Matt Williams: The Best Baseball Player You’ve Never Heard Of
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You may not have heard of Matt Williams but he’s one of the best baseball players you’ve never heard of. Learn more about this hidden gem of a player.
Who is Matt Williams?
Matt Williams is a former professional baseball player who played for the San Francisco Giants Cleveland Indians and Arizona Diamondbacks. He was a five-time All-Star, won four Gold Glove Awards and was the National League’s Most Valuable Player in 1994.
Williams is currently the manager of the Washington Nationals
Why is he the best baseball player you’ve never heard of?
Matt Williams was born in 1963 in Danville, California. He played baseball for Auburn University and was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the third round of the1985 MLB Draft Williams played for the Giants for five seasons before being traded to the Cleveland Indians where he played for three seasons. He was then traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks and played for them until his retirement in 2003.
Williams is a five-time MLB All-Star and won the World Series with the Diamondbacks in 2001. He was also named the National League MVP in that same year. His career batting average is .268 and he has hit 320 home runs
So why is he the best baseball player you’ve never heard of? It could be because he didn’t play for a large market team like the New York Yankees or Boston Red Sox It could also be because he retired early, at age 39. But whatever the reason, Matt Williams is definitely one of the best players you’ve never heard of.
His early life and career
Matt Williams was born in San Francisco in 1968. He played baseball in High School and college, and was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in 1986. He made his Major League debut with the Giants in 1987, and quickly became one of the best players in the league. He was named an All-Star for the first time in 1989, and won a Gold Glove Award that same year. In 1990, he helped the Giants win the World Series
Williams became a free agent after the 1993 season, and he signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He played for the Diamondbacks for six seasons, and was named an All-Star three times. He retired from baseball after the 2002 season.
Williams was inducted into the San Francisco Giants Hall of Fame in 2010.
His time with the Giants
Matt Williams was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in 1986 and made his Major League debut in 1987. He played for the Giants for 10 seasons, from 1987-1996. Williams was a 3-time All-Star with the Giants and won the National League home run title in 1994. He was a key member of the Giants teams that won the National League pennant in 1989 and 1992. After leaving the Giants, Williams went on to play for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Cleveland Indians and Toronto Blue Jays He retired from baseball in 2003.
His time with the Indians
The best Baseball player you’ve never heard of is Matt Williams. A three-time All-Star, Williams was one of the best third basemen of his generation. He played for the Cleveland Indians from 1991 to 1996, and was a key member of the team that won the 1995 World Series
Williams was known for his power hitting, as he hit 20 or more home runs in six of his seven seasons with the Indians. He also had a great arm, as he led all third basemen in assists three times. He was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks after the 1996 season, and helped them win the World Series in 2001.
Sadly, Williams’s career was cut short by injuries. He retired in 2003, at the age of 36. But he will always be remembered as one of the best players of his generation.
His time with the Nationals
In 2006, the Nationals were still a new franchise, and they were bad. They finished with a record of just 66-96, good for last place in the NL East. But Matt Williams was one of the few bright spots on that team. He hit .301/.334/.535 with 29 home runs and 72 RBIs in 111 games. Unfortunately, he missed most of September with an injury, and the Nationals ended up finishing 20 games out of first place.
The following year, 2007, was even worse for the Nationals. They finished with a record of just 74-88, again good for last place in the NL East. But Williams was once again one of the few bright spots on the team. He hit .276/.303/.531 with 26 Home Runs and 84 RBIs in just 103 games. Once again, he missed most of September with an injury, and the Nationals finished 20 games out of first place.
It was clear that Matt Williams was one of the best hitters on the Nationals, but he just couldn’t stay healthy. In 2008, he played in just 99 games due to injuries, and he was released by the Nationals after the season. He would go on to play for two more teams (the Giants and Cardinals), but he would never be as good as he was with the Nationals.
His time with the Diamondbacks
Matt Williams was one of the best baseball players you’ve Never Heard of. He played for the Arizona Diamondbacks from 1998 to 2003, and was one of the most integral members of their 2001 World Series winning team
During his time with the Diamondbacks, Williams was a 3-time All-Star, and won 5 Gold Glove Awards He was also a 2-time Silver Slugger Award winner, and led the league in home runs in 2001.
Williams was forced to retire in 2003 due to injuries, but his impact on the game is still felt today. He currently serves as a special assistant to the president and CEO of the Diamondbacks, and is widely considered to be one of the best players in franchise history.
His return to the Nationals
Matt Williams was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in 1986, but he didn’t make his debut with the team until 1989. He was traded to the Cleveland Indians in 1991, where he became one of the best players in the league. He was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks in 1998 and helped lead them to a World Series win in 2001. After a few years with the Diamondbacks, he returned to the Giants in 2005. He played his final season with the Washington Nationals in 2006.
His post-playing career
Williams enjoyed a successful post-playing career as a baseball analyst and commentator. He worked for ESPN, FOX Sports and the MLB Network In 2010, he was inducted into the Arizona Diamondbacks’ Ring of Honor.
His legacy
Matt Williams was one of the best baseball players of his generation. He played for the San Francisco Giants the Arizona Diamondbacks, and the Washington Nationals He was a five-time All-Star, a three-time Silver Slugger Award winner, and he won a World Series with the Diamondbacks in 2001.
After he retired from baseball in 2003, Williams became a successful businessman and philanthropist. He founded the Matt Williams Foundation, which has raised millions of dollars for children’s charities. He also serves on the board of directors for the Positive Coaching Alliance.
Williams is widely respected by his peers and by baseball fans He was inducted into the San Francisco Giants Hall of Fame in 2007.
