Posted on: Thursday, January 8, 2004

Williams' jersey retired by Waipahu

By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer

WAIPAHU—Less than 24 hours before leaving for the Mainland, San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Jerome Williams saw his Waipahu High baseball jersey (No. 33) retired during halftime of last night's O'ahu Interscholastic Association basketball game against Mililani at the Marauders' gym.

"It's just a great feeling, seeing everybody here," said Williams, a 1999 graduate of Waipahu and The Advertiser's Player of the Year that season.

Raffle tickets were given to Waipahu High students only for Williams-signed baseballs, T-shirts and photos. Williams' replica autographed jersey was the grand prize.

Williams, 22, leaves this morning for Fresno, Calif., where he will train at the Giants' Triple-A in that city.

"It should be an exciting season," he said. "We picked up about four or five players and potential all-star, A.J. (Pierzynski)."

The 6-foot-3 Williams, who weighed 240 pounds when he returned here after the season, said he trimmed to 225 pounds.

Williams said he is expecting to sign in spring training. Because he needs two more seasons to qualify for arbitration, he pretty much has to accept whatever the Giants offer. The big league minimum was $300,000 last year.

"I would love to make more than the minimum," he said.