Mike White
From BR Bullpen
Note: This page discusses 1960s outfielder Mike White. For the college coach of the same name, click here.
Joyner Michael White
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 5' 8", Weight 160 lb.
- Debut September 21, 1963
- Final Game May 5, 1965
- Born December 18, 1938 in Detroit, MI USA
[edit] Biographical Information
"Manager Harry Craft utilized Mike at positions where others were slumping, and, lo and behold, young White soon earned his way." - from an article about Mike White in the September 1964 Baseball Digest
The son of Jo-Jo White, Mike White was released by the Cleveland organization in 1960 after a severe leg injury. It was thought that he could never play pro ball again. He worked hard to rehabilitate the leg, and was signed by the Angels. The Astros drafted him after the 1961 season, and he got his big chance with them in 1964. He got off to a great start, with 15 RBI and .359 batting average in his first 64 at bats, but then cooled off. Source: 6/13/1964 The Sporting News.
Although Jim Wynn is listed as the regular centerfielder for the 1964 Houston Colt .45's rather than White because Wynn had more innings, White had more games at the position that year. During his major league career (1963-65), White appeared in exactly 100 major league games.
Mike also played 10 seasons in the minors, with a peak batting average of .324 for San Antonio in 1963. In his last season, 1969 with Tacoma, he hit .333 in 16 games. Although he was mostly an outfielder in the minors, he played significant numbers of games at second base and third base.
"I used to let him on the bench with us from the time he was four years old." - father Jo-Jo White, quoted in 1964 about his son Mike
