Post by The Great Aztec Joe on Jul 7, 2011 19:35:45 GMT -8
Location and situation never mattered much to Dick Williams. If Tony Stewart is the driver you want no matter what the ride, then Williams may have been the manager you wanted no matter what the team.
Indeed, the Hall of Fame manager, who died from a brain aneurysm at age 82 on Thursday, built a good case as baseball's most successful vagabond over his illustrious career. He managed six teams over 21 seasons, compiling a 1,571-1,451 career record and leading enough champagne celebrations to drown an entire resume. He won four pennants with three different teams and was the first to win more than 90 games in a season with four. That pretty much ensures his obituary will be written in a number of different ways across the continent.
In Northern California, the first mention will be Williams' stewardship of the 1972 and '73 World Series title teams and his fiery relationship with Oakland Athletics owner Charlie Finley.
Dick Williams, dead at 82, was the man with the planIn Boston, it will be 1967, Williams' rookie season and the year that he led the "Impossible Dream" Boston Red Sox through a crowded AL pennant race and into a World Series Game 7 with the St. Louis Cardinals.
In Southern California, it'll be about 1984, when Williams led the San Diego Padres to 92 wins and the first World Series appearance in franchise history.
sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/Dick-Williams-dead-at-82-was-the-man-with-the-;_ylt=AkBtl4KhlJOBPwlzTCmfVPcRvLYF?urn=mlb-wp11887
Indeed, the Hall of Fame manager, who died from a brain aneurysm at age 82 on Thursday, built a good case as baseball's most successful vagabond over his illustrious career. He managed six teams over 21 seasons, compiling a 1,571-1,451 career record and leading enough champagne celebrations to drown an entire resume. He won four pennants with three different teams and was the first to win more than 90 games in a season with four. That pretty much ensures his obituary will be written in a number of different ways across the continent.
In Northern California, the first mention will be Williams' stewardship of the 1972 and '73 World Series title teams and his fiery relationship with Oakland Athletics owner Charlie Finley.
Dick Williams, dead at 82, was the man with the planIn Boston, it will be 1967, Williams' rookie season and the year that he led the "Impossible Dream" Boston Red Sox through a crowded AL pennant race and into a World Series Game 7 with the St. Louis Cardinals.
In Southern California, it'll be about 1984, when Williams led the San Diego Padres to 92 wins and the first World Series appearance in franchise history.
sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/Dick-Williams-dead-at-82-was-the-man-with-the-;_ylt=AkBtl4KhlJOBPwlzTCmfVPcRvLYF?urn=mlb-wp11887
