of the passing of former Blue Jays Manager Jimy Williams.” “His influence on our organization will always be cherished.”
We regret to inform you of Jimy Williams’s demise, the former manager of the Blue Jays. His influence on our company will always be felt. ♨Our thoughts and prayers are with Jimy’s family and friends during this trying time.http://twitter.com/7jQovwPqhm
— January 29, 2024, Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays)
Williams’ teams finished above.500 in each of his first three seasons as manager, but they were unable to qualify for the postseason. Cito Gaston succeeded him after the Jays’ disastrous start to the 1989 season—they went 12–24 in their first 36 games—led to his dismissal. The Oakland Athletics eliminated the Jays in five games despite their 77-49 record and first-place finish in the AL East at the end of the season.
Gaston became the longest-serving manager of the Jays, leading them to World Series victories in 1992 and 1993. Meanwhile, Williams experienced personal success, winning a World Series as a hitting coach with the 1995 Atlanta Braves and the 2008
He also has previous managerial experience, having played for the Boston Red Sox from 1997 through the first 118 games of the 2001 season and the Houston Astros from 2002 through the first 88 games of the 2004 season.
Like many others, Williams began his career as a player, participating in eight minor league seasons from 1965 to 1971 and then six more in 1975. In two games in a series against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1966, he recorded three hits in his 14 plate appearances in the Major Leagues.
In a game on February 6, he singled against Juan Marichal and Ron Herbel, scoring a run with his first hit. In a game on February 8, he hit another single off Bob Shaw.
In a game played on April 26 of that year, he faced the legendary Los Angeles Dodgers player Sandy Koufax and struck out in his first plate appearance ever.
According to ESPN, Williams is survived by his wife Peggy, four children, and eight grandchildren. There are still two sons involved in baseball: Shawn Williams, captain of the Phillies Double-A affiliate Reading Fightin Phils, and Brady Williams, third base coach for the Rays.
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