Bill White (whitebi02)

William Dighton White

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 11", Weight 160 lb.

• Debut June 1, 1883
• Final Game October 14, 1888
• Born May 1, 1860 in Bridgeport, OH USA
• Died December 29, 1924 in Bellaire, OH USA

BR page

Biographical Information

In 2010, SABR determined that the playing record long attributed to C.B. White belonged in fact to Bill White and that C.B. White was a phantom player. Thus, Bill White made his major league debut one year earlier than had been thought.

Bill broke into the majors with one game for the Philadelphia Quakers in 1883, playing third base when Blondie Purcell suffered an injury, and was described as an amateur, according to Sporting Life, June 3, 1883. It was his only time in the National League, but he came back to play 466 games in the American Association in 1884 and 1886-1888. His best year with the bat was when he played for the Louisville Colonels in 1886, with whom he appeared in 135 of their 138 games. After being released by the Colonels in the middle of the 1888 season, he caught on with the St. Louis Browns, and went to the post-season with them. It was the end of his major league career, but he played in the minors through 1894 and was a minor league manager in 1896, 1901 and 1905.

Further Reading

• "C.B. White Shown to be a Phantom", in Bill Carle, ed.: Biographical Research Committee Report, SABR, May/June 2010, p. 2.