Whitey Platt

Mizell George Platt

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 2", Weight 195 lb.
• High School Palm Beach High School
• Debut September 16, 1942
• Final Game October 2, 1949
• Born August 21, 1920 in West Palm Beach, FL USA
• Died July 27, 1970 in West Palm Beach, FL USA

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Biographical Information

Whitey Platt was one of two future major leaguers to represent the US in its first international tournament, the 1938 Amateur World Series, which they lost to Great Britain (with no future big leaguers). Platt might have been the first Team USA member to make the majors, preceding Stubby Overmire (1940 Amateur World Series) by one year.

Whitey played five seasons in the majors and 11 in the minors but he missed 1944 and 1945 as he served in the United States Navy in the Pacific Theatre of World War II. He started in the minors in 1939, and was up in the majors in 1942-43. He did not hit much in the majors, but while playing for Madison in 95 games in 1942, he hit .395 (he also spent some time at Tulsa) and while playing for Nashville in 92 games in 1943 he hit .358.

Platt also played in Cuba for Habana during the winter of 1941-42.

Selected off waivers by the Chicago White Sox from the Cubs on April 20, 1946, Whitey came back to the majors that year, serving as the fourth outfielder for the 1946 White Sox. He spent 1947 at Toledo, hitting .305 with 16 home runs and came back to the majors in 1948-49.

Platt became a major league regular for the 1948 season, playing left field. The following season he appeared in left field more often than anyone else for the 1949 Browns (59 games), but in terms of total outfield appearances he was the # 4 outfielder.

Whitey was Satchel Paige's first strikeout in the majors. Source: Mobile to Cleveland.

He played again in the minors from 1950-54. In 1953-54 he played in West Palm Beach, FL, the town where he had been born. He also served as manager in 1953.

Through 2008 there has not been another major leaguer named Platt, although there has been an Al Platte.

Here is a photo of Whitey while with Madison in 1942.

Following his death, he was interred at Hillcrest Memorial Park in West Palm Beach, FL.