Replies

My two best memories of Dick williams are as follows:

1. I was a 15 year old Red Sox fan growing up in the Boston area in 1967. From the first day of spring training he convinced the players and fans alike that something was diferent. He said “I can tell you this, we are going to win a lot more games than we lose.” He was right, the beantowners went all the way to the 7th game of the world series. Baseball came alive again in Boston and it hasn’t simmered down since. Thank you Dick.

2. It was either the 1972 or the 1973 world series, anyway it was the Reds against Dick’s A’s. With runners on second and third and with 2 outs, Johnny Bench came to the plate. The A’s pitcher managed to work a two and two count. With first base open Dick comes out to the mound to tell his pitcher to walk Bench. He figured to set up a force at all bases and pitch to the next, less dangerous batter. The catcher stands up and takes the ball 3 pitchout very wide of the plate. For the full count pitch the catcher stands up again to take ball 4. That is not what happened, the catcher jumps back down behind the plate for a real pitch from the mound. Johnny never saw it coming and was called out on strikes. Was he ever mad. I never saw that play before and I’ve never seen it again. Thanks again Dick Williams, Hall of Fame manager.