Dick Williams, who managed the Red Sox to the “Impossible Dream” season in 1967, along with former commissioner Bowie Kuhn, long-time Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers owner Walter O’Malley, former Pittsburgh Pirates owner Barney Dreyfuss and former manager Billy Southworth were all elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame by the Veteran’s Committee on Monday.
Williams led three different teams to the World Series winning twice while managing the powerhouse Oakland A’s in 1972 and 1973 beating the Cincinnati Reds and the New York Mets. He also took the BoSox to their first series apprearance in 21 years in 1967 when they rode the back of future Hall member Carl Yasztremski in baseball’s last Triple Crown season. They lost in 7 games to the St. Louis Cardinals. Williams managed the San Diego Padres to the Fall Classic in 1984 where they lost to the Detroit Tigers.
Kuhn was baseball’s fifth commissioner and led the game from 1969-1984 and was in charge as free agency made it’s way into the sport. He was also commissioner at a time when baseball’s attendance at games tripled, they added 6 teams during Kuhn’s watch and played the first night time World Series games.
O’Malley owned the Dodgers from 1944 until his death in 1979 and the team won 4 World Series in that time. He was the Dodgers owner when Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier and was instrumental in baseball’s western expansion as he moved the Brooklyn Dodgers to Los Angeles in 1957.
Barney Dreyfuss owned the Pirates from 1900-32 and won two World Series as owner. He helped in arranging the very first World Series in 1903.
Billy Southworth managed for 13 years and won 4 pennants and 2 World Series and had 3 consecutive 100-win seasons on the bench during the 1940’s.
The five will inducted in Cooperstown NY on July 27th. Results for eligible players will be released by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America on January 8th.
