Ernie Whitt
Born: 6/13/1952 in Detroit, MI, USA
MLB Debut: 1976-09-12 | Final Game: 1991-07-03
Bats: L | Throws: R | Height: 6'2" | Weight: 200 lbs
Full name: Leo Ernest Whitt
Biography
Ernie Whitt was a professional baseball player born in 1952, whose career spanned from 1976 to July 3, 1991. Primarily known for his role as a position player, Whitt played in a total of 1,328 games across his career. He recorded 938 hits, which included 134 home runs and 534 RBIs, finishing his career with a batting average of .249. In addition to his offensive contributions, Whitt also showcased his speed on the bases, amassing 22 stolen bases throughout his time in Major League Baseball.
Whitt's career was highlighted by his selection as an All-Star, reflecting his impact and recognition within the game. He played during an era that saw significant changes in baseball, from the expansion of the league to the advent of free agency, which influenced player mobility and the overall landscape of the sport. Whitt's contributions to his teams, particularly during his tenure with the Toronto Blue Jays, solidified his place in baseball history as a versatile and durable player, remembered for his competitive spirit and dedication to the game.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1328 | 3774 | 447 | 938 | 176 | 15 | 134 | 534 | 22 | 436 | 491 | 0.249 | 0.324 | 0.410 | 0.734 | 2710.3 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | BOS | AL | 8 | 18 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0.222 | 0.0 |
| 1977 | TOR | AL | 23 | 41 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 0.171 | 0.0 |
| 1978 | TOR | AL | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 1980 | TOR | AL | 106 | 295 | 23 | 70 | 12 | 2 | 6 | 34 | 1 | 22 | 30 | 0.237 | -628.0 |
| 1981 | TOR | AL | 74 | 195 | 16 | 46 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 16 | 5 | 20 | 30 | 0.236 | -369.3 |
| 1982 | TOR | AL | 105 | 284 | 28 | 74 | 14 | 2 | 11 | 42 | 3 | 26 | 34 | 0.261 | 253.8 |
| 1983 | TOR | AL | 123 | 344 | 53 | 88 | 15 | 2 | 17 | 56 | 1 | 50 | 55 | 0.256 | 871.3 |
| 1984 | TOR | AL | 124 | 315 | 35 | 75 | 12 | 1 | 15 | 46 | 0 | 43 | 49 | 0.238 | 394.1 |
| 1985 | TOR | AL | 139 | 412 | 55 | 101 | 21 | 2 | 19 | 64 | 3 | 47 | 59 | 0.245 | 571.9 |
| 1986 | TOR | AL | 131 | 395 | 48 | 106 | 19 | 2 | 16 | 56 | 0 | 35 | 39 | 0.268 | 495.2 |
| 1987 | TOR | AL | 135 | 446 | 57 | 120 | 24 | 1 | 19 | 75 | 0 | 44 | 50 | 0.269 | 487.7 |
| 1988 | TOR | AL | 127 | 398 | 63 | 100 | 11 | 2 | 16 | 70 | 4 | 61 | 38 | 0.251 | 798.5 |
| 1989 | TOR | AL | 129 | 385 | 42 | 101 | 24 | 1 | 11 | 53 | 5 | 52 | 53 | 0.262 | 811.9 |
| 1990 | ATL | NL | 67 | 180 | 14 | 31 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 0 | 23 | 27 | 0.172 | -852.9 |
| 1991 | BAL | AL | 35 | 62 | 5 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 12 | 0.242 | -124.0 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | 37 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 7 | 0.162 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | ALCS | TOR | 5 | 16 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 0.125 |
| 1985 | ALCS | TOR | 7 | 21 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0.190 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | 1246 | 1050 | 6091 | 497 | 59 | 67 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | BOS | C | 8 | 6 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1977 | TOR | C | 14 | 10 | 62 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 1978 | TOR | C | 1 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1980 | TOR | C | 105 | 92 | 436 | 56 | 7 | 11 |
| 1981 | TOR | C | 72 | 61 | 297 | 46 | 3 | 5 |
| 1982 | TOR | C | 98 | 75 | 406 | 30 | 8 | 0 |
| 1983 | TOR | C | 119 | 93 | 554 | 50 | 5 | 4 |
| 1984 | TOR | C | 118 | 97 | 583 | 40 | 4 | 8 |
| 1985 | TOR | C | 134 | 113 | 649 | 38 | 8 | 6 |
| 1986 | TOR | C | 129 | 109 | 709 | 41 | 7 | 7 |
| 1987 | TOR | C | 131 | 113 | 803 | 55 | 5 | 10 |
| 1988 | TOR | C | 123 | 110 | 643 | 43 | 4 | 10 |
| 1989 | TOR | C | 115 | 104 | 550 | 43 | 5 | 5 |
| 1990 | ATL | C | 59 | 54 | 296 | 42 | 3 | 1 |
| 1991 | BAL | C | 20 | 12 | 72 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Catcher | 1247 |
| Designated Hitter | 10 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | TSN All-Star | C |
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | ATL | NL | $1,200,000 |
| 1989 | TOR | AL | $800,000 |
| 1988 | TOR | AL | $750,000 |
| 1987 | TOR | AL | $750,000 |
| 1986 | TOR | AL | $325,000 |
| 1985 | TOR | AL | $370,000 |
| Total Career Earnings | $4,195,000 | ||
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Macomb Community College | Warren | MI | 1971, 1972 |