What I'll remember most about Matt Williams is that he played a highly intelligent game. He had power, but he wasn't someone who showed up just to see how hard he could hit the ball. He was like a General at third base. He tried to learn the opposing team's strategy by reading the third-base coach's signs. He did whatever he could within the rules to gain an advantage for his club. Sometimes, when a runner is on third, a third-base coach discusses strategy quietly with him. And Williams is the only third baseman I've ever known to go right to the bag while the runner was standing on it -- to listen to that coach-runner conversation. There's no rule against this, since the bag is just as much the fielder's territory as the runner's. Joey Amalfitano, the third-base coach when I pitched for the Dodgers, used to remark that he'd never seen anyone else do this, either. Williams studied pitchers carefully and was prepared for what they would throw in certain situations. He always had a plan. In 1994, the strike year, he had such a great power surge that there was talk of Williams breaking Roger Maris' single-season home run record. In 112 games, he hit a career-high 43 homers. Williams came up as a shortstop, and while he doesn't look like the prototypical shortstop, he always had such soft hands. He was a virtual vacuum cleaner at third base. Off the field, he was generous. I ran a celebrity golf tournament for many years to benefit the cause of finding missing children. Williams always played in the tourney and never hesitated donating a bat, ball or glove. He would go out of his way to ask if we needed anything. Sometimes those stories go unnoticed, but Williams was that kind of guy.

PHOENIX -- Five-time All-Star Matt Williams, who had been the last of the original Arizona Diamondbacks until recently being released, announced his retirement Thursday.

Williams, who had 378 career home runs, spent the past 5-½ seasons with the Diamondbacks. Though he still had a year left on his contract, he was designated for assignment by the team June 1.

"I know for a fact Matty went out there on that playing field many, many times when he was way less than 100 percent because he expected it of himself and he knew his teammates expected him to do it," Arizona manager Bob Brenly said.

Williams agent, Joe Longo, said Thursday that the player had talked to several teams but ultimately decided to stay home with his family.

"It was more a matter of his family. He put his family first. He couldn't find a reason to continue playing," Longo said.

Williams, 37, had been leaning toward retiring after his contract expired anyway. His release just accelerated the decision, Longo said.

"He's newly engaged, and he has his kids there. All things considered, he just didn't want to leave," he said.

The Diamondbacks tried to trade Williams and two other players to the Colorado Rockies for Larry Walker in the offseason, but Williams and Walker rejected the deal.

Williams did so because he has custody of his three children -- ages 13, 12 and 10 -- and didn't want to uproot them.

Longo said Williams will now focus on a Chandler youth baseball league named for him and on his business interests, which include a construction company Williams owns with his brother.

Williams has not ruled out a career in broadcasting either, Longo said. "He's just going to see what comes."

Williams, who played with San Francisco, Cleveland and the Diamondbacks, finished his career with a .268 batting average and 1,218 RBIs in 7,000 at-bats. He also earned four Gold Glove awards.

When he was playing for the Giants, Williams had 43 homers and was on pace to threaten Roger Maris' then-season record of 61 when players struck on Aug. 12, 1994.

Brenly said that the player leaves a strong legacy.

"For him to be a standup guy and a guy who would answer the bell every day is just another thing he should be very proud of," Brenly said.