Ken Williams (baseball executive)
Encyclopedia
Kenneth Royal Williams is a former outfielder
in Major League Baseball
and the current general manager
of the Chicago White Sox
.
Williams graduated from Mount Pleasant High School
in East San Jose, California in 1982; while in high school, he excelled in football
. He also played football at Stanford University
before leaving to become a professional baseball player. Contrary to some reports, he was not on the field for The Play
, the infamous final play of the 1982 Cal–Stanford game.
, before being traded to the Detroit Tigers
in . The Tigers waived him during the season, and he was claimed by the Toronto Blue Jays
. Williams remained a bit player with the Blue Jays, usually coming on as a pinch-runner due to his speed. He was the starting center fielder when Dave Stieb
threw his only no-hitter
, the first no-hitter in Toronto history. He is best remembered as a player for a bizarre incident during the 1990 season, where a series of wild throwing errors resulted in him (on base as a pinch-runner) rounding third base and mauling over third base coach John McLaren, knocking him out in the process (Williams himself was winded, but eventually ended up scoring the run). This humorous clip would be played over and over in blooper reels for years to come. The Blue Jays then put him on waivers during the season, with Canada
's other major league team, the Montreal Expos
, picking him up. Williams decided to retire from baseball after being released by Montreal following the 1991 season.
in , he spent some time as a studio analyst for Sox games on SportsChannel Chicago before becoming the team's director of minor league operations in . In , he was named vice-president of player development, a position in which he remained until .
as the general manager of the White Sox. Williams hired Jerry Manuel as his first manager, in which he lead them to 2 division titles and over 500 wins, then he hired popular former Chicago shortstop Ozzie Guillén
as the team's manager in . Since becoming the White Sox GM, Williams has become known for his aggressive moves to bolster the Sox lineup. This reputation was strengthened following the season, when Williams completely made over the White Sox team by switching its on-field focus from home runs to pitching, defense, and speed. Accordingly, he acquired players which excelled in these areas, through free agent signings (Orlando Hernández
, Dustin Hermanson
, Jermaine Dye
, A. J. Pierzynski
, Tadahito Iguchi
), trades (Scott Podsednik
, José Contreras
, Freddy Garcia
) and the farm system (Joe Crede
, Aaron Rowand
). Williams' off-season maneuvers were reflected in an extremely successful campaign for the South Siders, one in which they held the best record in all of baseball for most of the year, finished with the best record in the AL to clinch their first AL Central Division title since 2000
, their first American League
pennant since 1959
, and their first World Series
since 1917.
On February 27, , Williams lashed out at former White Sox first baseman Frank Thomas
in an interview with a Chicago television media outlet, in response to statements Thomas made about the White Sox organization. He referred to Thomas as "an idiot" and "selfish" and said no one in the White Sox organization would miss him.
In the offseason prior to the 2006 season, Williams set out to improve his world championship team further by acquiring pitcher Javier Vazquez
from the Arizona Diamondbacks
and slugger Jim Thome
from the Philadelphia Phillies
. In addition, Williams was cognizant of the large role that the bench played under Ozzie Guillén and solidified it by trading for Rob Mackowiak
and Alex Cintron
. Because of these aggressive maneuvers, the White Sox were once again favored to win the 2006 World Series. Despite winning 90 games, they fell short and finished in third place in the AL Central Division behind the Detroit Tigers
and Minnesota Twins
, thereby not making the playoffs. At the All-Star break, however, the White Sox were tied with the Detroit Tigers for first place and held a 6-game lead on the New York Yankees for the wild card. The lead evaporated in the second half of the season and the White Sox finished third in the central behind the Minnesota Twins and Tigers.
In the offseason before the season, Williams traded away Freddy Garcia
to the Phillies and acquired prospects, Gavin Floyd
and Gio Gonzalez
, in return. He also signed veteran free agent Darin Erstad
to a one-year $1 million contract. Williams has also stated that the team needs to get younger and improve its scouting. In early January 2008, he traded Gio Gonzalez
, Fautino de los Santos, and Ryan Sweeney for Nick Swisher
.
With pitcher Jake Peavy
being acquired at the trade deadline for the 2009 season Williams was referred to by Gordon Edes of Yahoo Sports as a "stealth bomber" for his under the radar moves.
On August 10, , Williams made another under the radar move, by claiming OF Alex Rios
off the waivers from the Toronto Blue Jays
.On October 6 , 2011 Kenny Williams hired Robin Ventura as the new manager of the Chicago White Sox . Ozzie Guillen, who guided the Chicago White Sox to win the 2005 world series, has accepted the new manager job with the Miami Marlins.
. The family of 7 includes Arizona State University
football player Kyle Williams, now on the San Francisco 49ers. also a 2006 draftee of the White Sox and Wichita State University
baseball player Kenny Williams Jr., a 2008 draftee of the White Sox. And his youngest son Tyler Julian attended Chaparral High School in Scottsdale, Arizona. (The same High school of White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko) Tyler is current playing in the Chicago White Sox Farm System as a Third Baseman.
Kenny is renowned and often teased by organization members and players for his structured lifestyle and particular eating habits. It has been reported that Kenny has eaten a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for lunch every day for the past nine years. More recent interviews show Williams indicating that this may be an exaggeration.
Late 2011, a homeless man, Wayne L. Field III, broke into Kenny Williams Chicago home. The man was able to obtain a set of keys and temporarily live in Kenny's house while he was out of town. Field confirmed Kenny's well known obsession with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches because the cupboards were filled with peanut butter and jelly paraphernalia.
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
and the current general manager
General manager (baseball)
In Major League Baseball, the general manager of a team typically controls player transactions and bears the primary responsibility on behalf of the ballclub during contract discussions with players....
of the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
.
Williams graduated from Mount Pleasant High School
Mount Pleasant High School (San Jose, California)
Mount Pleasant High School is a public high school located in San Jose, California. It is a part of the East Side Union High School District.-Steve Poizner:...
in East San Jose, California in 1982; while in high school, he excelled in football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
. He also played football at Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
before leaving to become a professional baseball player. Contrary to some reports, he was not on the field for The Play
The Play
The Play refers to a last-second kickoff return during a college football game between the and the Stanford University Cardinal on Saturday, November 20, 1982...
, the infamous final play of the 1982 Cal–Stanford game.
Playing career
Selected by the White Sox in the 3rd round of the amateur draft, Williams made his debut in and spent three years in Chicago, primarily as a center fielderCenter fielder
A center fielder, abbreviated CF, is the outfielder in baseball who plays defense in center field – the baseball fielding position between left field and right field...
, before being traded to the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
in . The Tigers waived him during the season, and he was claimed by the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
. Williams remained a bit player with the Blue Jays, usually coming on as a pinch-runner due to his speed. He was the starting center fielder when Dave Stieb
Dave Stieb
David Andrew Stieb [STEEB] is a former Major League Baseball pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays.-Playing career:Born in Santa Ana, California, Stieb played varsity baseball at Southern Illinois University as an outfielder...
threw his only no-hitter
No-hitter
A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
, the first no-hitter in Toronto history. He is best remembered as a player for a bizarre incident during the 1990 season, where a series of wild throwing errors resulted in him (on base as a pinch-runner) rounding third base and mauling over third base coach John McLaren, knocking him out in the process (Williams himself was winded, but eventually ended up scoring the run). This humorous clip would be played over and over in blooper reels for years to come. The Blue Jays then put him on waivers during the season, with Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
's other major league team, the Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
, picking him up. Williams decided to retire from baseball after being released by Montreal following the 1991 season.
Administrative career
In November , Williams rejoined the White Sox organization as a scout. Named special assistant to Sox chairman Jerry ReinsdorfJerry Reinsdorf
Jerry M. Reinsdorf is a CPA, lawyer and an owner of the MLB's Chicago White Sox and the NBA's Chicago Bulls. He started his professional life as a tax attorney with the Internal Revenue Service. He has been the head of the White Sox and Bulls for over 20 years.He made his initial fortune in real...
in , he spent some time as a studio analyst for Sox games on SportsChannel Chicago before becoming the team's director of minor league operations in . In , he was named vice-president of player development, a position in which he remained until .
General Manager
In October 2000, Williams replaced Ron SchuelerRon Schueler
Ronald Richard Schueler is a former Major League pitcher, pitching coach, general manager and scout. Schueler graduated from Hays High School where he played baseball and basketball, then went on to attend Fort Hays State University before being drafted in 1966.-Minor leagues:Schueler was selected...
as the general manager of the White Sox. Williams hired Jerry Manuel as his first manager, in which he lead them to 2 division titles and over 500 wins, then he hired popular former Chicago shortstop Ozzie Guillén
Ozzie Guillén
Oswaldo José "Ozzie" Guillén Barrios is a Venezuelan-American former Major League Baseball player and current manager of the Miami Marlins. He managed the Chicago White Sox from 2004 to 2011 before asking for his release at the end of the 2011 season....
as the team's manager in . Since becoming the White Sox GM, Williams has become known for his aggressive moves to bolster the Sox lineup. This reputation was strengthened following the season, when Williams completely made over the White Sox team by switching its on-field focus from home runs to pitching, defense, and speed. Accordingly, he acquired players which excelled in these areas, through free agent signings (Orlando Hernández
Orlando Hernández
Orlando Hernández Pedroso , nicknamed "El Duque", is a former Cuban right-handed baseball pitcher....
, Dustin Hermanson
Dustin Hermanson
Dustin Michael Hermanson is an American former right-handed relief pitcher in Major League Baseball.After being selected in the 1st round of the amateur draft by, and playing for, the San Diego Padres, he bounced around the majors, playing for the Montreal Expos, St. Louis Cardinals, Boston Red...
, Jermaine Dye
Jermaine Dye
Jermaine Trevell Dye is a retired American Major League Baseball right fielder and designated hitter. Dye played with the Atlanta Braves , Kansas City Royals , Oakland Athletics , and the Chicago White Sox . Dye won the World Series MVP with the White Sox in 2005...
, A. J. Pierzynski
A. J. Pierzynski
Anthony John "A. J." Pierzynski is an American Major League Baseball catcher who is currently with the Chicago White Sox. Pierzynski previously played with the Minnesota Twins and San Francisco Giants . Pierzynski was also a wrestler for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling.-Early life:Anthony John...
, Tadahito Iguchi
Tadahito Iguchi
is a Japanese second baseman currently playing for the Chiba Lotte Marines.-Early life and Japanese career:Iguchi began playing in high school and after graduating in 1993, went to Aoyama Gakuin University where he distinguished himself by hitting the Tohto University Baseball League record of...
), trades (Scott Podsednik
Scott Podsednik
Scott Eric Podsednik is a Major League Baseball outfielder who is currently in the Philadelphia Phillies organization. Podsednik led the major leagues in stolen bases in with 70.-Minor leagues:...
, José Contreras
José Contreras
José Ariel Contreras Camejo is a right-handed Major League Baseball pitcher who is currently with the Philadelphia Phillies...
, Freddy Garcia
Freddy García
Freddy Antonio García , nicknamed "The Chief", is a Venezuelan Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher who is currently a free agent...
) and the farm system (Joe Crede
Joe Crede
Joseph Taylor Crede is a Major League Baseball third baseman who is currently a free agent. Crede attended high school at Fatima High School in Westphalia, Missouri which he led to 3 district championships and two final four berths as a pitcher...
, Aaron Rowand
Aaron Rowand
Aaron Ryan Rowand is an outfielder in Major League Baseball who has played for the San Francisco Giants, Chicago White Sox and the Philadelphia Phillies. He was released by the Giants in September 2011.-Early life and college career:...
). Williams' off-season maneuvers were reflected in an extremely successful campaign for the South Siders, one in which they held the best record in all of baseball for most of the year, finished with the best record in the AL to clinch their first AL Central Division title since 2000
2000 American League Division Series
-Oakland Athletics vs. New York Yankees:-Chicago vs. Seattle:The Seattle Mariners returned to the postseason to avenge two postseason failures in the 1990s. The Chicago White Sox returned to the postseason for the first time since 1993...
, their first American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
pennant since 1959
1959 World Series
The 1959 World Series featured the National League champion Los Angeles Dodgers beating the American League champion Chicago White Sox, four games to two. It was the first pennant for the White Sox in 40 years . They would have to wait until 2005 to win another championship...
, and their first World Series
2005 World Series
The 2005 World Series, the 101st Major League Baseball championship series, saw the American League champion Chicago White Sox sweep the National League champion Houston Astros four games to none in the best-of-seven-games series, winning their third championship and first since 1917.Home-field...
since 1917.
On February 27, , Williams lashed out at former White Sox first baseman Frank Thomas
Frank Thomas (AL baseball player)
Frank Edward Thomas, Jr. , nicknamed "The Big Hurt", is a former Major League Baseball designated hitter and first baseman....
in an interview with a Chicago television media outlet, in response to statements Thomas made about the White Sox organization. He referred to Thomas as "an idiot" and "selfish" and said no one in the White Sox organization would miss him.
In the offseason prior to the 2006 season, Williams set out to improve his world championship team further by acquiring pitcher Javier Vazquez
Javier Vázquez
Javier Carlos Vázquez is a Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. Previously, he pitched for the Florida Marlins , Atlanta Braves , Chicago White Sox , Arizona Diamondbacks , New York Yankees and Montreal Expos . Vázquez was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico...
from the Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
and slugger Jim Thome
Jim Thome
James Howard "Jim" Thome is a Major League Baseball player for the Philadelphia Phillies. He is the eighth player to hit 600 home runs in the major leagues. He is widely considered a future Hall of Famer.-Cleveland Indians :...
from the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
. In addition, Williams was cognizant of the large role that the bench played under Ozzie Guillén and solidified it by trading for Rob Mackowiak
Rob Mackowiak
Robert William Mackowiak is an American professional baseball player who is currently a free agent. He bats left-handed, throws right-handed, and is a utility player. During his Major League Baseball career, he has played for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago White Sox, San Diego Padres, and...
and Alex Cintron
Alex Cintrón
Alexander Cintrón is a former Major League Baseball infielder who played for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Chicago White Sox, Baltimore Orioles and Washington Nationals. His last Major League game was in April 2009...
. Because of these aggressive maneuvers, the White Sox were once again favored to win the 2006 World Series. Despite winning 90 games, they fell short and finished in third place in the AL Central Division behind the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
and Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
, thereby not making the playoffs. At the All-Star break, however, the White Sox were tied with the Detroit Tigers for first place and held a 6-game lead on the New York Yankees for the wild card. The lead evaporated in the second half of the season and the White Sox finished third in the central behind the Minnesota Twins and Tigers.
In the offseason before the season, Williams traded away Freddy Garcia
Freddy García
Freddy Antonio García , nicknamed "The Chief", is a Venezuelan Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher who is currently a free agent...
to the Phillies and acquired prospects, Gavin Floyd
Gavin Floyd
Gavin Christopher Floyd is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Chicago White Sox. He stands 6' 5" tall, weighs 220 pounds, and throws and bats right-handed.-Philadelphia Phillies:...
and Gio Gonzalez
Gio Gonzalez
Giovany A. Gonzalez is a left-handed Major League Baseball pitcher for the Oakland Athletics.-Early life:...
, in return. He also signed veteran free agent Darin Erstad
Darin Erstad
Darin Charles Erstad is the Head Coach of the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers baseball team and a former Major League Baseball outfielder/first baseman. Prior to , he had played with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim franchise before signing with the Chicago White Sox in 2007...
to a one-year $1 million contract. Williams has also stated that the team needs to get younger and improve its scouting. In early January 2008, he traded Gio Gonzalez
Gio Gonzalez
Giovany A. Gonzalez is a left-handed Major League Baseball pitcher for the Oakland Athletics.-Early life:...
, Fautino de los Santos, and Ryan Sweeney for Nick Swisher
Nick Swisher
Nicholas Thompson "Nick" Swisher is an outfielder for the New York Yankees. Swisher is a switch hitter who throws left-handed....
.
With pitcher Jake Peavy
Jake Peavy
Jacob Edward Peavy is a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who plays for the Chicago White Sox. He bats and throws right-handed...
being acquired at the trade deadline for the 2009 season Williams was referred to by Gordon Edes of Yahoo Sports as a "stealth bomber" for his under the radar moves.
On August 10, , Williams made another under the radar move, by claiming OF Alex Rios
Alex Ríos
Alexis Israel "Alex" Ríos is a Puerto Rican-American Major League Baseball outfielder who plays for the Chicago White Sox. He bats and throws right-handed.-Professional career:...
off the waivers from the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
.On October 6 , 2011 Kenny Williams hired Robin Ventura as the new manager of the Chicago White Sox . Ozzie Guillen, who guided the Chicago White Sox to win the 2005 world series, has accepted the new manager job with the Miami Marlins.
Personal life
Kenny and his wife, Jessica, reside in Naperville, IllinoisNaperville, Illinois
Naperville is a city in DuPage and Will Counties in Illinois in the United States, voted the second best place to live in the United States by Money Magazine in 2006. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 141,853. It is the fifth largest city in the state, behind Chicago,...
. The family of 7 includes Arizona State University
Arizona State University
Arizona State University is a public research university located in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area of the State of Arizona...
football player Kyle Williams, now on the San Francisco 49ers. also a 2006 draftee of the White Sox and Wichita State University
Wichita State University
Wichita State University is a NCAA Division I public university in Wichita, Kansas with selective admissions. WSU is one of six state universities governed by the Kansas Board of Regents. The current president is Dr. Donald Beggs....
baseball player Kenny Williams Jr., a 2008 draftee of the White Sox. And his youngest son Tyler Julian attended Chaparral High School in Scottsdale, Arizona. (The same High school of White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko) Tyler is current playing in the Chicago White Sox Farm System as a Third Baseman.
Kenny is renowned and often teased by organization members and players for his structured lifestyle and particular eating habits. It has been reported that Kenny has eaten a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for lunch every day for the past nine years. More recent interviews show Williams indicating that this may be an exaggeration.
Late 2011, a homeless man, Wayne L. Field III, broke into Kenny Williams Chicago home. The man was able to obtain a set of keys and temporarily live in Kenny's house while he was out of town. Field confirmed Kenny's well known obsession with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches because the cupboards were filled with peanut butter and jelly paraphernalia.