Frank White

Second Baseman · Career Stats, Bio & Records (1973-1990)

Frank White was a second baseman who played in Major League Baseball from 1973 to 1990 for the Kansas City Royals, a span of 18 seasons. In 2,324 career games, he hit .255 with 2,006 hits, 160 home runs, and 886 RBI. Frank White was a 5-time All-Star, an ALCS MVP, a 8-time Gold Glove, and a Silver Slugger.

AVG (Batting Average):
Hits divided by at bats. .300 is the traditional mark of an excellent hitter.
HR (Home Runs):
Hits on which the batter circled the bases and scored, almost always by clearing the outfield fence.
RBI (Runs Batted In):
Runs that scored as a direct result of a batter's plate appearance.
OPS (On-Base Plus Slugging):
On-base percentage plus slugging percentage, the quickest single summary of offensive value. .900 or better is star-level.

Data updated

AVG .255
HR 160
RBI 886
H 2,006
OPS .675
PIV -7,598
Position
Second Baseman
Bats / Throws
R / R
Height / Weight
5'11" / 165 lb
Born
9/4/1950 in Greenville, MS, USA
MLB Debut
1973-06-12
Last Game
1990-09-30
Awards
5× All-Star · ALCS MVP · 8× Gold Glove · Silver Slugger
📊 Compare This Player 📈 View Career Timeline

Career Batting Statistics

Frank White — Career Batting Statistics
G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS PIV
2,324 7,859 912 2,006 407 58 160 886 178 412 1,035 .255 .293 .383 .675 -7,598

Career AVG .255 vs. league average .259 across their career seasons — near league average.

Career OBP .293 vs. league average .325 across their career seasons — 9.8% below league average.

Career SLG .383 vs. league average .385 across their career seasons — near league average.

Career OPS .675 vs. league average .710 across their career seasons — near league average.

Season-by-Season Batting

Career Arc

Click a stat to plot it across every season.

Frank White Stats, Bio & Career Records
Year Team Lg G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG Lg AVG Lg OBP Lg SLG Lg OPS PIV
1973 KCA AL 51 139 20 31 6 1 0 5 3 8 23 .223 .256 (-13%) .325 (-19%) .378 (-26%) .703 (-23%) -528.1
1974 KCA AL 99 204 19 45 6 3 1 18 3 5 33 .221 .256 (-14%) .324 (-26%) .369 (-20%) .693 (-23%) -776.0
1975 KCA AL 111 304 43 76 10 2 7 36 11 20 39 .250 .257 (-3%) .327 (-9%) .374 (-2%) .701 (-6%) -320.6
1976 KCA AL 152 446 39 102 17 6 2 46 20 19 42 .229 .255 (-10%) .320 (-18%) .360 (-15%) .681 (-16%) -1199.5
1977 KCA AL 152 474 59 116 21 5 5 50 23 25 67 .245 .264 (-7%) .329 (-14%) .401 (-15%) .730 (-14%) -1145.8
1978 KCA AL 143 461 66 127 24 6 7 50 13 26 59 .275 .257 (+7%) .323 (-2%) .378 (+5%) .702 (+2%) 71.5
1979 KCA AL 127 467 73 124 26 4 10 48 28 25 54 .266 .265 (avg) .329 (-9%) .397 (+1%) .727 (-3%) -399.8
1980 KCA AL 154 560 70 148 23 4 7 60 19 19 69 .264 .264 (avg) .326 (-11%) .387 (-8%) .714 (-10%) -945.6
1981 KCA AL 94 364 35 91 17 1 9 38 4 19 50 .250 .255 (-2%) .320 (-11%) .368 (+2%) .688 (-4%) -314.7
1982 KCA AL 145 524 71 156 45 6 11 56 10 16 65 .298 .261 (+14%) .324 (-2%) .388 (+21%) .712 (+11%) 783.3
1983 KCA AL 146 549 52 143 35 6 11 77 13 20 51 .260 .260 (avg) .324 (-13%) .389 (+4%) .714 (-3%) -524.1
1984 KCA AL 129 479 58 130 22 5 17 56 5 27 72 .271 .259 (+4%) .322 (-4%) .384 (+16%) .707 (+7%) 469.8
1985 KCA AL 149 563 62 140 25 1 22 69 10 28 86 .249 .257 (-3%) .323 (-12%) .390 (+6%) .714 (-2%) -348.8
1986 KCA AL 151 566 76 154 37 3 22 84 4 43 88 .272 .257 (+6%) .325 (-1%) .395 (+18%) .720 (+9%) 835.4
1987 KCA AL 154 563 67 138 32 2 17 78 1 51 86 .245 .262 (-7%) .331 (-7%) .415 (-4%) .746 (-5%) -535.5
1988 KCA AL 150 537 48 126 25 1 8 58 7 21 67 .235 .254 (-8%) .317 (-16%) .377 (-13%) .695 (-14%) -1302.0
1989 KCA AL 135 418 34 107 22 1 2 36 3 30 52 .256 .254 (+1%) .319 (-4%) .375 (-13%) .694 (-9%) -557.6
1990 KCA AL 82 241 20 52 14 1 2 21 1 10 32 .216 .257 (-16%) .324 (-22%) .385 (-20%) .710 (-21%) -859.5
Career · 18 seasons 2,324 7,859 912 2,006 407 58 160 886 178 412 1,035 .255 — — — — -7,598

Lg columns show the league average for that season, with the player's figure as a percentage above or below it. Career totals the seasons listed above.

Postseason Statistics

Playoff Career Batting

Frank White — Playoff Career Batting
G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO AVG
42 150 14 32 5 0 2 16 6 21 .213

Playoff Batting by Year

Frank White — 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 .200
1985 WS KCA 7 28 4 7 3 0 1 6 3 4 .250
1984 ALCS KCA 3 11 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 .091
1981 AWDIV KCA 3 11 1 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .182
1980 ALCS KCA 3 11 3 6 1 0 1 3 0 1 .545
1980 WS KCA 6 25 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 5 .080
1978 ALCS KCA 4 13 1 3 0 0 0 2 0 0 .231
1977 ALCS KCA 5 18 1 5 1 0 0 2 0 4 .278
1976 ALCS KCA 4 8 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .125

Game Log & Splits

View full game log (2324 games) →

Per-game data from Retrosheet (regular season, through 2025).

Batting — Home / Away

Frank White — Batting — Home / Away
SplitGABRHHRRBIAVG
Home11793893456100875494.259
Away1145396645699885392.252

Last 10 Games — Batting

Frank White — Last 10 Games — Batting
DateTmOppResABRH2B3BHRRBIBBSO
1990-09-30 KCRLAAW 200000001
1990-09-27 KCRLAAL 000000000
1990-09-26 KCROAKL 401100000
1990-09-25 KCROAKL 000000000
1990-09-24 KCROAKW 412000001
1990-09-23 KCRLAAW 100000000
1990-09-22 KCRLAAW 401100000
1990-09-15 KCRCLEL 301000000
1990-09-11 KCRTORL 402100200
1990-09-10 KCRTORL 300000000

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Frank White — 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

Frank White — 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 Diamond

Circle size = games played at each position.

Frank White Stats, Bio & Career Records
Position Games
Second Base 2153
Third Base 21
Shortstop 147
Right Field 1
Designated Hitter 12

Awards & Honors

Frank White — 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

Frank White's recorded salaries total $4,335,000 over 5 seasons, 1986 to 1990. This total is partial: the salary data covers 1985 to 2016, and White's career ran from 1973 to 1990. His seasons before 1985 are not included, and no salary is recorded for 1985.

Frank White — 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 recorded salary (partial) $4,335,000

Most Similar Players

Career comps based on counting + rate stats and primary position. Score is relative — closest peer anchors at ~98%.

Career Spans

Frank White (highlighted) compared to peers across the same era.

  1. 98
    Royce Clayton
    .258 avg, 110 HR
  2. 95
    Bill Mazeroski HOF
    .260 avg, 138 HR
  3. 95
    Terry Pendleton
    .270 avg, 140 HR
  4. 92
    Orlando Cabrera
    .272 avg, 123 HR
  5. 88
    Leo Cardenas
    .257 avg, 118 HR
  6. 87
    Greg Gagne
    .254 avg, 111 HR

Frank White: the record in brief

June 12, 1973 and September 30, 1990 bracket Frank White's time in the majors: the debut and the last game on record. Every season row on the page belongs to the Kansas City Royals, from 1973 through 1990. White played primarily as a second baseman and batted and threw right-handed. Born on September 4, 1950, in Greenville, MS, USA, White was listed at 5 feet, 11 inches and 165 pounds.

In 2,324 games and 7,859 at bats, White batted .255 with 2,006 hits, adding 160 homers, 886 RBI, and 178 stolen bases. White got on base at a .293 rate and slugged .383 (.675 OPS). White hit .255 while the league hit .259 over the same span, a figure close to average. No season beat the 22 home runs White hit in 1985. White collected a career-high 156 hits in 1982. White drove in a season-high 84 runs in 1986. The Lg AVG column puts White's 1982 at .298 against .261, the widest margin among the busiest seasons at 14%.

Frequently Asked Questions about Frank White

What years did Frank White play?
Frank White played in Major League Baseball from 1973 to 1990.
Was Frank White a pitcher?
No. Frank White was a position player (Second Baseman).
How many home runs did Frank White hit?
Frank White hit 160 career home runs with 2,006 hits.
What teams did Frank White play for?
Frank White played for one team, the Kansas City Royals (1973–1990).
Did Frank White win an MVP award?
No. Frank White did not win the MVP award.
What awards did Frank White win?
Frank White won 8 Gold Gloves (1977–1982, 1986–1987) and the Silver Slugger award (1986). He was selected to 5 All-Star Games.
What were Frank White's career stats?
In 2,324 games, Frank White had 2,006 hits, 160 home runs, 886 RBI, 912 runs, and 178 stolen bases, with a .255 batting average.
How much did Frank White earn in his career?
Frank White's recorded salaries total $4,335,000 over 5 seasons, 1986 to 1990. This total is partial: the salary data covers 1985 to 2016, and White's career ran from 1973 to 1990. His seasons before 1985 are not included, and no salary is recorded for 1985.
What was Frank White's salary?
Frank White's last recorded salary was $1,150,000, in 1990. His highest recorded salary was $1,150,000, in 1990, and his lowest was $485,000, in 1986. The Salary History table lists each season from 1986 to 1990.
What position did Frank White play?
Frank White played primarily as a second baseman, the position where he appeared in the most games.
How tall was Frank White and how much did he weigh?
Frank White was listed at 5 feet 11 inches and 165 pounds.
How many home runs did Frank White hit each season?
Frank White's home runs by season: 0 in 1973, 1 in 1974, 7 in 1975, 2 in 1976, 5 in 1977, 7 in 1978, 10 in 1979, 7 in 1980, 9 in 1981, 11 in 1982, 11 in 1983, 17 in 1984, 22 in 1985, 22 in 1986, 17 in 1987, 8 in 1988, 2 in 1989, and 2 in 1990. His most in one season was 22, in 1985 and 1986.
What was Frank White's career batting average?
Frank White batted .255 over his career, with 2,006 hits in 7,859 at bats.
How many RBI did Frank White have?
Frank White drove in 886 runs in his career.