Matt Whiteside
Encyclopedia
Matthew Christopher Whiteside (born August 8, 1967 in Charleston, Missouri
) is a former baseball
pitcher
. He graduated from Charleston High School
in Charleston, Missouri
, lettering in baseball, football
, and basketball
, in 1986, and then he attended Arkansas State University
, graduating with a degree in physical education. While at Arkansas, Whiteside joined Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity.
Standing at 6'0" and weighing 205 pounds, the right-hander was drafted by the Texas Rangers
661st overall in the 25th round of the draft. He spent less than three successful seasons in the minors before making his Major League debut on August 5, , at the age of 24. He made his Major League debut against the Oakland Athletics
, pitching a perfect inning against them. His first season in the Majors was very successful-in 20 games in relief
, he posted a 1.93 ERA
, saving four games.
The rest of his career was not as successful as his rookie season. Between and , the lowest ERA he had in a season was 4.08, while the highest was 13.91. He started
only one game in his major league career, on July 20, . He pitched four innings, giving up six hits
and five earned run
s. Even with that dismal performance, he walked away with a no-decision.
After 13 games in the majors in 2001 with the Atlanta Braves
(who picked him up as a free agent
), he bounced around in the minors and international baseball (Yokohama BayStars
in Japan
in ) until . By that time, he had established himself as a very successful closer
in the minors, saving 38 games in with the Richmond Braves
, making the International League
All-Star team, and saving 27 games in for the Syracuse SkyChiefs
. After that impressive showing, he was called up to the majors for a short two-game stint with the Toronto Blue Jays
. He struggled in that short time-in 3 2/3 innings, he gave up eight earned runs (six hits, three home run
s, five walks
, one hit batter
) for an ERA of 19.64.
On July 15, 2005, Whiteside was suspended for 15 games for violating minor league baseball's steroid policy. He spent with the Indianapolis Indians
, posting a 1.69 ERA in 20 games, collecting 10 saves.
In 1996, he served as a guest judge at the Miss USA Pageant.
Charleston, Missouri
Charleston is a city in Mississippi County, Missouri, United States. The population was 4,732 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Mississippi County and it is a home to a local correctional facility.-History:...
) is a former baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
. He graduated from Charleston High School
Charleston High School (Missouri)
Charleston High School is a public high school that serves 313 students from grades 9-12, located in Charleston, Missouri. The principal is David Wilson.Their sports program has produced one known professional athlete, Matt Whiteside....
in Charleston, Missouri
Charleston, Missouri
Charleston is a city in Mississippi County, Missouri, United States. The population was 4,732 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Mississippi County and it is a home to a local correctional facility.-History:...
, lettering in baseball, football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
, and basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, in 1986, and then he attended Arkansas State University
Arkansas State University
Arkansas State University is a public university and is the flagship campus of the Arkansas State University System, the state's second largest college system and third largest university by enrollment. It is located atop on Crowley's Ridge at Jonesboro, Arkansas, USA...
, graduating with a degree in physical education. While at Arkansas, Whiteside joined Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity.
Standing at 6'0" and weighing 205 pounds, the right-hander was drafted by the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
661st overall in the 25th round of the draft. He spent less than three successful seasons in the minors before making his Major League debut on August 5, , at the age of 24. He made his Major League debut against the Oakland 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....
, pitching a perfect inning against them. His first season in the Majors was very successful-in 20 games in relief
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
, he posted a 1.93 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
, saving four games.
The rest of his career was not as successful as his rookie season. Between and , the lowest ERA he had in a season was 4.08, while the highest was 13.91. He started
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
only one game in his major league career, on July 20, . He pitched four innings, giving up six hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
and five earned run
Earned run
In baseball, an earned run is any run for which the pitcher is held accountable . Any runner who tags his base and reaches home plate is scored against the pitcher as an earned run...
s. Even with that dismal performance, he walked away with a no-decision.
After 13 games in the majors in 2001 with the 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....
(who picked him up as a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
), he bounced around in the minors and international baseball (Yokohama BayStars
Yokohama BayStars
The are a professional baseball team in the Japanese Central League. Home field is the Yokohama Stadium, located in central Yokohama. The clubhouse is located near the stadium....
in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
in ) until . By that time, he had established himself as a very successful closer
Closer (baseball)
In baseball, a closing pitcher, more frequently referred to as a closer , is a relief pitcher who specializes in closing out games, i.e., getting the final outs in a close game. Closers often appear when the score is close, and the role is often assigned to a team's best reliever. A small number of...
in the minors, saving 38 games in with the Richmond Braves
Richmond Braves
The Richmond Braves were the Triple-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves and played in the International League. Colloquially referred to as the R-Braves, they were based in Richmond, Virginia, where they played from 1966, when the Milwaukee Braves moved to Atlanta where their AAA team, the Crackers,...
, making the International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
All-Star team, and saving 27 games in for the Syracuse SkyChiefs
Syracuse SkyChiefs
The Syracuse Chiefs are a minor league baseball team based in Syracuse, New York. The team plays in the International League and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals...
. After that impressive showing, he was called up to the majors for a short two-game stint with the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
. He struggled in that short time-in 3 2/3 innings, he gave up eight earned runs (six hits, three home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s, five walks
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
, one hit batter
Hit by pitch
In baseball, hit by pitch , or hit batsman , is a batter or his equipment being hit in some part of his body by a pitch from the pitcher.-Official rule:...
) for an ERA of 19.64.
On July 15, 2005, Whiteside was suspended for 15 games for violating minor league baseball's steroid policy. He spent with the Indianapolis Indians
Indianapolis Indians
The Indianapolis Indians are a minor league baseball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. The team, which plays in the International League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates major-league club. The Indians play at Victory Field, located in downtown Indianapolis...
, posting a 1.69 ERA in 20 games, collecting 10 saves.
In 1996, he served as a guest judge at the Miss USA Pageant.