Former MLB outfielder Gerald Williams, who played 14 seasons in the big-leagues, died this morning after a battle with cancer. He was 55 years old.
Drafted by the Yankees in 1987, Williams was called up to the majors five years later and was part of New York’s 1996 World Series championship team. On May 1 of that year, he picked up six hits in a game against the Orioles. However, he was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers mid-season and stayed there through the 1997 season. He was also on the Atlanta Braves’ 1999 World Series team that was swept by the Yankees.
Williams’ best season came in 2000 as a member of the Tampa Bay Rays, who were then known as the Devil Rays. That year, he hit a career-high 21 home runs and drove in 89 runs while batting .274. He returned to the Yankees in 2001 and stayed another year before a brief stint with the then-Florida Marlins, where he would win another ring in 2003. He then went on to play for the New York Mets, where he would spend the final two years of his career, retiring after the 2005 season.
Williams, nicknamed “ice”, finished his career with a 6.5 WAR and 780 hits in 3,059 at-bats. He hit 85 career home runs and finished with a lifetime batting average of .255.
Today, Yankees legend Derek Jeter and Williams’ teammate, released the following statement on Twitter through the Players’ Tribune..
“Gerald Williams passed away this morning after a battle with cancer. To my teammate and one of my best friends in the world, rest in peace, my brother. My thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Liliana, and their whole family.”
MLB Network analyst Jon Heyman also shared his thoughts on Twitter.
“Sad to hear this,” Heyman wrote. Gerald was a great guy who always had a smile on his face.
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