Dick Williams

Dick Williams
Birthdate 5/7/1929
Death Date 7/7/2011
Debut Year 1951
Year of Induction 2008
Teams Expos, Padres, Red Sox
Position Manager

Dick Williams is one of three MLB managers to lead 4 teams to 90+ win seasons. Williams led three squads to the World Series, winning twice.

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Dick Williams enjoyed a 13-year playing career that included 5 seasons in Brooklyn

Dick Williams enjoyed a 13-year playing career that included 5 seasons in Brooklyn

Dick Williams started his big league career in 1951 as a 22-year old left fielder for the Brooklyn Dodgers. Though he played for the Orioles, Red Sox, and Athletics, it was his early years in Brooklyn that are memorable. Pee Wee Reese was the Dodger captain for each of the future Hall of Famers five
Dick Williams earned the first of his two World Series rings with the Athletics in 1972

Dick Williams earned the first of his two World Series rings with the Athletics in 1972

Dick Williams guided teams to four pennants and two World Series titles during his 21 years as a big league manager. The bookend pennants came with the 1967 Impossible Dream Red Sox and Tony Gwynn’s 1984 Padres. They’re sandwiched around back-to-back Fall Classic triumphs with the Oakland Athlet
Despite guiding the A's to consecutive Fall Classic titles, Dick Williams resigned in '73

Despite guiding the A's to consecutive Fall Classic titles, Dick Williams resigned in '73

Dick Williams piloted the Oakland A’s for only three years but won the World Series twice. Though three seasons might seem like a short stint, working for Athletics owner Charlie Finley made the time almost unbearable. After guiding the A’s to the title in 1973, Williams and Oakland beca
Williams spent three seasons under Charlie Finley - more than any other manager

Williams spent three seasons under Charlie Finley - more than any other manager

Oakland A’s owner Charles Finley was a difficult man to work for. During his 21-year reign running the club he had only one manager last more that two years. That one man was Dick Williams. The future Hall of Fame skipper guided the A’s to 101 wins in 1971. The following year he won the
Williams and Charlie Finley appeared on the same Veterans Committee ballot in 2003

Williams and Charlie Finley appeared on the same Veterans Committee ballot in 2003

Despite leading the A’s to three division titles and two World Series titles, Dick Williams could not co-exist with team owner Charlie Finley. He resigned within minutes of the final out of the 1973 triumph. Thirty years later in 2003 both Finley and Williams appeared on the Veterans Committee
Many believe Oakland owner Finley belongs alongside Williams in Cooperstown

Many believe Oakland owner Finley belongs alongside Williams in Cooperstown

There are only two MLB franchises to win three consecutive World Series titles, the New York Yankees and Charlie Finley’s Oakland Athletics. Finley was a hands-on owner, controlling virtually aspect of the operations of his team. He no doubt deserves much of the credit for his dynasty. So why
Dick Williams wore a professional baseball uniform every season from 1947-1988

Dick Williams wore a professional baseball uniform every season from 1947-1988

Dick Williams is a baseball lifer. He started playing minor league ball in 1947 with the Class-C Brooklyn affiliate. He continued playing until 1964. In ’65 and ’66 he managed the Red Sox Triple-A club in Toronto. Then in 1967 he was back in the big leagues as skipper of the big club. Wi

Stories about Dick Williams

There was no champagne for Red Sox, Lonborg in ‘67

July 20th, 2017 Leave a comment

Lonborg and champagne

World Series championships are won on the field, not in the newspapers. In 1967 the press might’ve given the Cardinals extra motivation in their epic seven-game battle against the Red Sox. Boston wins the pennant on the last day Boston had to grind it out just to get to the postseason. The battle for supremacy in the American League came down to the last day of the regular season. Boston and second-place Detroit were separated by just a half-game. The Tigers had a doubleheader at home against the Angels. The Red Sox played the Twins at Fenway Park. Boston turned to ace Jim Lonborg for the regular season finale. The 1967 Cy Young Award winner, Gentleman Jim responded with a gutty performance. On three days rest he went the distance allowing one earned run before the sellout crowd at Fenway. The October 1st contest was his 15th complete game of the season. The Tigers needed a sweep of California. Detroit won the first game 6-4 but couldn’t contain the Angels in the second, losing 8-5. With the Detroit loss, Boston earned a berth to the World Series against the National Champion St. Louis Cardinals. The World Series begins On only […]

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Lifetime passes were the brainchild of NL President Ford Frick; here’s a pictorial history

June 18th, 2016 Leave a comment

Lifetime pass

A newspaper man turned league publicist turned league president came up with a brilliant idea in 1934 — reward longtime National League players with a lifetime pass to all NL games. Senior Circuit owners approved Ford Frick’s proposal at the league meeting in December of ’34. A few months later, Frick sent out ornately decorated paper Lifetime Passes to the NL’s greatest players. He even sent one to Babe Ruth who appeared in all of 28 games for the Boston Braves in 1935. A 21-year veteran of the American League, the Babe was grateful if not surprised when he remarked, “At least the National League has a heart”. An image of the original paper pass presented to Hall of Fame outfielder Sliding Billy Hamilton can be seen below. A similar pass curiously issued to Stan Coveleski, a lifetime American Leaguer is also shown. Perhaps shamed by Ruth’s remarks, the American League joined forces in 1936 to issue a pass to all Major League contests. Players with twenty or more years of service received a solid gold pass. Seventeen men qualified for the true “golden ticket” — Ruth, Fred Clarke, Ty Cobb, Eddie Collins, Bill Dahlen, Harry Davis, Red Faber, Walter Johnson, […]

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