Books and articles about Billy Gardner

RELATED LINKS Around the Web » Billy Gardner from baseball-reference.com Jump directly to Library content from any website!

Ticketed to be the Royals' third-base coach in 1987, Gardner instead became the team's manager when terminally ill Dick Howser resigned during spring training. But Gardner was fired that August. He had piloted the Twins from May 1981 until June 1985, with a second-place finish in 1984. His pro playing career touched four decades (1945-71) and included ten ML seasons. He was Baltimore's regular second baseman from 1956 to 1959, and in 1957 he led the AL in doubles and at-bats. He was in Minnesota's original Opening Day lineup, and played briefly later that season for the powerful 1961 Yankees. (TJ)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » May 28, 1954: At the Polo Grounds, the Giants whip the Dodgers 17–6 with a 6-HR barrage. Four of the home runs come in the 8th as Davey Williams, Alvin Dark, Monte Irvin, and Billy Gardner connect off Ben Wade. Whitey Lockman, in the 1st, and Willie Mays, in the 2nd account for the other two. Brooklyn scores a run in the 6th when Giants P Marv Grissom balks home Rube Walker from 3B. Catcher Ray Katt is at fault, having called a time out when Grissom is in his windup. » May 15, 1957: At Baltimore, the Indians rap Mike Fornieles for five hits and three runs in the 16th to defeat the Orioles, 11–8. The Tribe had scored three in the 8th after an error by Billy Gardner and three more in the 14th after an error by Wayne Causey. Gardner steals home in the 14th for one Bird run and the 3rd run scores on Russ Nixon's wild throw. » April 3, 1960: The Orioles pick up C Clint Courtney, along with SS Ron Samford, from the Senators for 2B Billy Gardner. » June 14, 1961: Sound familiar? The KC A's ship P Bud Daley, their top winner the past two seasons, to the Yankees for P Art Ditmar and OF Deron Johnson. The Yanks then send P Danny McDevitt to the Twins for infielder Billy Gardner. » June 12, 1962: The Yankees trade INF Billy Gardner to the Red Sox for Tommy Umphlett and cash. » May 22, 1981: Coach Billy Gardner replaces the fired John Goryl as manager of the Twins. Minnesota (11-25) had lost eight consecutive games, but shuts out Kansas City 7–0 in Gardner's managerial debut. » June 21, 1985: Twins manager Billy Gardner is fired and replaced by Baltimore pitching coach Ray Miller. » February 23, 1987: Just three days after training camp opens, an extremely frail Dick Howser abandons his attempt to come back from a brain tumor and gives up his position as Royals manager. Billy Gardner is named his successor. » August 27, 1987: The Royals fire manager Billy Gardner, who replaced Dick Howser in spring training, and replace him with John Wathan, the former Kansas City catcher who was managing the club's Triple A Omaha affiliate. In Wathan's ML managerial debut, the Royals win 3–2 on George Brett's 10th-inning home run to move within three games of first-place Minnesota.