Jo-Jo White
Encyclopedia
Joyner Clifford "Jo-Jo" White (June 1, 1909 – October 9, 1986) was an American
center fielder
in professional baseball
. He played nine seasons with the Detroit Tigers
(1932–38), Philadelphia Athletics
(1943–44), and Cincinnati Reds
(1944). He also was the father of former major league outfielder Mike White
.
Born in Red Oak, Georgia
, Joyner White was known as "Jo-Jo" because of the way he pronounced the name of his native state of Georgia.
White was the starting center fielder
for the Detroit Tigers teams that won back-to-back American League
pennants in 1934 and 1935. He was a backup outfielder for the 1932 and 1933 teams but won the starting job in 1934.
In 1934
, he batted .313, scored 97 runs, and stole 28 bases—the second most in the American League. His .418 on base percentage was also 7th best in the league. He played in all 7 games of the 1934 World Series
, walking 8 times and scoring 6 runs against the Gashouse Gang
Cardinals.
In 1935, White's batting average dropped 73 points to .240, but he still scored 82 runs and was among the AL leaders with 12 triples and 19 stolen bases. He played in all five games of the 1935 World Series
, scoring three runs with a .417 on base percentage. White also hit a single in the 11th inning of Game 3 to drive in Marv Owen
for the win.
White was roommates with Detroit slugger, Hank Greenberg
, for five years. In his autobiography, Greenberg wrote that they had a great relationship and enjoyed being on the road together, though they "used to fight the Civil War every night." Greenberg noted that "no two people could be more different than me, coming from the Bronx, and Jo-Jo White, claiming he came from Atlanta." (Hank Greenberg, "Hank Greenberg: The Story of My Life," p. 46). White even confessed once to Greenberg that, "I thought all you Jews had horns on your head." (Greenberg, p. 190)
In 1936, White lost the starting job in center field and remained a backup with the Tigers from 1936-1938. After playing in only 55 games in the outfield in 1938, White was frustrated with his limited playing time. After "a drink or two" on a train ride late in the 1938 season, White "decided to attack" a brand new felt hat purchased by manager Del Baker
. Baker finally found out that it was White who had deliberately ruined the hat, and White was traded to the Seattle Rainiers
, Whom he helped win the PCL pennant for both 1940 and 1941, for Fred Hutchinson
in December 1938. (Hank Greenberg, "Hank Greenberg: The Story of My Life," p. 123)
White returned to the major leagues during World War II, following the depletion of the talent pool as top players went into military service. In 1943, signed with the Philadelphia Athletics and played in more games (139) and had more at bats (500) and hits (124) than any other season in his career. After playing 85 games for the A's in 1944, he was traded to the Cincinnati Reds
in August, finishing his career playing 24 games for the Reds.
In nine major league seasons, White had a batting average
of .256 in 878 games with 678 hits, 456 runs scored, 386 walks, 42 triples, and 92 stolen base
s.
After his playing career had ended, White coached for the Detroit Tigers
, Kansas City Athletics, Cleveland indians
, Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves
and Kansas City Royals
. In 1960, White was acting manager of the Cleveland Indians
for one game.
White died at age 77 in Tacoma, Washington
. He was inducted posthumously into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame
in 1997.
His son Mike White
played three seasons in the major leagues for Houston from 1963-1965.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
center fielder
Center fielder
A center fielder, abbreviated CF, is the outfielder in baseball who plays defense in center field – the baseball fielding position between left field and right field...
in professional baseball
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
. He played nine seasons with the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
(1932–38), Philadelphia Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
(1943–44), and Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
(1944). He also was the father of former major league outfielder Mike White
Mike White (baseball)
Joyner Michael White is a retired American professional baseball player. Primarily an outfielder, White appeared in Major League Baseball for all or parts of three seasons for the Houston Colt .45s/Astros. He is the son of the late Jo-Jo White, a former MLB outfielder and coach...
.
Born in Red Oak, Georgia
Red Oak, Georgia
Red Oak is an unincorporated community of Fulton County, Georgia, near College Park, Georgia and East Point. It is located largely along US 29, NE of Union City, and about five minutes from Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, the world's busiest airport....
, Joyner White was known as "Jo-Jo" because of the way he pronounced the name of his native state of Georgia.
White was the starting center fielder
Center fielder
A center fielder, abbreviated CF, is the outfielder in baseball who plays defense in center field – the baseball fielding position between left field and right field...
for the Detroit Tigers teams that won back-to-back American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
pennants in 1934 and 1935. He was a backup outfielder for the 1932 and 1933 teams but won the starting job in 1934.
In 1934
1934 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: St. Louis Cardinals over Detroit Tigers *All-Star Game, July 10 at Polo Grounds: American League, 9-7-Awards and honors:*Most Valuable Player:**American League: Mickey Cochrane, Detroit Tigers, C...
, he batted .313, scored 97 runs, and stole 28 bases—the second most in the American League. His .418 on base percentage was also 7th best in the league. He played in all 7 games of the 1934 World Series
1934 World Series
The 1934 World Series matched the St. Louis Cardinals against the Detroit Tigers, with the Cardinals' "Gashouse Gang" winning in seven games for their third championship in nine years....
, walking 8 times and scoring 6 runs against the Gashouse Gang
Gashouse Gang
The Gashouse Gang was a nickname applied to the St. Louis Cardinals Major League Baseball team of .The Cardinals, by most accounts, earned this nickname from the team's generally very shabby appearance and rough-and-tumble tactics...
Cardinals.
In 1935, White's batting average dropped 73 points to .240, but he still scored 82 runs and was among the AL leaders with 12 triples and 19 stolen bases. He played in all five games of the 1935 World Series
1935 World Series
The 1935 World Series featured the Detroit Tigers and the Chicago Cubs, with the Tigers winning in six games for their first championship in five Series appearances. They had lost in , , , and ....
, scoring three runs with a .417 on base percentage. White also hit a single in the 11th inning of Game 3 to drive in Marv Owen
Marv Owen
Marvin James Owen was an American third baseman in Major League Baseball. He played nine seasons in the American League with the Detroit Tigers , Chicago White Sox , and Boston Red Sox ....
for the win.
White was roommates with Detroit slugger, Hank Greenberg
Hank Greenberg
Henry Benjamin "Hank" Greenberg , nicknamed "Hammerin' Hank" or "The Hebrew Hammer," was an American professional baseball player in the 1930s and 1940s. A first baseman primarily for the Detroit Tigers, Greenberg was one of the premier power hitters of his generation...
, for five years. In his autobiography, Greenberg wrote that they had a great relationship and enjoyed being on the road together, though they "used to fight the Civil War every night." Greenberg noted that "no two people could be more different than me, coming from the Bronx, and Jo-Jo White, claiming he came from Atlanta." (Hank Greenberg, "Hank Greenberg: The Story of My Life," p. 46). White even confessed once to Greenberg that, "I thought all you Jews had horns on your head." (Greenberg, p. 190)
In 1936, White lost the starting job in center field and remained a backup with the Tigers from 1936-1938. After playing in only 55 games in the outfield in 1938, White was frustrated with his limited playing time. After "a drink or two" on a train ride late in the 1938 season, White "decided to attack" a brand new felt hat purchased by manager Del Baker
Del Baker
Delmer David Baker was an American catcher, coach and manager in Major League Baseball. As a manager, he led the 1940 Detroit Tigers to the American League pennant...
. Baker finally found out that it was White who had deliberately ruined the hat, and White was traded to the Seattle Rainiers
Seattle Rainiers
The Seattle Rainiers, originally named the Seattle Indians and also known as the Seattle Angels, were a minor league baseball team in Seattle, Washington, that played in the Pacific Coast League from 1903-06 and 1919-68...
, Whom he helped win the PCL pennant for both 1940 and 1941, for Fred Hutchinson
Fred Hutchinson
Frederick Charles Hutchinson was an American professional baseball player, a major league pitcher for the Detroit Tigers. He also was a manager for three major league teams...
in December 1938. (Hank Greenberg, "Hank Greenberg: The Story of My Life," p. 123)
White returned to the major leagues during World War II, following the depletion of the talent pool as top players went into military service. In 1943, signed with the Philadelphia Athletics and played in more games (139) and had more at bats (500) and hits (124) than any other season in his career. After playing 85 games for the A's in 1944, he was traded to the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
in August, finishing his career playing 24 games for the Reds.
In nine major league seasons, White had a batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
of .256 in 878 games with 678 hits, 456 runs scored, 386 walks, 42 triples, and 92 stolen base
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
s.
After his playing career had ended, White coached for the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
, Kansas City Athletics, Cleveland indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
, Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
and Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
. In 1960, White was acting manager of the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
for one game.
White died at age 77 in Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma is a mid-sized urban port city and the county seat of Pierce County, Washington, United States. The city is on Washington's Puget Sound, southwest of Seattle, northeast of the state capital, Olympia, and northwest of Mount Rainier National Park. The population was 198,397, according to...
. He was inducted posthumously into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame
Georgia Sports Hall of Fame
The Georgia Sports Hall of Fame is located in Macon, Georgia. It is the largest state sports hall of fame in America at .-Exhibitions:The Hall of Fame houses over of exhibit space broken down into sections including Hall of Fame Inductees, High School, collegiate sports, Olympic, Paralympic,...
in 1997.
His son Mike White
Mike White (baseball)
Joyner Michael White is a retired American professional baseball player. Primarily an outfielder, White appeared in Major League Baseball for all or parts of three seasons for the Houston Colt .45s/Astros. He is the son of the late Jo-Jo White, a former MLB outfielder and coach...
played three seasons in the major leagues for Houston from 1963-1965.