Former Red Sox manager Jimy Williams dead at 80

By Nina Campanello

James “Jimy” Williams played two MLB seasons as an infielder and right-handed batter. His career was cut short due to a shoulder injury sustained in 1967. In his time as a manager, he worked with three MLB teams.

Williams guided the Red Sox from 1997 to 2001, and was voted AL Manager of the Year after guiding the Sox to their second straight playoff appearance with a 94-win season. After a difficult start in Boston, Williams led the Sox to back-to-back 90-plus-win seasons in both 1998 and 1999. Williams was fired in August of 2001 amid a hard slump on the team, and he ended his time in Boston with a 410-352 (.540) mark.

Before coming to the Sox, Williams spent a little over three seasons with the Blue Jays before heading to the Braves as a third-base coach. Williams helped the Braves to their 1995 World Series win.

After his time in Boston, Williams managed the Astros from 2002 until the mid-2004 season. He was fired after a 44-44 start. Williams ended his coaching career with the Phillies, where he served as a bench coach for two seasons and won a second World Series title in 2008.

His sons Shawn and Brady both spent time in the minor leagues, and today Brady Williams is the Ray’s third-base coach and Shawn Williams is a former minor league manager.

Williams is survived by his wife of 47 years, Peggy, his daughters Monica Farr and Jenna Williams, and his eight grandchildren.