Making the move from baseball player to jazz musician has been quite a challenge for Bernie Williams. “It did not matter how many home runs I hit,” the Yankees legend told Cheddar. “What mattered was, can this guy play [music]?...I had to work very hard to get my [music] degree and I’m very proud of it.” The Latin Grammy nominee says that winning baseball games was easier than his second career. He earned a degree in jazz performance from the Manhattan School of Music in 2016 and describes the process as “one of the hardest things I’ve ever done.” Williams, a four-time World Series champ and five-time MLB All Star, is prepping for a debut at Café Carlyle on March 6. And he said maybe surprisingly, the process isn’t much different from what he was used to on the field. “A lot of the things that I did in baseball, outside of the physical aspect of it, came from the same source,” Williams said. “It’s a commitment to discipline, work ethics, no shortcuts, learning from your mistakes, and taking yourself seriously in both disciplines. “The only difference is that when playing baseball, I can detach from the fans, I could detach from the audience … As a musician, you have to go on stage and invite everybody into your world.” For the full interview, [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/yankees-great-bernie-williams-is-ready-for-his-cafe-carlyle-debut).

Share:
More In Sports
Closing Bell: February 12, 2018
One of the biggest global consumers goods companies, Unilever, is threatening to stop advertising on digital platforms like Facebook and Google if the companies don't clean up their acts. Snap's Vice President of sales has left the company. A new report finds Facebook is losing a younger audience. Dow closed up 400 points after the most volatile week in two years.
The Real Cost of Being an Olympic Figure Skater
Tanya Ghahremani, associate lifestyle editor for Bustle, takes a look at just how much money skaters and their families shell out in pursuit of an almost impossible dream. The Winter Olympics are now underway in PyeongChang, South Korea.
Closing Bell: February 8, 2018
Cheddar is dedicating the day to celebrating women, and we're calling it "Chedher"! We have special co-hosts and interviews from women in sports, tech, business, politics and more. Hope King welcomes special co-hosts Alicia Quarles and Tanzina Vega.
Hope Solo on Closing the Gender Pay Gap in Sports
Soccer phenom Hope Solo is an outspoken advocate for the gender pay gap in sports. Along with her U.S. Soccer teammates she is advocating for equal pay in the league. Cheddar's Hope King spoke with the athlete about challenges facing women in sports, and how she is inspiring the next generation.
World Cup Champ Hope Solo Battles for Equal Pay
U.S. Women's Soccer has been plagued by inequities in how athletes are paid compared to their male counterparts. Hope Solo discusses why the disparity exists and what she's doing to change it.
Between Bells: February 8, 2018
Between Bells: Cheddar turns into #chedHER, with 100% women anchors and guests. We highlight women in business, tech, entertainment, politics, and sports. With Cosmopolitan, EMILY's List, Lea DeLaria, MoveOn.org, THINX, and more!
The Women to Watch at the Winter Olympics
Team USA is sending 109 women to represent the United States at the Winter Olympics. SELF's Amy Eisinger joins Cheddar to discuss some of the most inspiring athletes to watch during the games.
Aaptiv Founder Ethan Agarwal On The New Age Of Audio
Radios may be a relic of the past, but audio technology is anything but outdated. In this week's Volvo Tech Drive the Founder and CEO of Aaptiv explains how his company is using audio to change the way the world works out.
Load More