Former Major League manager Jimy Williams, who spent 9 seasons with Jays, dead at 80

By The Canadian Press on January 29, 2024.

TORONTO – Former Toronto Blue Jays manager Jimy Williams has died.

The Blue Jays confirmed Williams’s death Monday on social media but did not provide a cause of death. He was 80.

Williams joined the Blue Jays in 1980 as third-base coach.

He was promoted to manager in 1986 to replace Bobby Cox, who left to join the Atlanta Braves.

He had a 281-241 record over 522 games with the Blue Jays before being fired in 1989 after Toronto got off to a 12-24 start.

Cito Gaston took over and helped Toronto win the American League East title.

Williams returned to managing in 1997 with Boston and led the Red Sox to the playoffs in 1998 and 1999, when he was named AL manager of the year.

He was fired by Boston in the 2001 season despite the team holding a 65-53 record at the time. He took over as manager of the Houston Astros in 2002 and was fired 88 games into the 2004 season.

Williams finished with a winning percentage of .535 (910-790) over 1,700 games as a Major League manager.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 29, 2024.

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