Career
He made his major league debut for the Toronto Blue Jays on May 14, 1993, and pitched in the majors for fifteen seasons. Williams, a Cy-Fair High School graduate and University of Houston alumnus, began his career pitching in relief until he was moved to a full-time starter in 1997. On December 12, 1998, he was traded to the San Diego Padres with minor leaguer Peter Tucci and Carlos Almanzar for right-handed pitcher Joey Hamilton.
He worked exclusively as a starter in San Diego until he was traded to the Saint Louis Cardinals for outfielder Ray Lankford on August 2, 2001.
After he was traded, Williams" career took official He continued to pitch well for Saint Louis, making the 2003 All-Star Game and starting Game 1 of the 2004 World Series.
After the 2004 season came to a close, Williams filed for free agency and signed back with the Padres on December 9, 2004. On November 24, 2006, the Houston Astros announced they had signed Williams to a two year, $12.5 million contract, at the same press conference announcing the Carlos Lee signing.
After a career-worst 2007 season with Houston, where he went 8-15 with a 5.27 European Research Area, and a poor showing during the 2008 spring training, Williams was released by the Astros on March 29 and subsequently retired.
He is one of only fifteen pitchers to earn a victory against all 30 MLB teams. Williams used an assortment of different pitches against opposing batters. He used a cut fastball which he could throw between 89-92 mph, which was considered his best pitch overall.
He relied on his curveball as his strikeout pitch, and utilized a straight change as well.
Williams was also known to throw an occasional knuckleball in games.
