Frank White
Born: 9/4/1950 in Greenville, MS, USA
MLB Debut: 1973-06-12 | Final Game: 1990-09-30
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'11" | Weight: 165 lbs
Biography
Frank White was a prominent American professional baseball player, known for his versatility and defensive prowess during his career that spanned from 1973 to 1990. Born in 1950, White played the majority of his 2,324 games as a position player, primarily as a second baseman. Over his career, he amassed 2,006 hits, 160 home runs, and 886 RBIs, while maintaining a batting average of .255. His speed on the base paths was evident in his 178 stolen bases, showcasing his ability to impact the game both offensively and defensively.
White was a pivotal figure in the Kansas City Royals organization, where he spent his entire major league career. He earned recognition as a five-time All-Star and was named the American League Championship Series MVP, highlighting his contributions in high-stakes situations. A key player during the late 1970s and 1980s, White's playing style combined solid contact hitting with exceptional fielding skills, making him a cornerstone of the Royals' success in that era. His legacy remains significant, as he is remembered not only for his individual achievements but also for his role in helping to elevate the Royals to prominence in Major League Baseball.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2324 | 7859 | 912 | 2006 | 407 | 58 | 160 | 886 | 178 | 412 | 1035 | 0.255 | 0.293 | 0.383 | 0.675 | -9956.6 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | KCR | AL | 51 | 139 | 20 | 31 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 23 | 0.223 | -577.9 |
| 1974 | KCR | AL | 99 | 204 | 19 | 45 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 18 | 3 | 5 | 33 | 0.221 | -918.3 |
| 1975 | KCR | AL | 111 | 304 | 43 | 76 | 10 | 2 | 7 | 36 | 11 | 20 | 39 | 0.250 | -386.5 |
| 1976 | KCR | AL | 152 | 446 | 39 | 102 | 17 | 6 | 2 | 46 | 20 | 19 | 42 | 0.229 | -1537.1 |
| 1977 | KCR | AL | 152 | 474 | 59 | 116 | 21 | 5 | 5 | 50 | 23 | 25 | 67 | 0.245 | -1468.3 |
| 1978 | KCR | AL | 143 | 461 | 66 | 127 | 24 | 6 | 7 | 50 | 13 | 26 | 59 | 0.275 | 71.5 |
| 1979 | KCR | AL | 127 | 467 | 73 | 124 | 26 | 4 | 10 | 48 | 28 | 25 | 54 | 0.266 | -493.8 |
| 1980 | KCR | AL | 154 | 560 | 70 | 148 | 23 | 4 | 7 | 60 | 19 | 19 | 69 | 0.264 | -1215.3 |
| 1981 | KCR | AL | 94 | 364 | 35 | 91 | 17 | 1 | 9 | 38 | 4 | 19 | 50 | 0.250 | -369.5 |
| 1982 | KCR | AL | 145 | 524 | 71 | 156 | 45 | 6 | 11 | 56 | 10 | 16 | 65 | 0.298 | 783.3 |
| 1983 | KCR | AL | 146 | 549 | 52 | 143 | 35 | 6 | 11 | 77 | 13 | 20 | 51 | 0.260 | -665.9 |
| 1984 | KCR | AL | 129 | 479 | 58 | 130 | 22 | 5 | 17 | 56 | 5 | 27 | 72 | 0.271 | 469.8 |
| 1985 | KCR | AL | 149 | 563 | 62 | 140 | 25 | 1 | 22 | 69 | 10 | 28 | 86 | 0.249 | -445.1 |
| 1986 | KCR | AL | 151 | 566 | 76 | 154 | 37 | 3 | 22 | 84 | 4 | 43 | 88 | 0.272 | 835.4 |
| 1987 | KCR | AL | 154 | 563 | 67 | 138 | 32 | 2 | 17 | 78 | 1 | 51 | 86 | 0.245 | -688.2 |
| 1988 | KCR | AL | 150 | 537 | 48 | 126 | 25 | 1 | 8 | 58 | 7 | 21 | 67 | 0.235 | -1663.7 |
| 1989 | KCR | AL | 135 | 418 | 34 | 107 | 22 | 1 | 2 | 36 | 3 | 30 | 52 | 0.256 | -697.0 |
| 1990 | KCR | AL | 82 | 241 | 20 | 52 | 14 | 1 | 2 | 21 | 1 | 10 | 32 | 0.216 | -990.1 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 42 | 150 | 14 | 32 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 16 | 6 | 21 | 0.213 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | ALCS | KCA | 7 | 25 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0.200 |
| 1985 | WS | KCA | 7 | 28 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 0.250 |
| 1984 | ALCS | KCA | 3 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0.091 |
| 1981 | AWDIV | KCA | 3 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0.182 |
| 1980 | WS | KCA | 6 | 25 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0.080 |
| 1980 | ALCS | KCA | 3 | 11 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0.545 |
| 1978 | ALCS | KCA | 4 | 13 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.231 |
| 1977 | ALCS | KCA | 5 | 18 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0.278 |
| 1976 | ALCS | KCA | 4 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.125 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2B | 2151 | 2052 | 4742 | 6253 | 179 | 1382 |
| 3B | 21 | 12 | 16 | 31 | 2 | 2 |
| OF | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| SS | 150 | 87 | 186 | 345 | 25 | 75 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | KCA | 2B | 11 | 10 | 19 | 40 | 3 | 12 |
| 1973 | KCA | SS | 37 | 23 | 52 | 81 | 9 | 24 |
| 1974 | KCA | 2B | 50 | 25 | 67 | 84 | 6 | 23 |
| 1974 | KCA | 3B | 16 | 10 | 15 | 24 | 2 | 1 |
| 1974 | KCA | SS | 29 | 17 | 37 | 81 | 4 | 16 |
| 1975 | KCA | 2B | 68 | 57 | 126 | 182 | 5 | 35 |
| 1975 | KCA | 3B | 4 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 1 |
| 1975 | KCA | SS | 42 | 26 | 55 | 86 | 7 | 20 |
| 1976 | KCA | 2B | 130 | 122 | 256 | 391 | 18 | 76 |
| 1976 | KCA | SS | 37 | 20 | 41 | 92 | 5 | 14 |
| 1977 | KCA | 2B | 152 | 145 | 310 | 434 | 8 | 86 |
| 1977 | KCA | SS | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 1978 | KCA | 2B | 140 | 138 | 325 | 385 | 16 | 96 |
| 1979 | KCA | 2B | 125 | 125 | 317 | 332 | 12 | 78 |
| 1980 | KCA | 2B | 153 | 145 | 395 | 448 | 10 | 103 |
| 1981 | KCA | 2B | 93 | 93 | 226 | 263 | 6 | 70 |
| 1982 | KCA | 2B | 144 | 143 | 361 | 389 | 17 | 99 |
| 1983 | KCA | 2B | 145 | 142 | 390 | 442 | 8 | 123 |
| 1984 | KCA | 2B | 129 | 126 | 299 | 425 | 11 | 97 |
| 1985 | KCA | 2B | 149 | 147 | 342 | 490 | 17 | 101 |
| 1986 | KCA | 2B | 151 | 144 | 316 | 439 | 10 | 91 |
| 1986 | KCA | 3B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1986 | KCA | SS | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 1987 | KCA | 2B | 152 | 150 | 320 | 458 | 10 | 89 |
| 1988 | KCA | 2B | 148 | 139 | 293 | 426 | 4 | 88 |
| 1989 | KCA | 2B | 132 | 126 | 238 | 407 | 10 | 64 |
| 1989 | KCA | OF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1990 | KCA | 2B | 79 | 75 | 142 | 218 | 8 | 51 |
| 1990 | KCA | OF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Second Base | 2153 |
| Third Base | 21 |
| Shortstop | 147 |
| Right Field | 1 |
| Designated Hitter | 12 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Gold Glove | 2B |
| 1986 | Gold Glove | 2B |
| 1986 | Silver Slugger | 2B |
| 1984 | Player of the Week | Week of 1984-08-03 |
| 1982 | Gold Glove | 2B |
| 1981 | Gold Glove | 2B |
| 1980 | ALCS MVP | |
| 1980 | Gold Glove | 2B |
| 1979 | Gold Glove | 2B |
| 1978 | Gold Glove | 2B |
| 1978 | TSN All-Star | 2B |
| 1977 | Gold Glove | 2B |
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | KCA | AL | $1,150,000 |
| 1989 | KCA | AL | $1,000,000 |
| 1988 | KCA | AL | $825,000 |
| 1987 | KCA | AL | $875,000 |
| 1986 | KCA | AL | $485,000 |
| Total Career Earnings | $4,335,000 | ||