Matt Williams (baseball)

Matthew Derrick "Matt" Williams (born November 28, 1965 in Bishop, California) is a former Major League Baseball third baseman and right-handed batter who played for the San Francisco Giants (1987-96), Cleveland Indians (1997) and Arizona Diamondbacks (1998-2003).

Related Topics:
November 28 - 1965 - Bishop, California - Major League Baseball - Third baseman - San Francisco Giants - Cleveland Indians - Arizona Diamondbacks

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Williams was selected by the Giants 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.

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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. Over a 162-game period in 1994-95, he hit 62 home runs - one more than Roger Maris had hit in his 162-game season in 1961.

Related Topics:
Home run - Runs batted in - 1994 - Strike - MVP - Jeff Bagwell - Roger Maris

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In 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.

Related Topics:
Batted - Runs scored - Hits - Doubles - Triples

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