Rick White (baseball player)
Encyclopedia
Richard Allen White is a former Major League Baseball
relief pitcher
. White spent parts of 12 seasons in the majors, working primarily as a relief pitcher. He batted and threw right-handed.
that fall. White worked primarily as a starting pitcher while advancing through the minors, and he started 14 games as a swingman with the Pirates in and , before settling in as a reliever with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays
.
White enjoyed his best seasons as a professional with the Devil Rays, spending two and a half seasons as a key part of their bullpen, before being traded to the New York Mets
in . The Mets acquired White and outfielder Bubba Trammell
in exchange for pitcher Paul Wilson
and outfielder Jason Tyner
. The Mets advanced to the World Series
that season, but lost to the New York Yankees
in five games.
White appeared in the postseason for a second time in as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals
, who were eliminated in the NLCS
by the San Francisco Giants
. On June 23, , the Philadelphia Phillies
claimed White off waivers from the Cincinnati Reds
. On February 2, , the Houston Astros
signed White to a minor-league contract. On June 29, 2007, the Astros released White after some ineffective outings. As a reliever for Houston, he was lights out with amazing numbers through Spring Training
, allowing him to make the club. April was good for him; going 11.2 innings with 2 ER for an ERA of 1.54. But after going on the disabled list, he had an ERA of 11.72, giving up 23 ER over 17.2 innings. With Houston, White appeared in 23 games, going 1-0 with a 7.67 ERA in 29 innings. On August 5, 2007, the Seattle Mariners
signed him and assigned White to Triple-A Tacoma
. On August 23, 2007, White was promoted to the majors, but was placed on waivers and subsequently released by the Mariners on September 6.
White throws four pitches: a fastball
, a slider
, a curveball
, and a forkball
.
During pre-game warmups on May 12, , he and pitcher Jim Mecir
were involved in a serious collision in the outfield
while chasing a fly ball in batting practice. White was unhurt, but Mecir broke his elbow and missed the rest of the season.
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...
relief pitcher
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...
. White spent parts of 12 seasons in the majors, working primarily as a relief pitcher. He batted and threw right-handed.
Career summary
After graduating from Kenton Ridge High School in Springfield, White attended Paducah Community College. He was drafted by the Pirates in the 15th round of the June draft, with the 390th overall pick. After signing quickly, he made his professional debut with the Pirates' affiliate in the Gulf Coast LeagueGulf Coast League
The Gulf Coast League is a minor league baseball league which operates in Florida. It is a Rookie League, with a season running from mid-June to late August. The season is 60 games long and teams in the league are divided into three divisions, East, North and South...
that fall. White worked primarily as a starting pitcher while advancing through the minors, and he started 14 games as a swingman with the Pirates in and , before settling in as a reliever with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in , the club has played at Tropicana Field...
.
White enjoyed his best seasons as a professional with the Devil Rays, spending two and a half seasons as a key part of their bullpen, before being traded to the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
in . The Mets acquired White and outfielder Bubba Trammell
Bubba Trammell
Thomas Bubba Trammell was a Major League Baseball outfielder and designated hitter. He is an alumnus of the University of Tennessee....
in exchange for pitcher Paul Wilson
Paul Wilson (baseball player)
Paul Anthony Wilson is a retired right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball.-Baseball career:Wilson played college baseball for the Florida State University Seminoles under head coach Mike Martin....
and outfielder Jason Tyner
Jason Tyner
Jason Renyt Tyner is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. Tyner stands at 6'1" tall and weighs 175 pounds...
. The Mets advanced to the World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
that season, but lost to the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
in five games.
White appeared in the postseason for a second time in as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
, who were eliminated in the NLCS
National League Championship Series
In Major League Baseball, the National League Championship Series is a round in the postseason that determines who wins the National League pennant and advances to Major League Baseball's championship, the World Series, facing the winner of the American League Championship Series. The reigning...
by the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
. On June 23, , the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
claimed White off waivers from 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....
. On February 2, , the Houston 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...
signed White to a minor-league contract. On June 29, 2007, the Astros released White after some ineffective outings. As a reliever for Houston, he was lights out with amazing numbers through Spring Training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
, allowing him to make the club. April was good for him; going 11.2 innings with 2 ER for an ERA of 1.54. But after going on the disabled list, he had an ERA of 11.72, giving up 23 ER over 17.2 innings. With Houston, White appeared in 23 games, going 1-0 with a 7.67 ERA in 29 innings. On August 5, 2007, the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
signed him and assigned White to Triple-A Tacoma
Tacoma Rainiers
The Tacoma Rainiers are a minor league baseball team that plays in the Pacific Coast League , and are the Triple-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners...
. On August 23, 2007, White was promoted to the majors, but was placed on waivers and subsequently released by the Mariners on September 6.
White throws four pitches: a fastball
Fastball
The fastball is the most common type of pitch in baseball. Some "power pitchers," such as Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens, have thrown it at speeds of 95–106 mph and up to 108.1 mph , relying purely on speed to prevent the ball from being hit...
, a slider
Slider
In baseball, a slider is a pitch that breaks laterally and down, with a speed between that of a curveball and that of a fastball....
, a curveball
Curveball
The curveball is a type of pitch in baseball thrown with a characteristic grip and hand movement that imparts forward spin to the ball causing it to dive in a downward path as it approaches the plate. Its close relatives are the slider and the slurve. The "curve" of the ball varies from pitcher to...
, and a forkball
Forkball
The forkball is a type of pitch in baseball. Related to the split-fingered fastball, the forkball is held between the first two fingers and thrown hard snapping the wrist....
.
During pre-game warmups on May 12, , he and pitcher Jim Mecir
Jim Mecir
James Jason Mecir is an American former baseball player. He played for five teams in an 11-year career, and retired from the Florida Marlins in . He was a right-handed pitcher....
were involved in a serious collision in the outfield
Outfield
The outfield is a sporting term used in cricket and baseball to refer to the area of the field of play further from the batsman or batter than the infield...
while chasing a fly ball in batting practice. White was unhurt, but Mecir broke his elbow and missed the rest of the season.