Former MLB OF Gerald Williams dies at 55 after battle with cancer

Williams was selected by the New York Yankees in the 14th round of the 1987 MLB June Amateur Draft and made his big-league debut in September 1992. After appearing in 114 games over his first three seasons, Williams got his first extended look with the Bronx Bombers in 1995, when he earned 182 at-bats over 100 contests.

The New Orleans native was traded by New York in August 1996 — just two months before they would go on to win the World Series — to the Milwaukee Brewers. The 1997 campaign was Williams' first as a full-time starter. He played in a career-high 155 games and registered career-bests in doubles (32) and stolen bases (23) as well.

Williams was traded to the Atlanta Braves in December 1997 and spent the 1998 and 1999 campaigns with the club. The former Grambling State University product signed with the Tampa Bay Rays prior to the 2000 season and had arguably his best year as a major leaguer that season, producing career-highs in home runs (21), RBI (89), runs (87) and hits (173), among other categories.

Williams concluded his playing days from 2001 to 2005 by spending time with Tampa, the Marlins, Yankees again and, finally, the New York Mets. In 3,059 career at-bats over 1,168 games played, he registered 85 home runs, 365 RBI and 106 stolen bases.