BERNIE'S PROFILE

FULL NAME: Bernabe Williams Figueroa      

HEIGHT: 6' 2"

WEIGHT: 205

BATS: Both

THROWS: Right

BIRTHDATE: September 13, 1968              

CHILDHOOD HIGHLIGHTS:

Graduated from Escuela Libre De Musica in San Juan, PR

Won 4 gold medals at age 15 in an international track meet

DRAFTED: As an amateur free agent on September 13, 1985

SIGNED:  By scout Fred Ferriera at the recommendation of Roberto Rivera

MINOR LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS:

1988 Carolina League All-Star Team (Class A- Prince William)

1988 Carolina League Batting Title (.335)

1990 Eastern League All-Star Team (Class AA- Albany)

1990 Double-A All-Star Team (Baseball America)

1992 International League All-Star Team (Class AAA- Columbus)

MAJOR LEAGUE DEBUT: July 7, 1991

FIRST ML HOME RUN: July 14, 1991 (off the Angels' Chuck Finley)

ALL-STAR GAMES: 5 (1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001)

WORLD SERIES TITLES: 4 (1996, 1998, 1999, 2000)

GOLD GLOVE AWARDS: 4 (1997, 1998, 1999, 2000)

OTHER MLB AWARDS:

1996 A.L.C.S. MVP 

1998 A.L. Batting Title (.339)

2000 & 2002- The Sporting News All-Star

2002 A.L. Silver Slugger Award

YANKEE CAREER RANKINGS:

CAREER POST-SEASON STATS & RANKINGS:

Home Runs: 22 (2nd All-Time)

RBI: 80 (1st All-Time)

Runs: 83 (2nd All-Time)

Hits: 128 (2nd All-Time)

CHARITIES:

The Children's Health Fund: 1996-2005

The Hillside Food Outreach: 2003- Present

MISC:

Finished in the top 5 in batting 4 times

Finished 7th in MVP voting in 1998

8 years with a .300+ batting average

5 years with 100+ RBI

8 years with 100+ runs scored

Attended the University of Puerto Rico, majored in Biology, and considered a career in Orthopedics before commiting to baseball full-time. 

Only player to ever hit a home run from each side of the plate in a post-season game.  Bernie has done it TWICE:     

       -1995 ALDS Game 3 vs Seattle

       (against LHP Randy Johnson and RHP Bill Risley)

       -1996 ALDS Game 4 vs Texas 

       (against RHP Roger Pavlik and LHP Mike Stanton)

One of only two players to hit two walk-off post-season home runs:

       -1996 ALCS Game 1 vs Baltimore

       (against LHP Randy Myers in the 11th inning)

       -1999 ALCS Game 1 vs Boston

       (againts RHP Rod Beck in the 10th inning)

Only player to ever win a Batting Title, World Series Championship, and a Gold Glove in the same season (1998)

Recipient of The Thurman Munson Award 

Was named one of People Magazine's "50 Most Beautiful People" in 2002

Released his debut CD, The Journey Within, in 2003 

Received the 2004 Joe DiMaggio Toast of the Town Award from the New York Chapter of the BBWAA

Elected to the Potomac Nationals (formerly Prince William of the Carolina League) Hall of Fame in 2004

Received the 2005 Roberto Clemente Youth Award  in recognition of leadership, passion and dedication to youth athletics, both on and off the field.

Member of the 2006 World Baseball Classic Competition, representing Puerto Rico

Received a 2007 Honory Doctorate Degree in Humane Letters from Iona College