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Yankees Great Bernie Williams To Sign Retirement Papers Friday

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- It's the end of an era -- sort of.

The Yankees say Bernie Williams will sign a minor league contract Friday and then retire, nine years after playing his last game.

New York said Wednesday it will host a news conference with Williams before Friday night's game against the Mets, and Williams will throw out the ceremonial first pitch.

Williams became a free agent after the 2006 season, declined the Yankees' offer to attend spring training in 2007 on a minor league contract and didn't play again.

New York announced in February it will retire Williams' No. 51 on May 24.

Williams was a five-time All-Star with the Yankees from 1991-2006, hitting .297 with 287 homers and 1,257 RBIs. He earned four World Series rings and won the 1998 AL batting title.

(TM and © Copyright 2015 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2015 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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