Matt Williams (baseball)

Matthew Derrick "Matt" Williams (born November 28, 1965 in Bishop, California) is a former Major League Baseball third baseman and right-handed batter who played for the San Francisco Giants (1987-96), Cleveland Indians (1997) and Arizona Diamondbacks (1998-2003).

Williams was originally selected by the New York Mets out of high school but he did not sign. The Giants later drafted him out of college in the first round (3rd pick) of the 1986 amateur draft. Despite his several leg injuries and lower-back ailments, Williams was a dangerous hitter when he got the pitch he was looking for. As a third baseman, he had good reactions and excellent hands, then a quick release with an accurate and strong arm. He was one of the premier fielders at third base as he earned four gold gloves from 1991-1997.

A hitter with exceptional power, six times he hit over 30 home runs with over 90 runs batted in, including his outstanding 1994 season when he hit a league-best 43 HRs with 96 RBI in a season shortened by nearly a full third due to a strike. He finished second in the league MVP vote behind Jeff Bagwell. Over a 162-game period in 1994-95, he hit 62 home runs - one more than Roger Maris had hit in his 162-game season in 1961.

Matt was an original member of the Arizona Diamondbacks and holds the Diamondback record for the most runs batted in for a season with 142 in 1999 (since tied by Luis Gonzalez in 2001). Williams played in three World Series for three different teams (1989 with the Giants, 1997 with the Indians, and 2001 with the Diamondbacks) and was a member of the World Champion Arizona Diamondbacks in 2001. For his career, Williams batted .268 with 378 home runs, 1218 runs batted in, 997 runs scored, 1878 hits, 338 doubles, and 35 triples in 1866 games.

Williams is now a part owner in the Diamondbacks franchise with the title of special assistant to the general partner. He occasionally serves as color commentator on Diamondbacks radio and television broadcasts, and has even assisted in coaching and player personnel matters [1]. Much of his Diamondbacks contract was deferred, which means the Diamondbacks continue to owe him about $20 million over a five-year period as of 2006.

Williams has been married three times. His second wife (1999-2002) was actress Michelle Johnson. He is currently married to Erika Monroe.

Highlights

* 5-time All-Star (1990, 1994-96, 1999)
* 4-time Gold Glove Award winner (NL 1991, 1993-94; AL 1997)
* 4-time Top 10 NL MVP (1990, 1993-94, 1999)
* Led NL in HR (43, 1994)
* Arizona Diamondback record for runs batted in (142 in 1999).

External link

* Complete statistics at Baseball Reference

See also

* MLB players who have hit 30 or more home runs before the All-Star break