Gerald Williams

Infobox MLB retired
name=Gerald Williams
position=Outfielder
bats=Right
throws=Right
birthdate=birthdate and age|1966|8|10
debutdate=September 15
debutyear=by|1992
debutteam=New York Yankees
finaldate=October 2
finalyear=by|2005
finalteam=New York Mets
stat1label=Batting average
stat1value=.255
stat2label=Stolen bases
stat2value=106
stat3label=Home runs
stat3value=85
teams=
*New York Yankees (by|1992-by|1996)
*Milwaukee Brewers (by|1996-by|1997)
*Atlanta Braves (by|1998-by|1999)
*Tampa Bay Devil Rays (by|2000-by|2001)
*New York Yankees (by|2001-by|2002)
*Florida Marlins (by|2003)
*New York Mets (by|2004-by|2005)
highlights=
*National League pennant: 1999

Gerald Floyd Williams (born August 10 1966 in New Orleans, Louisiana) is a former major league baseball outfielder for the New York Yankees, Milwaukee Brewers, Atlanta Braves, Tampa Bay Devil Rays and New York Mets.

Early Professional Career

Gerald Williams was drafted out of Grambling State University in the 14th round (366th overall) of the by|1987 amateur draft by the New York Yankees. In by|1988, in the New York-Penn League for Oneonta, he batted .365/.447/.504 with 2 home runs in 115 at bats. For this success, he was rewarded with a promotion to High-A ball. Injured and playing poorly, he hit just .210 in the next two seasons. Playing in a league that is notoriously tough for hitters (Florida State League) he hit .289/.344/.461 to establish legitimate prospect status. Mid-season, he was sent up to AA and the Eastern League. There, he batted .250/.328/.435. Combined, he hit .265 with 140 hits, 20 home runs, 101 RBI, and 37 stolen bases to establish himself as a top prospect. Entering the season just 22 years old, Williams flopped, hitting .271, but with only 7 home runs, 59 RBI, and an abysmal 52% stolen base rate. But he rebounded in AAA in by|1992. He hit .285/.334/.452 with 16 home runs, 86 RBI, and 36 stolen bases. This earned him a call to the big leagues, where he would for the most part stay until by|2002.

New York Yankees Career

Gerald Williams, at the age of 25 years old, made his professional debut September 15, 1992. After a brief stint in the minor leagues in by|1993, where he practically duplicated his 1992 stats, he was back in the big leagues in by|1994. But he was injured and played infrequently. He had also been batting only .239. He finally got a chance to truly play off the bench in by|1995, where he had 182 at bats and batted .247 with 6 home runs. He saw more action in by|1996, where he was hitting .270 with 5 home runs in 233 at bats by August 23, before he was dealt with Bob Wickman to the Milwaukee Brewers for Graeme Lloyd, Pat Listach, and Ricky Bones. Only Lloyd had any success after being dealt to the Yankees, while both Wickman and Williams became solid major league players.

Milwaukee Brewers Career

After the trade in 1996, Williams only batted .207. Still, the year was a success to Williams, who got 325 at bats, and batted .252 with 28 extra-base hits. The next season was Williams first as a regular. He batted .253 with 10 home runs, 41 RBI, 23 stolen bases, and 44 extra-base hits, but he took few walks, and had an on-base plus slugging percentage of just .651, some 117 points lower than league average. After that miserable season, he was dealt to the Atlanta Braves for reliever Chad Fox.

Atlanta Braves Career

Williams then spent 2 years thriving as a semi-regular player in Atlanta, batting .286/.341/.490 with 27 home runs.

Tampa Bay Devil Rays Career

Perhaps Williams' finest season was by|2000. He set career highs in homers, walks, RBI, hits, runs, and doubles. For this effort, he was named Tampa Bay Devil Rays player of the year. But he got off to a miserable start in by|2001, batting just .207, and the Devil Rays released him.

Later career

Williams went back to the Yankees to finish 2001, but his career was essentially over. Over the next four years, serving as a backup outfielder, he racked up 207 at bats. 129 of those came with the Mets in by|2004. His performance was miserable - he batted only .198 over his last four years, and only hit 5 home runs. He retired after the by|2005 season with a lifetime .255 batting average, 85 career home runs and 365 RBI. He is nicknamed "Ice".

Personal

*Gerald resides in Tampa, Florida.
*Is one of the best friends of Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter.
*Is one of thirteen children.

External links

* [http://www.baseball-reference.com/w/willige02.shtml Baseball Reference.com]