On December 20, 1973 — Siding with the A’s, American League president Joe Cronin rules the Yankees cannot sign manager Dick Williams. The Yankees had announced a deal with the Oakland skipper two days earlier. Williams had resigned after winning the 1973 World Series but was still under contract for the 1974 season.
Cronin’s ruling provided that Williams could only manage in New York in 1974 if Finley agreed to the deal and that Finley could ask for compensation from the Yankees in return for letting Williams out of his contract. The asking price: Yankees minor league prospects Scott McGregor and Otto Velez.
The Yankees will move on and hire Bill Virdon on January 3, 1974.
“When he said those names, I knew my world had been turned on its ear,” wrote Williams in his 1990 autobiography No More Mr. Nice Guy. “Because I knew the Yankees wouldn’t agree to such a deal, nor should they. “I don’t actually win games for teams. I just get their players prepared so they can win.”
Williams remained out of the game into the summer of 1974, when Finley agreed to let him take over as manager of the California Angels.
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