According to Sports Illustrated, Williams’ friend and former teammate, New York Yankees legend Derek Jeter, shared the news Tuesday in a statement tweeted by The Players’ Tribune, Jeter’s new media platform.
“Gerald Williams passed away this morning after a battle with cancer,” Jeter’s statement read. “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.”
During his major league career from 1992 to 2005, Williams played with several teams, including the Yankees, Milwaukee Brewers, Atlanta Braves, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Florida Marlins and New York Mets, according to MLB.com. He logged a career batting average of .255, with 85 home runs and 365 RBIs, Sports Illustrated reported.
Several teams and athletes took to social media or issued statements to pay tribute to Williams. Here’s what they were saying:
Photos: Gerald Williams through the years Here are some memorable photos of former MLB outfielder Gerald Williams through the years. (M. David Leeds/Getty Images)
Photos: Gerald Williams through the years 1996: Outfielder Gerald Williams of the New York Yankees stares back at the pitchers mound as he awaits the ball during an at-bat during the Yankees' 6-3 victory over the Oakland A's at the Oakland County Coliseum in Oakland, California, on June 1, 1996. (Otto Greule/ALLSPORT via Getty Images)
Photos: Gerald Williams through the years 1997: Center fielder Gerald Williams of the Milwaukee Brewers steps up to bat during against the Toronto Blue Jays at County Stadium in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on April 13, 1997. The Brewers won the game 3-2. (Matthew Stockman/Allsport via Getty Images)
Photos: Gerald Williams through the years 1998: Gerald Williams of the Atlanta Braves at spring training in Orlando, Florida. (Craig Melvin/Allsport via Getty Images)
Photos: Gerald Williams through the years 1999: Gerald Williams of the Atlanta Braves runs the base to score during the World Series Game 3 against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York, on Oct. 26, 1999. The Yankees defeated the Braves 6-5. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Photos: Gerald Williams through the years 2000: Gerald Williams of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays at bat during the spring training game against the New York Yankees in St. Petersburg, Florida, on March 13, 2000. (Ezra O. Shaw/Allsport via Getty Images)
Photos: Gerald Williams through the years 2001: Gerald Williams of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays at bat during the game against the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland, on April 15, 2001. The Devil Rays defeated the Orioles 7-4. (Doug Pensinger/Allsport via Getty Images)
Photos: Gerald Williams through the years 2003: Gerald Williams of the Florida Marlins during picture day at spring training on February 22, 2003, at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Florida. (Eliot J. Schechter/Getty Images)
Photos: Gerald Williams through the years 2004: Outfielder Gerald Williams of the Florida Marlins waits for the St. Louis Cardinals pitch during the game at Roger Dean Stadium on March 12, 2004, in Jupiter, Florida. The Marlins won 5-2. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Photos: Gerald Williams through the years 2005: Outfielder Gerald Williams of the New York Mets bats against the Washington Nationals during MLB spring training action on March 2, 2005, at the Space Coast Stadium in Viera, Florida. The Washington Nationals defeated the Mets 5-3. (Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
Photos: Gerald Williams through the years 2014: Derek Jeter of the New York Yankees speaks to the crowd as Michael Jordan (second from right) Dave Winfield (third from right), Cal Ripken Jr. and Gerald Williams (left) look on during Derek Jeter Day on September 7, 2014, before the game between the New York Yankees and the Kansas City Royals at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Al Bello/Getty Images)