After over three decades on the bench and in the coaches box at Legion Field, Havre Northstars manager Mickey Williams is saying goodbye to the sport he loves and the program he helped build into a Montana power
Chris Peterson Havre Daily News cpeterson@havredailynews.com
There is one name that is synonymous with American Legion baseball in Havre. And that name is Mickey Williams. Williams or “Mick” as he is affectionately called, has been the lifeblood of the Havre Northstars, and later on the Havre Comets American Legion baseball clubs for the last 30 years, doing everything from coaching the team, to managing the field and so, so much more. However, after 29 seasons as coach of the Northstars, with 24 of them as the manager, Williams decided it was finally time to walk away, turning the team over to former player and assistant coach Steve Fanning. “I don’t know it just felt like it was time,” Williams said. “I got a little burnt out and I just felt like there needed to be some new blood in the coaches. I am still going to be involved, just not as a coach anymore.” Williams retirement marks the end of an era for legion baseball in Havre. During his 29- year tenure with the team, the Northstars won two Class A state champions, the first coming in 1984 while he was still an assistant to the late Tom Nielsen. In 1999, after over 15 years of trying, Williams won his first and only state championship as manager of the Northstars. “I was on that team in 1999 that won the state championship,” Fanning said. “Mickey talked about quitting after that and going out on top, but the next season came and there he was.” Williams came close to winning other state championships, finishing second and third on a number of occasions, to go along with a great number of of district titles. “It’s too bad that better records weren’t kept,” Fanning said. “Because during the time that he coached, he probably won more games than anyone else in the state of Montana, no matter what sport.” “I’m not sure how many times we went to state or how many district championships we won,” Williams said. “I just don’t keep track of that kind of stuff.” Even if it’s not known exactly how many games or titles he won, there is no doubt that Williams was a winner, flat out. His style of managing a ball club can be best described as “old school”. He loved the game, he loved to win and he loved nothing more than a good hard-nosed ballplayer. And if anyone learned that about him best, it was former player, coaching pupil and sometimes employee Ryan Divish. “The single biggest thing I learned from Mick was what kind of baseball player you’re supposed to be,” Divish said in an interview from Tacoma, Wash. “I was notoriously hotheaded as a player, and he just kept pounding into me and never giving up on trying to teach me how to play the game the right way, and by the time I was done, I finally realized what type of baseball player I was supposed to be. Doing things the right way was just really important to him, and he taught that to me.” His teams weren’t flashy and they certainly weren’t always exhilarating. But they were fundamentally sound and they won. To Williams that is the only thing that mattered. “My philosophy was just playing good fundamental baseball. Just trying not to make mistakes and not to beat ourselves.” Williams explained. “We were not always great offensively, but we played tough defense and our pitching was usually pretty effective. “I am old school,” he added. “We played small ball. Get someone on base and sacrifice him over. I thought if we could get one run an inning, we would have a pretty good chance to win the game.” So in an era, where sports have so much to do with highlight-reel plays and spotlight-seeking individuals, it refreshing to know Williams could care less about either. However, that doesn’t mean that he isn’t proud of the things he achieved in his time associated with the Northstars. Perhaps Williams most impressive achievement is the time and commitment he so willingly gave to a program that was not going to make neither rich nor famous. In fact, at times, being manager of the Northstars took money out of his pocket instead of putting it in. Like back in his early days as manager of the team, when he used to put the cost of the team expenses on his own credit card and hope that he would be reimbursed at some point. “Whenever I complain about how much I am getting paid,” Fanning said with a laugh. “He always seems to bring that up. But it just shows the kind of commitment he had.” “He has done just about everything for the Northstars,” Concession manager Barry Remus said. “He’s been the coach, the treasurer, he has pretty much been the general manager for the last 30 years. “No one has done more for the program than he has,” Remus added. “And it wouldn’t be where it is today without him.” And Divish agrees that Williams devotion, patience and dedication to Havre’s baseball program’s has left the game in a better place in the Hi- Line community. “The program wouldn’t be where it is today without what Mick has done,” Divish said. “He started the Comets program, and essentially, that has built Havre into a viable power in Class A baseball. He has just done countless things to make baseball a very important sport in Havre.” Williams distinguished coaching career was not limited solely to baseball. He also spent 15 seasons (1976 and 1984-97) as an assistant football coach for the Havre High football team, before leaving to coach six seasons for the Montana-State University- Northern football team, beginning in 1998. Williams was instrumental on the ground floor in building the Lights football program when it was reinstated nearly a decade ago. His accomplishments with the Northstars also go far beyond the field of play. He was largely responsible for the tremendous shape of Legion Field, where both the Northstars and the Comets play their home games. His countless and tireless dedication to helping rebuild the park has led to the field and stadium being one of the nicest in all of Montana. “That field is his baby,” Fanning said. “He takes a lot of pride in that. He will probably be on that tractor taking care of the field until he croaks. “But that is just his way of staying around the game,” Fanning continued. “I know he will always be there, looking over my shoulder and telling me what I am doing wrong. But, that’s just Mick, he truly loves the game.” Williams is a coach in every sense of the word. He loves the game, he loves to teach, but his most endearing quality will always be his dedication. His teams were the model of consistency and for all the years he was on the bench so was he. With Williams you knew what you were going to get. He never got too excited, his philosophy never changed and that quality is why he stayed so long and won so much. This weekend is “Mickey Williams Weekend” at Legion Field, which should be known as the house that Mick built. He is being celebrated and rightfully so. Not Because “Mick” wants it, but because he deserves it. He has given so much of himself and touched so many lives, that it’s time he finally gets the recognition he deserves. No matter how much he doesn’t want it. “I have always been a Blue Pony and a Northstar,” Williams said. “Being around all those kids made me feel younger, I loved watching them learn and get better. It made me feel like I belonged to something. I was always taught to give back more than you put in and that’s what I tried to do.”
Note: A retirement social and barbeque will be held on Saturday starting at 5 p.m. at Legion Field in Williams’ honor. On Sunday, Williams will throw out the first pitch before the Northstars and Comets square off in a doubleheader at 1 p.m
