Gerald Williams, ex-Yankees outfielder, dead at 55 after battle with cancer

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Gerald Williams, former MLB outfielder who played for the New York Yankees and Atlanta Braves among other teams, died after a battle with cancer, Hall of Famer Derek Jeter announced Tuesday. Williams was 55.

Jeter’s message was relayed by The Players’ Tribune, a sports journalism platform Jeter founded to give athletes control of their own narrative before he became a co-owner of the Miami Marlins.

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Gerald Williams #29 of the New York Yankees looks on during batting practice of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers on June 28, 1995 at Yankee Stadium in New York City. (Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)

"Gerald Williams passed away this morning after a battle with cancer. 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," Jeter said in a statement.

Bernie Williams also released a statement on the former outfielder’s passing.

"Through thick and thin, we had each other’s backs," Bernie Williams said of Gerald, via the Yankees’ team website. "We used to talk and dream about how it would be like to play in the big leagues. He had more power, he was faster, and definitely had an exponentially better throwing arm than me, so we used to joke around about him being called up by the Yankees first."

Gerald Williams #29 of the New York Yankees running the bases during a MLB game against the Detroit Tigers on September 23, 1995 in Detroit, Michigan. (Ronald C. Modra/Getty Images)

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