Bernie Williams

Bernabe “Bernie” Williams Figueroa, Jr. (September 13, 1968-) spent his entire 16-year Major League Baseball career as a center fielder with the New York Yankees (1991-2006), counting four World Series rings among his plethora of honors. The Yankees signed Williams as an amateur free agent on what his 17th birthday in 1985. He spent six years in the minors before officially donning his pinstripes in the middle of the 1991 season and becoming their regular center fielder in 1993. Though Bernie struggled at times early in his career, he had a breakout season in 1995 as he banged 18 homers and led the team in runs (93), hits (173), total bases (274), and stolen bases (8). Williams earned American League Central Series Most Valuable Player honors in 1996, and was a member of four World Series championship teams (1996, 1998-2000). In addition, he was a five-time MLB All-Star (1997-2001), won four Gold Glove Awards (1997-2000) and a Silver Slugger Award (2002). During the 1998 season, Bernie finished with a .339 average to become the first player to win a batting title, Gold Glove award, and World Series ring in the same year. He retired with a .297 batting average, 287 home runs, and 1,257 RBI. Williams is also a classically trained guitarist who released two jazz albums after leaving the game and was nominated for a 2009 Latin Grammy Award.