Hall of Fame manager Dick Williams died last week at age 82. I can’t say I really knew Williams, but I did interview him on the radio multiple times over the past 30 years.
Williams last managed in the big leagues for the Seattle Mariners in 1988, and those folks who have become fans since then tend to lump him in with everybody else who managed before the 1990s. Too bad, since Williams had a pretty distinctive career.
He was a player in the majors for 13 years, beginning with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1951. Never a regular, his potential for stardom was likely nixed when he suffered a three-way shoulder separation while attempting a diving catch against the Cardinals. After that, he never really had much of an arm. While he stayed in the majors through 1964, outside of three seasons he never really got the chance to play every day.
Williams was versatile if nothing else. He played first, second, third and all three outfield spots. After finishing up as a player with Boston, the Red Sox made him manager of their Triple-A affiliate at Toronto. After two solid years with the Maple Leafs, he was promoted to manage the big league club in 1967. The ’66 Red Sox had finished ninth in a 10-team league, so expectations weren’t real high in ’67. But with Williams at the helm, the ballclub went from a chronic loser in an antiquated ballpark, to the darlings of New England who played in a true baseball cathedral. Boston won the AL pennant, and lost to St. Louis in seven games in the World Series. Williams had achieved the status as a manager he’d never found as a player.
My own specific memory of Williams as skipper comes from 1969, when the Washington Senators overachieved their way to 86 wins. The Red Sox were at RFK on Sunday, June 29. With righty Lee Stange on the mound, Boston led the Senators 4-2 going into the bottom of the ninth. By the time the dust had cleared, the Red Sox had used five pitchers in the inning, had allowed one hit, three walks (one intentional, to Hank Allen) and committed two errors, and the Senators stole a win 5-4. Suffice to say, Williams was a true pioneer in the art of situational managing, win or lose.
Despite winning pennants in Boston, Oakland and San Diego, Williams always felt he’d done his best work with the Montreal Expos, where he managed 1977-81. It’s where he managed the most games in his career and compiled a winning percentage of .523. With Expos Hall of Famers Andre Dawson and Gary Carter honored with their names on the wall at Nationals Park, isn’t it only appropriate that Williams receive the same distinction?
Fair is fair.
Examiner columnist Phil Wood is a baseball historian and contributor to MASN’s Nats Xtra. Contact him at [email protected].
