Richard Hirschfield "Dick" Williams

Baseball Hall of Famer -- via the New York Times. A combative disciplinarian, he led the Red Sox of the "Impossible Dream" to the AL pennant and the brutal 1967 World Series at the hands of my hero, Bob Gibson. He ignited the A's dynasty with back-to-back World Series victories; he even dragged the Padres to their first Series in 1984. Before managing, he served for 13 years on five teams in a number of positions.