Mike White (baseball)
Encyclopedia
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 (1963–1965) for the Houston Colt .45s/Astros
. He is the son of the late Jo-Jo White
, a former MLB outfielder and coach
. Mike White threw and batted right-handed, stood 5 in 8 in (1.73 m) tall and weighed 160 pounds (72.6 kg).
White attended American River Junior College, Sacramento, California
, and signed with the Cleveland Indians
in 1958; his father was a Cleveland scout that season. But White suffered a serious knee injury in a 1958 intrasquad game and his career was nearly ended before it began. Despite constant therapy, he ran with a pronounced limp. White was able to play 126 minor league
games in 1959 and 127 more in 1960. During the latter season, he batted
.304 with 132 hits
for the Reading Indians of the Class A Eastern League. But the Indians released him on December 8, 1960.
However, baseball was in the process of adding four new expansion teams during the 1961 and 1962 seasons. White kept his career going by signing with the Los Angeles Angels
' minor league organization for . He moved from third base
to the outfield and later became a second baseman
as well. After one year in the Angels' farm system, he was drafted by another expansion team, the Colt .45s, during the winter before their debut season. White batted .294 and .324 in successive seasons in the high minors before making his debut with the Colt .45s in September . He collected two singles
in seven at bats over three MLB games.
White spent the entire campaign with Houston, primarily as a center fielder
, and batted .271 with 76 hits
in 89 games. But in , White appeared in only eight games for the renamed Astros, mostly as a pinch hitter
. He was hitless in nine at bats and returned to the minor leagues for the remainder of his career. He retired in 1969.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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....
player. Primarily an outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
, White appeared in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
for all or parts of three seasons (1963–1965) for the Houston Colt .45s/Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
. He is the son of the late Jo-Jo White
Jo-Jo White
Joyner Clifford "Jo-Jo" White was an American center fielder in professional baseball. He played nine seasons with the Detroit Tigers , Philadelphia Athletics , and Cincinnati Reds...
, a former MLB outfielder and coach
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
. Mike White threw and batted right-handed, stood 5 in 8 in (1.73 m) tall and weighed 160 pounds (72.6 kg).
White attended American River Junior College, Sacramento, California
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
, and signed with 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...
in 1958; his father was a Cleveland scout that season. But White suffered a serious knee injury in a 1958 intrasquad game and his career was nearly ended before it began. Despite constant therapy, he ran with a pronounced limp. White was able to play 126 minor league
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
games in 1959 and 127 more in 1960. During the latter season, he batted
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 :...
.304 with 132 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....
for the Reading Indians of the Class A Eastern League. But the Indians released him on December 8, 1960.
However, baseball was in the process of adding four new expansion teams during the 1961 and 1962 seasons. White kept his career going by signing with the Los Angeles Angels
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
' minor league organization for . He moved from third base
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
to the outfield and later became a second baseman
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
as well. After one year in the Angels' farm system, he was drafted by another expansion team, the Colt .45s, during the winter before their debut season. White batted .294 and .324 in successive seasons in the high minors before making his debut with the Colt .45s in September . He collected two singles
Single (baseball)
In baseball, a single is the most common type of base hit, accomplished through the act of a batter safely reaching first base by hitting a fair ball and getting to first base before a fielder puts him out...
in seven at bats over three MLB games.
White spent the entire campaign with Houston, primarily as a 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...
, and batted .271 with 76 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....
in 89 games. But in , White appeared in only eight games for the renamed Astros, mostly as a pinch hitter
Pinch hitter
In baseball, a pinch hitter is a substitute batter. Batters can be substituted at any time while the ball is dead ; the manager may use any player that has not yet entered the game as a substitute...
. He was hitless in nine at bats and returned to the minor leagues for the remainder of his career. He retired in 1969.