Gerald Williams, the former Major League Baseball player whose career began after a standout tenure at Grambling State, died Tuesday after a battle with cancer. He was 55.
Derek Jeter, his former teammate with the New York Yankees and a close friend, announced the news on social media.
“To my teammate and one of my best friends in the world, rest in peace, my brother,” Jeter said through The Players’ Tribune. “My thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Liliana, and their whole family.’’
Williams, a New Orleans native, had two tours with the Yankees and spent the final two seasons of his career with the Mets in 2004-05.
A gifted defensive outfielder with speed, Williams was a 14th-round draft pick by the Yankees in 1987, after hitting .409 with nine homers, 44 RBIs and 18 stolen bases as a senior at Grambling State.
Williams broke into the majors with the Yankees in 1992 and was a member of the 1996 club that won the World Series in Jeter’s rookie year. Williams did not get a chance to play in the postseason on that world championship club. He was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers in late August.
Williams’ career spanned 13 seasons (1992-2005) with six teams: the Yankees, Brewers, Atlanta Braves, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Florida Marlins and Mets. In 1,168 games, he hit .255 with 365 RBI and 85 homers. He also stole 106 bases.
Courtesy of The News-Star and Pete Caldera NorthJersey.com
“RIP” Gramblingnite