Fun facts about Bill White:
-The only product of Hiram College (in Hiram, Ohio...go Terriers!) to play major league baseball.
-In 1953, he became the second-ever black player in the Carolina League, following Percy Miller, Jr.
-Hit a home run for the Giants in his first career at-bat: May 7, 1956.
-Lost almost two full seasons to military service, missing all of 1957 and playing 26 games in 1958.
-Hit for the cycle vs. the Pirates on August 14, 1960.
-Tied Ty Cobb's record for hits in consecutive doubleheaders by going 14-for-18 in back-to-back twinbills on July 17-18, 1961. White's Cardinals swept all four games from the Cubs. Less than two weeks prior, he hit three home runs in a single game against the Dodgers.
-Was named to eight All-Star teams and played in six Midsummer Classics. In 1963, he was part of an all-Cardinal starting infield at the All-Star Game, along with 2B Julian Javier, SS Dick Groat, and 3B Ken Boyer.
-From 1962 through 1964, he hit over .300 with 20-plus home runs and at least 100 RBI each season. Even though he was known as a line drive hitter, he had seven seasons of 20 or more dingers and 202 total in 13 seasons.
-If I were hard-pressed, I would name 1963 as his career year. He had career highs in runs (106), hits (200), home runs (27), RBI (109), and slugging (.491) while playing all 162 games.
-His only postseason series was the 1964 World Series. Though he hit just .111 (3-for-27) with 2 RBI in seven games against the Yankees, the Cardinals emerged victorious.
-Won seven consecutive Gold Gloves (1960-1966).
-Following his playing career, spent nearly two decades in the Yankee broadcast booth (1971-1988). Went on to become the first black president of the National League, serving from 1989-1994.
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