Bill White (shortstop)
Encyclopedia
William Dighton White was a professional baseball player who was mainly a shortstop
in major leagues for five season from to . During his major league career, he played for three different franchises: the Pittsburg Alleghenys
in , the Louisville Colonels
from 1886 to 1888, and the St. Louis Browns
, also in 1888.
He led the American Association
(AA) in putout
s among shortstops for three consecutive seasons, from 1886–1888, and 1887, he led all AA shortstops in assists
and double play
s as well. He was a member of the St. Louis Browns when they were champions of the AA, and went to face the New York Giants
in a post-season exhibition set of game, known as the "World Series
". Although the Browns lost the 10 game series, White played in every game.
, and he began his professional baseball career in 1883 with the Pottsville
Antharcites of the International Association
. During that season he is credited with making an appearance with the Philadelphia Quakers of the National League
, which consisted of one at bat
without collecting a hit
.
of the American Association
(AA), and played in 74 games
, 60 of which were at shortstop; he had a batting average of .227 and 10 triples
in 291 at bats. That season, he also played for the Springfield
team in the Ohio State League
. For the 1885 season, he remained in the minor leagues
, playing for the Washington Nationals of the Eastern League
.
In 1886, White sign a contract with Louisville Colonels
of the AA, which paid him $2000 for the season. His 143 hits in 135 games that season were his career high totals, as well as his 96 runs
, and 17 doubles
. He led the AA in putout
s for a shortstop for the first time in his career, and on October 9, against Bill Hart
of the Philadelphia Athletics, he hit the first of his six career home run
s. Staying in Louisville for the season, White continued as their starting shortstop, and again led the AA in putouts, as well as assist
s and double play
s in 132 games played.
He began the 1888 season with the Colonels, playing in 49 games before moving midseason to play for the St. Louis Browns
, and led the AA in putouts for third time. At the conclusion of the season, the Browns went on to play the National League champion New York Giants
in a set of exhibition games called the "World Series
". In 10 ten game, the Giants defeated the Browns six games to four, and white participated in all 10 games, but had a .143 batting average however.
, of the Western Association for the remainder of the 1891 season. He began the 1892 season with the Butte
representative in the Montana State League, however he later joined the Portland Webfeet
of the Pacific Northwest League
. He moved on to play for the Augusta
Electricians of the Southern Association
for the 1893 season, and then the Bangor
Millionaires of the New England League
for the 1894 season, his last as player.
After his playing days were over, White performed three different stints as the manager
of minor league clubs in Wheeling, West Virginia
. The first occurred for the 1896 Nailers of the Interstate League
, then in 1901 for the Stogies of the Western Association, and finally for the 1905 Stogies of the Central League
.
White died in Bellaire, Ohio
at the age of 64, and is interred at Greenwood Cemetery of that city.
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
in major leagues for five season from to . During his major league career, he played for three different franchises: the Pittsburg Alleghenys
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
in , the Louisville Colonels
Louisville Colonels
The Louisville Colonels were a Major League Baseball team that played in the American Association throughout that league's ten-year existence from 1882 until 1891, first as the Louisville Eclipse and later as the Louisville Colonels , the latter name derived from the historic Kentucky colonels...
from 1886 to 1888, and the St. Louis Browns
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...
, also in 1888.
He led the American Association
American Association (19th century)
The American Association was a Major League Baseball league that existed for 10 seasons from to . During that time, it challenged the National League for dominance of professional baseball...
(AA) in putout
Putout
In baseball statistics, a putout is given to a defensive player who records an out by one of the following methods:* Tagging a runner with the ball when he is not touching a base...
s among shortstops for three consecutive seasons, from 1886–1888, and 1887, he led all AA shortstops in assists
Assist (baseball)
In baseball, an assist is a defensive statistic, baseball being one of the few sports in which the defensive team controls the ball. An assist is awarded to every defensive player who fields or touches the ball prior to the recording of a putout, even if the contact was unintentional...
and double play
Double play
In baseball, a double play for a team or a fielder is the act of making two outs during the same continuous playing action. In baseball slang, making a double play is referred to as "turning two"....
s as well. He was a member of the St. Louis Browns when they were champions of the AA, and went to face the New York 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....
in a post-season exhibition set of game, known as 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...
". Although the Browns lost the 10 game series, White played in every game.
Early years
White was born on May 1, 1860 in Bridgeport, OhioBridgeport, Ohio
Bridgeport is a village in Belmont County, Ohio, United States. It is part of the Wheeling, West Virginia Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,831 at the 2010 census...
, and he began his professional baseball career in 1883 with the Pottsville
Pottsville, Pennsylvania
Pottsville is the only city in and the county seat of Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 15,549 at the 2000 census. The city lies along the west bank of the Schuylkill River, north-west of Philadelphia...
Antharcites of the International Association
Interstate League
The Interstate League was the name of five different American minor baseball leagues that played intermittently from 1896 through 1952. The longest tenured of these was the last incarnation, which played in the Middle Atlantic States from 1939 through 1952, and was one of the few mid-level minor...
. During that season he is credited with making an appearance with the Philadelphia Quakers of the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
, which consisted of one at bat
At bat
In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance...
without collecting a hit
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....
.
American Association
In 1884, he signed with the Pittsburg AlleghenysPittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
of the American Association
American Association (19th century)
The American Association was a Major League Baseball league that existed for 10 seasons from to . During that time, it challenged the National League for dominance of professional baseball...
(AA), and played in 74 games
Games played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
, 60 of which were at shortstop; he had a batting average of .227 and 10 triples
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
in 291 at bats. That season, he also played for the Springfield
Springfield, Ohio
Springfield is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Clark County. The municipality is located in southwestern Ohio and is situated on the Mad River, Buck Creek and Beaver Creek, approximately west of Columbus and northeast of Dayton. Springfield is home to Wittenberg...
team in the Ohio State League
Ohio State League
The first Ohio State League was a baseball league in 1887 before changing names to the Tri-State League.The first 20th century Ohio State League started in 1908 as a class D loop and ran through 1916. Another Ohio State League was formed in 1936 and ran through 1947 except for a break in '42-'43...
. For the 1885 season, he remained in the minor leagues
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...
, playing for the Washington Nationals of the Eastern 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...
.
In 1886, White sign a contract with Louisville Colonels
Louisville Colonels
The Louisville Colonels were a Major League Baseball team that played in the American Association throughout that league's ten-year existence from 1882 until 1891, first as the Louisville Eclipse and later as the Louisville Colonels , the latter name derived from the historic Kentucky colonels...
of the AA, which paid him $2000 for the season. His 143 hits in 135 games that season were his career high totals, as well as his 96 runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
, and 17 doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
. He led the AA in putout
Putout
In baseball statistics, a putout is given to a defensive player who records an out by one of the following methods:* Tagging a runner with the ball when he is not touching a base...
s for a shortstop for the first time in his career, and on October 9, against Bill Hart
Bill Hart (pitcher)
William Franklin Hart , is a former professional baseball player who played pitcher in the Major Leagues from 1886-1901. He pitched in the American Association, National League and American League.-External links:...
of the Philadelphia Athletics, he hit the first of his six career 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. Staying in Louisville for the season, White continued as their starting shortstop, and again led the AA in putouts, as well as assist
Assist (baseball)
In baseball, an assist is a defensive statistic, baseball being one of the few sports in which the defensive team controls the ball. An assist is awarded to every defensive player who fields or touches the ball prior to the recording of a putout, even if the contact was unintentional...
s and double play
Double play
In baseball, a double play for a team or a fielder is the act of making two outs during the same continuous playing action. In baseball slang, making a double play is referred to as "turning two"....
s in 132 games played.
He began the 1888 season with the Colonels, playing in 49 games before moving midseason to play for the St. Louis Browns
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...
, and led the AA in putouts for third time. At the conclusion of the season, the Browns went on to play the National League champion New York 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....
in a set of exhibition games called 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...
". In 10 ten game, the Giants defeated the Browns six games to four, and white participated in all 10 games, but had a .143 batting average however.
Return to the minors
White returned to the minor leagues after the 1888 season, and play for the Denver Grizzlies/Mountaineers of the Western Association in 1889, 1890, and partially in 1891. He also played for the Minneapolis MillersMinneapolis Millers
The Minneapolis Millers were an American professional minor league baseball team that played in Minneapolis, Minnesota, until 1960. In the 19th century a different Minneapolis Millers were part of the Western League.The team played first in Athletic Park and later Nicollet Park.The name Minneapolis...
, of the Western Association for the remainder of the 1891 season. He began the 1892 season with the Butte
Butte, Montana
Butte is a city in Montana and the county seat of Silver Bow County, United States. In 1977, the city and county governments consolidated to form the sole entity of Butte-Silver Bow. As of the 2010 census, Butte's population was 34,200...
representative in the Montana State League, however he later joined the Portland Webfeet
Portland Webfeet
The Portland Webfeet were a Minor League Baseball team in the Pacific Northwest League. They were located in Portland, Oregon and played at Columbia Park. They were active from to ....
of the Pacific Northwest League
Pacific Northwest League
The Pacific Northwest League was a professional Minor League Baseball league based in the Pacific Northwest. It was the first professional baseball league ever in the region.-Founding:...
. He moved on to play for the Augusta
Augusta, Georgia
Augusta is a consolidated city in the U.S. state of Georgia, located along the Savannah River. As of the 2010 census, the Augusta–Richmond County population was 195,844 not counting the unconsolidated cities of Hephzibah and Blythe.Augusta is the principal city of the Augusta-Richmond County...
Electricians of the Southern Association
Southern Association
The Southern Association was a higher-level minor league in American organized baseball from 1901 through 1961. For most of its existence, the Southern Association was two steps below the Major Leagues; it was graded Class A , Class A1 and Class AA...
for the 1893 season, and then the Bangor
Bangor, Maine
Bangor is a city in and the county seat of Penobscot County, Maine, United States, and the major commercial and cultural center for eastern and northern Maine...
Millionaires of the New England League
New England League
The New England League was a mid-level league in American minor league baseball that played sporadically in five of the six New England states between 1886 and 1949. After 1901, it existed in the shadow of two Major League Baseball clubs in Boston and alongside stronger, higher-classification...
for the 1894 season, his last as player.
After his playing days were over, White performed three different stints as the manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
of minor league clubs in Wheeling, West Virginia
Wheeling, West Virginia
Wheeling is a city in Ohio and Marshall counties in the U.S. state of West Virginia; it is the county seat of Ohio County. Wheeling is the principal city of the Wheeling Metropolitan Statistical Area...
. The first occurred for the 1896 Nailers of the Interstate League
Interstate League
The Interstate League was the name of five different American minor baseball leagues that played intermittently from 1896 through 1952. The longest tenured of these was the last incarnation, which played in the Middle Atlantic States from 1939 through 1952, and was one of the few mid-level minor...
, then in 1901 for the Stogies of the Western Association, and finally for the 1905 Stogies of the Central League
Central League (baseball)
The Central League was a minor league baseball league that operated sporadically from 1903-1917, 1920-1922, 1926, 1928-1930, 1934, and 1948-1951. In 1926, the league merged mid-season with the Michigan State League and played under that name for the remainder of the season...
.
White died in Bellaire, Ohio
Bellaire, Ohio
Bellaire is a village in Belmont County, Ohio, United States. It is part of the Wheeling, West Virginia Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 4,278 at the 2010 census. The village is located along the Ohio River...
at the age of 64, and is interred at Greenwood Cemetery of that city.