NEW YORK (WFAN) — Gerald Williams, the former Yankees outfielder and close friend of Derek Jeter, has died at the age of 55 following a battle with cancer.
Jeter announced the news Tuesday on his Player's Tribune Twitter feed, remembering his friend and the relationship they formed since Jeter's days in the minor leagues.
"Gerald Williams passed away this morning after a battle with cancer," Jeter's statement read. "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."
A portrait of Yankees'' of Gerald Williams #17 taken during the New York Yankees'' Media Day at Legends Field in Tampa, Florida.M. David Leeds/Getty Images
Williams took Jeter under his wing when Jeter was experiencing hazing from an "older infielder" in spring training of 1993, the year after he was drafted. The friendship lasted for decades, as Williams was one of Jeter's former teammates on the field at Yankee Stadium to surprise him after his walk-off hit in his final game in the Bronx.
The Yankees drafted Williams in the 14th round of the 1987 draft, and he made his big-league debut in 1992. He played seven seasons with the Yankees and put together a 14-year career, batting .255 with a .711 OPS.
