Former MLB outfielder Gerald Williams, who played with six teams in a 14-year career, passed away today of cancer at the age of 55.
Williams' death was announced by Derek Jeter. The two came up in the New York Yankees' organization together and were the closest of friends. Their bond was cemented when Williams, whose career began several years before Jeter's, stood up for the young shortstop when he was being bullied by a teammate.
A native of Louisiana, Williams was drafted by the Yankees in the 14th round in 1987. Williams would make his big league debut in 1992 and was part of the team which reached the first ever AL Wild Card game in 1995. Unfortunately for Williams, he would miss out on the Yankees' World Series glories when he was traded late in the 1996 season to the Milwaukee Brewers in a deal for Australian born relief specialist Graeme Lloyd.
After a season and change in Milwaukee, the Brewers traded Williams to the Atlanta Braves for pitcher Chad Fox prior to the 1998 season. Williams would play in his only World Series in 1999 when the Braves were swept by his former Yankees teammates.
His best overall season came in 2000 when he hit .274 with a career high 21 HR and 89 RBI with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. That year, Williams put himself on notice with Red Sox Nation when he charged the mound after being plunked by Pedro Martinez. The brawl, however, did not prevent Pedro from carrying a no-hitter into the 9th inning.
The Devil Rays would release Williams during the 2001 season and he would return to the Yankees seeing limited action during both the 2001 and 2002 campaigns. Williams would earn a World Series ring with the Florida Marlins who bested the Yankees in 2003 though he did not appear in the post-season. He would return to New York and finish his playing career with the Mets in 2004 and 2005. In 1168 games, Williams collected 780 hits for a lifetime batting average of .255 with 85 HR and 365 RBI.
I leave you with Williams hitting a leadoff double in Game 6 of the 1999 NLCS between the Atlanta Braves and New York Mets. Williams would eventually score the winning run on a bases loaded walk to Andruw Jones which would earn the Braves the NL pennant. R.I.P.
No comments:
Post a Comment