Frank White
Frank White Jr.
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 5' 11", Weight 170 lb.
- School Manatee Community College
- High School Lincoln College Preparatory Academy
- Debut June 12, 1973
- Final Game September 30, 1990
- Born September 4, 1950 in Greenville, MS USA
Biographical Information[edit]
Second baseman Frank White spent all eighteen years of his career with the Kansas City Royals. He holds the franchise record with eight Gold Gloves. After stints as a member of the Boston Red Sox (1994-1996) and Royals (1997-2001) coaching staffs, he served as the manager of the Wichita Wranglers, the Royals Double A affiliate. He resigned his post in the Royals front office in 2011 and was elected to public office in Jackson County, Missouri in 2014. A Democrat, he first won a seat in the county legislature, then moved up to county executive in 2016.
He is the most successful graduate of the Kansas City Royals Baseball Academy - established by team owner Ewing Kauffman and run by Syd Thrift. The purpose of the Academy was to refine the skills of athletically-gifted prospects who had been neglected by other major league teams because they had not played much baseball in high school or college. Like many of the Academy's projects, Frank White had not been drafted; but he was developed into one of the leading second basemen of his generation.
During the 1985 World Series, he became the first second baseman to bat cleanup in a Fall Classic (and second in history) since Hall of Famer Jackie Robinson. His solo home run off Houston Astros ace Mike Scott in the 7th inning of the 1986 All-Star Game proved the difference in a 3-2 American League triumph. He hit for the cycle twice in his career, on September 26, 1979 against the California Angels and again on August 3, 1982 against the Detroit Tigers.
White's #20 was retired by the Royals in 1995, the same year he was inducted into the team's Hall of Fame. In 1989 he and George Brett were jointly named as the first team captains in franchise history. Brett continued to hold the title after White retired at the end of the 1990 season, until he retired himself at the end of 1993.
White has been a coach for the Kansas City T-Bones of the new American Association since 2012.
Notable Achievements[edit]
- 5-time AL All-Star (1978, 1979, 1981, 1982 & 1986)
- 1980 ALCS MVP
- 8-time AL Gold Glove Winner (1977-1982, 1986 & 1987)
- AL Silver Slugger Award Winner (1986)
- 20-Home Run Seasons: 2 (1985 & 1986)
- Won a World Series with the Kansas City Royals in 1985
Year-By-Year Managerial Record[edit]
| Year | Team | League | Record | Finish | Organization | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | GCL Red Sox | Gulf Coast League | 18-41 | 15th | Boston Red Sox | |
| 2004 | Wichita Wranglers | Texas League | 73-66 | 3rd | Kansas City Royals | |
| 2005 | Wichita Wranglers | Texas League | 68-72 | 6th | Kansas City Royals | |
| 2006 | Wichita Wranglers | Texas League | 77-62 | 2nd | Kansas City Royals | Lost League Finals |
Further Reading[edit]
- Frank White (as told to George Vass): "The Game I'll Never Forget", Baseball Digest, July 1987, pp. 61-64 [1]
- Frank White (as told to Al Doyle): "The Game I'll Never Forget", Baseball Digest, May 2003, pp. 48-51. [2]
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