William De Kova White
The Basics
|
Bat |
Throw |
Total
Yrs |
Yrs in
StL |
HR |
RBI |
SB |
Average |
|
Left |
Left |
1956-1969 |
1959-65, 1969 |
140 |
631 |
65 |
.298 |
The Awards
|
Hall of
Fame |
Retired
# |
World
Champ |
All-Star |
MVP |
Cy
Young |
Gold
Glove |
|
- |
- |
1 |
5 |
- |
NA |
6 |
Note: All stats and awards listed are for years as a Cardinal only.
White’s career stats available from baseball-reference.com.
Voter Comments
Rob Rains (36):
A six-time Gold Glove winner and a five-time All-Star as a Cardinal, Bill White was much like number 35 on this list, Julian Javier, a steady reliable player who let other players dominate the headlines while he went about doing his job every day.
After the Cardinals won the 1964 World Series, White said that team did not have a leader, but had nine leaders, the everyday players who just did their job in a professional manner. From 1961 through 1965, White averaged 22 home runs and 95 RBIs.
Jerry Modene (33):
A classy player who was overshadowed by the presence in the National League of such luminaries as Willie McCovey, White only spent seven seasons as the Cards’ regular first baseman before his trade to the Phillies (he came back for one final hurrah in 1969).
White drove in 100+ runs three times for the Cardinals, in an age in which 100 RBI actually meant something, and he was a solid glove man at first base.
Ray Mileur (NR):
Bill White now makes it four out of six players that I haven’t ranked so far in the Top 40. Bill White hit over .300 with more than 20 home runs and 100+ RBI for three consecutive seasons, from 1962-1964. During the 1964 season, I was just nine years old and Bill White along with Ken Boyer supplied the one-two power-punch for the World Champion St. Louis Cardinals with 21 and 24 home runs respectively.
His career highlights include; five-time All-Star (1959-61, 1963-64), seven-time Gold Glove Award winner (1960-66), and finished twice in the Top 10 in MVP voting (1963-64). Traded by the Cardinals to the Phillies after the ‘64 series for outfielder Alex Johnson, White returned to St. Louis for a brief stint in 1969.
A true gentleman and highly respected, White was named the National League President in 1989, 20 years after he had retired from the game.
Brian Walton (27):
Bill White stands out on my list, both as a player and a man, despite seemingly always having been overshadowed by someone during his days in uniform.
During a golden era of first basemen in the National League, White had to compete for attention and recognition with the likes of future Hall of Famers Orlando Cepeda and Willie McCovey, and late in his career, Tony Perez. He didn’t have a catchy nickname like “Cha-Cha” or even “Stretch”. He was just “Bill White”, but that was pretty darned good.
As proof of his greatness (and unlike teammate Julian Javier), White received the regular All-Star Game (five) and Gold Glove Award (six) selections that eluded his partner on the right side of the Cardinals diamond.
With 102 RBI in 1964, White, along with Ken Boyer, supplied the power for that club, which brought the World Championship back to St. Louis after a long, 18-year dry spell. White finished third in the NL Most Valuable Player Award voting that season, behind the winner, Boyer.
Voter Comments Key: Voter (Individual Ranking); NR = Not Rated
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