| Matt Williams | |
|---|---|
| Third baseman | |
| Born: November 28, 1965 Bishop, California |
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| Batted: Right | Threw: Right |
| MLB debut | |
| April 11, 1987 for the San Francisco Giants | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| May 31, 2003 for the Arizona Diamondbacks | |
| Career statistics | |
| Batting average | .268 |
| Home runs | 378 |
| Runs batted in | 1,218 |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
|
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Matthew Derrick Williams (born November 28, 1965 in Bishop, California), nicknamed "Matt the Bat" is a former Major League Baseball third baseman and right-handed batter who played for the San Francisco Giants, Cleveland Indians and Arizona Diamondbacks. Williams was originally selected by the New York Mets out of Carson High School in Carson City, Nevada, but he did not sign. In high school, Matt also started as quarterback on the Carson Senators football team. Two of his baseball high school team mates, Bob Ayrault and Charlie Kerfeld also played in the major leagues. The Giants later drafted him out of UNLV 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.
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Arizona Diamondbacks
Williams 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), in the process becoming the only player to hit at least one World Series home run for three different clubs. 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[1], and has even assisted in coaching and player personnel matters.
Steroid allegations
On November 6, 2007, the San Francisco Chronicle reported that Williams purchased $11,600 worth of human growth hormone, steroids and other drugs from the Palm Beach clinic in 2002.[2] Williams later told the Chronicle he used HGH on the advice of a doctor to treat an ankle injury he suffered during spring training in 2002.
On December 13, 2007, he was named among the dozens of players alleged to have used steroids in the Mitchell Report, commissioned by Major League Baseball and written by former Senator George J. Mitchell.
Personal life
Williams has been married three times. His second wife (1999-2002) was actress Michelle Johnson. In 2002, she filed for divorce due to irreconcilable differences [3]. The couple had no children and by 2003 the divorce was final as he was engaged to another woman [4]. Since then, he has married Erika Monroe, who is a former TV weather anchor from KTVK-TV NewsChannel 3.
See also
- Top 500 home run hitters of all time
- MLB players who have hit 30 or more home runs before the All-Star break
- List of Major League Baseball players with 1000 RBI
- List of Major League Baseball RBI champions
- List of Major League Baseball home run champions
- Major League Baseball hitters with three home runs in one game
- Arizona Diamondbacks all-time roster
References
- ^ Franchise-best 151 D-backs games to be televised in 2007
- ^ Mark Fainaru-Wada & Lance Williams (November 6, 2007). "Baseball's Jose Guillen, Matt Williams bought steroids from clinic". San Francisco Chronicle. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/11/06/MNM2T2U24.DTL&type=news. Retrieved 2008-01-20.
- ^ "Matt Williams' actress-wife seeks divorce". Sports Illustrated. 2002-07-16. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/news/2002/07/15/williams_divorce_ap/. Retrieved 2007-10-09.
- ^ Ron Rapoport (2003-06-03). "Roger and out". Chicago Sun-Times. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4155/is_20030603/ai_n12502488. Retrieved 2007-10-09. "He...is engaged to Phoenix news anchor Erika Monroe"
External links
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube
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