Bernie Williams

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Lore & Background

Bernabé Williams Figueroa Jr. was born on September 13, 1968, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, to Bernabé Williams Sr., a merchant marine and dispatcher, and Rufina Figueroa, a retired principal and college professor. The Williams family lived in the Bronx until Bernie was one year old, when they moved to Puerto Rico. Growing up, Williams played classical guitar as well as baseball. He was also active in track and field, winning medals at an international meet at the age of 15. At the 1984 Central American and Caribbean Junior Championships in Athletics in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Williams won gold in the 200 metres, 400 m, 4 × 100 m relay, and 4 × 400 m relay events for competitors under the age of 17, and the silver medal for the 4 × 100 m relay among competitors younger than 20. In 1985, scout Roberto Rivera discovered Williams and his friend Juan González. The Yankees put Williams in a training camp in Connecticut. After playing a few games in the Greater Hartford Twilight Baseball League, Williams was officially signed by the Yankees on his 17th birthday. While in the minors, Williams took a biology course at the University of Puerto Rico and considered pre-med, but decided to focus on baseball. He broke into the majors in 1991 to replace the injured Roberto Kelly. He was demoted to the minors until Danny Tartabull was injured. By 1993, he became the regular center fielder. In 1995, he had a breakout season, hitting 18 home runs and leading the team in runs, hits, total bases and stolen bases. In 1996, he batted .467 in the ALDS against Texas, hit a walk-off homer in Game 1 of the ALCS, and was named ALCS MVP. In the 1998 season, Williams finished with a .339 average, becoming the first Yankee to win a batting title, Gold Glove award, and World Series ring in the same year. After 1998, he signed a seven-year, $87.5-million contract. In 2005, the Yankees announced they would not pick up his $15 million option, but re-signed him to a 1-year, $1.5 million contract in December. In 2006, he played more than expected due to injuries to other outfielders. Williams played for Puerto Rico in the 2006 MLB World Baseball Classic.

In Their Own Story

The air inside Yankee Stadium hung heavy with humidity and the electric crackle of a playoff night. Bernie Williams stood in the on-deck circle, adjusting his batting gloves with a rhythmic precision that had become second nature to millions watching from home or the bleachers. As he stepped into the box, the roar of the crowd seemed to fade into a singular hum; three consecutive World Series titles rested lightly on his shoulders, yet he carried them with a quiet grace. He took two practice swings, eyes locked on the mound, filtering out the chaos until only the white leather and the bat existed in his world. When the pitch arrived—a blur against the night sky—his swing was fluid, almost effortless. The crack of the connection echoed through the stadium, a perfect sound that signaled not just a hit, but the culmination of sixteen years of steady excellence.

Reader's Guide

Bernie Williams played his entire MLB career with the New York Yankees from 1991 to 2006. He was a center fielder. He won four World Series championships with the Yankees. He was a five-time All-Star. He won four Gold Glove Awards. He won a Silver Slugger Award in 2002. He won the AL batting title in 1998. He won the 1996 ALCS MVP. He is one of the most beloved Yankees. His uniform number 51 was retired and he has a plaque in Monument Park. He is considered one of the greatest switch-hitting center fielders. He is a classically trained guitarist and has released two jazz albums. He was nominated for a Latin Grammy in 2009. In 1998, he became the first Yankee to win a batting title, Gold Glove, and World Series ring in the same year. He ranks in the top 5 of career postseason categories including hits, runs scored, doubles, home runs, walks, and runs batted in, where he ranks first.

Did You Know?

• Bernie Williams won gold medals in the 200 metres, 400 metres, and two relay events at the 1984 Central American and Caribbean Junior Championships.
• Williams was discovered by Yankees scout Roberto Rivera in 1985.
• He was nearly traded to the Detroit Tigers after the 1997 season for a package of young pitchers including Roberto Durán and Mike Drumright, but the trade did not happen.
• Williams is a classically trained guitarist and has released two jazz albums.