Dick Williams passed away today. For those who don’t remember, Dick was manager of several baseball teams in the 60’s,70’s and 80’s. He managed the Boston Red Sox to the 1967 World Series, then led the Oakland Athletics to back to back world series championships in 1972 and 1973. This was the era of Reggie Jackson and the first team with long hair and moustaches.
Fired by oakland in his 3rd season , went on to the California Angels and then to where I remember him best, managing the Montreal Expos. He led them from doormats to the NL Final in his tenure, where the Expos lost in heartbreaking fashion. Steve Rogers, a starter and their best pitcher, came on in relief in the final game to close out the Dodgers. In a moment that I still can’t bear to relive, Rick Monday tagged one out of the park, giving the LA Dodgers the pennant.
He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2007. A sad day for ball fans everywhere. He was, in many ways, one of the icons of baseball in his time.
