As A Manager and Coach
After finishing his career with the Red Sox, Gardner stayed in the Boston organization for eight more seasons as a minor league coach and manager (1964; 1967–1971) and Major League third-base coach (1965–1966). He then managed in the Kansas City Royals farm system from 1972–1976, coached for the Montreal Expos in 1977–1978, and was a skipper in the Montreal farm system in 1979–1980.
Gardner rejoined the Twins as a third-base coach for the 1981 season. He was promoted to manager on May 23, 1981, replacing Johnny Goryl, and served until June 21, 1985, never leading Minnesota to the playoffs and avoiding a losing record only once (1984, at 81–81). On the bright side, Gardner incorporated young players such as Kent Hrbek, Kirby Puckett, Frank Viola and Tim Laudner into the Twin lineup, beginning the foundation of the club's two World Series clubs to come.
After a 268–353 record with Minnesota, Gardner received a second chance to manage under difficult circumstances with the 1987 Royals. Gardner initially signed as the Royals' 1987 third-base coach. But terminally ill Royals manager Dick Howser, diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor during the summer of 1986, was forced to retire during spring training, and Gardner was promoted to fill the vacancy. He was fired on August 28 of that year after going 62–64, and John Wathan took over. His career record as a manager was 330–417, a .442 winning percentage.
His son, Billy Gardner, Jr., a former minor league infielder, is a manager in the Tampa Bay Rays' organization. He skippered the Montgomery Biscuits in the Double-A Southern League in 2007, leading them to an 81–59 record, a first place finish and the league playoff title.
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